REVIEW 
 
 O F 
 
 A Paper lately written againft the Being 
 and Binding of our Sacred National 
 Covenants ; Efpecially , the Solemn 
 League and Covenant of the Three 
 Kingdoms, 
 
 WHEREUNTO 
 An Analyfis of the Solemn League and Covenant 
 of Scotland, England and Ireland, is prenVd ; 
 and fome jTefiimonies of Learned and Orthodox 
 Divines, for thefe Covenants, are fubjoin'd. 
 
 By a Lover of Truth and Peace, with a Covenanted 
 Reformation, conducive thereunto. 
 
 2 Kings 11. 17. And Jehoiada made a Covenant be- 
 tween the LORD, and the King and the People* 
 that they foould be the LQRD's People, between tbs 
 King al/o and the People* 
 
 Jer. 50. $. Come, let us join curfelves to the LORD 
 in a perpetual Covenant, that ftall not be forgotten- 
 
 Ga!. 3. 15. — Though it be but a Alan's Covenant, yet if 
 it be confirmed by an Oath, no Man difanulleth, cr 
 addeth thereto. 
 
 JEzek. 17. 15 — 19. Shall he break the Covenant, and 
 be delivered ? — Thus faith the LORD GOD, As 
 J live, Surely mine Oath that he hath defpifed, and 
 my Covenant that he hath broken, even it will I re- 
 compenfe upon his own Head. 
 
 Viderit vel Prevaricatorum Numerus, vel Proditorum* 
 <jui nunc in Ecclefla contra Ecclefiam -urgere, & 
 Fidern pariter ac Vcritatem Jabefa&are cxperunt, 
 
 Cyprian* in JBpift. 68* 
 
 Edinburgh, Printed in the Year MDCCXXYIL 
 
Scs#&Olg 
 
( m ) 343 
 
 To the Reader. 
 
 IT is lamentable, that, fince the Renewing of the 
 National Covenant 1638, and Entring into the So- 
 lemn League and Covenant 1643, there have been, and 
 ftill are, fo many who exhibite a Specimen of their 
 Wit, and a fhreud Difcovery ot their Antifederal Ma- 
 lignity, in thriving to difanul, or loole the Bands of 
 thefe facred and perpetually binding Covenants. But 
 efpecially, as the great and godly Mr. John Brown, 
 ihewing the Vanity of their Pretenfions, who plead 
 the Nullity, or Non-obligation of thefe Covenants, 
 faith ; * It is Matter both ot Admiration, and of Grief 
 c and Sorrow, that there fhould be any found within 
 c the Church of Scotland, who had fo far forgotten 
 c thcmlelves, as now to turn, not only Enemies to Piety 
 c and Chriftianity, but alfo Enemies to very Huma- 
 f nity ; and not only Break Covenant-Ties themfelves, 
 c but alio Teach others to do the fame ; and that with- 
 
 * out any Fear of Puniffiment, either from GOD, or 
 1 Man. But GOD, who is Jealous, will not be moc- 
 « ked, let Men dream of Exemption as they pleafe, and 
 c by foph:ftical Shifts think to blind their own Eyes, 
 c and the Eyes of others } GOD, who will n t bold 
 
 * them guiltlefs, that take his Name In vain, will, no 
 
 * doubt, by fad Anfroers from Heaven, dilcover the 
 c Impiety 3nd Folly of thefe Patrons of Profanity and 
 c Inhumanity." 
 
 Such learned Anticoven inters were the Doctors of 
 Aberdeen, 1638, foundly anfwered by the zealous Mi- 
 nifters, fent thither to prepare for, and prefs the Ta- 
 king of the National Covenant. 
 
 Such were the Setlaries in England ; whole Errors, 
 
 Hereftes, Schifms and Bbfphemiss, bein^ abjured in 
 
 A 2 the 
 
( w ) 
 
 Solemn League and Covenant, were gravely Teftified 
 againfl by many Presbyterian Ministers (near 800, 
 befides the concurring Teftimony of Hearers) in at 
 leaft 14 feveral Counties of England, in their Joint, 
 Harmonious, Subscribed Teftimonies to the Truth of 
 JESUS CHRIST, to our Solemn League and Cove- 
 nant; and agatnft thofe Errors, &c. and the Toleration ■ 
 of them, Annis 1647 and 1648". And thefe Sectarians 
 afterward invading, and over-ruling Scotland, their 
 Antifcriptural and Anticovenanted Praftices and Tenets 
 were witnefifed againft by fome eminent Minifters* in 
 their Teftimony to the Truth of JESUS CHRIST, 
 to the National Covenant of Scotland, and to theSolemn 
 League and Covenant of Scotland, England and lre~ 
 J and, &c. fubferibed 1658 and 1659. 
 
 Such Antagoniils were the Oxford Do&ors, Dr. Feat' 
 ly, &c. fairly confuted by Mr. Zach. Crofton, in his 
 Analepfis, and Faftning of St. Peter'.? Fetters, and by 
 TIMORCUS, printed London 1661. Mr. Crcfton, 
 in his later Book, doth largely, learn'dly and foundly 
 confirm and enforce the Obligation of the Covenant, 
 againft that profane Oppofition made thereto, remov- 
 ing all obvious Obje&ions, in handling thefe Seven 
 Proportions, vi%. 
 
 ' 1. The Averting of the Solemn League and Cove- 
 c nant, and its obliging Force, is a Duty indifpenfibly 
 c incumbent on every Man, in his Place ; but efpeci- 
 
 * ally on the Minifters of the Gofpsl. 
 
 c 2. The Irregularities in firft making the Covenant, 
 
 * will not difcharge its Obligation ; now it is made 
 
 * and fworn. 
 
 * 3. The Matter fworn in the Solemn League and 
 
 * Covenant is juft and lawful to be maintained and 
 J purfued. 
 
 c 4. The Form and Manner of making the Solemn 
 I League and Covenant was good and allowable. 
 
 c The Ambiguities and Contradictions of the Words, 
 c in the Solemn League and Covenant, are imagined 
 c and not real. 
 
 * 60 The Covenant in its Quality, and for its Obli 
 
 ; gation 
 
f.J ^ 
 
 f gation, is Publick and Nationa 1 , as well as Private 
 
 * and Perfonal. 
 
 < 7. The Solemn League* and Covenant is, in the 
 c Nature of it, permanently Binding, and no way to 
 
 * beablolved or difcharged.' 
 
 Such impotent Oppofers were the perjur'd Prelates 
 and their Apofhte Underlings ; fome of them writing 
 and printing againft the Covenants (becaufe condem 
 ning their new Conftitution and Courfe, their Defec- 
 tion and Deformation) after that woful Cataftrophe 
 1661. The Learned Mr. Brown diffidently anfwers 
 The feafonable Cafe of Submijfion, &c. in his Apolo- 
 getical Relation (printed 1665.) pag. 327, to 416. 
 wherein, § 20. he demonftrates the Dreadfulnefs of the 
 Sin of Covenant-breaking ; particularly of Abjuring 
 the National Covenant and the Solemn League and 
 Covenant. And, § 21. The great Hazard of Perju- 
 ry, or Covenant-breaking. SeB. 22. He vindicates 
 the Solemn League and Covenant, and anfwers the ano- 
 nymous Author of The fcanable Cafe. And, § 23. 
 Vindicates the National Covenant from the Exceptions 
 of that Author. 
 
 The True None on for mid alfo vindicates the fame 
 Covenants from the Afperfions of the Author of Seven 
 Dialogues, in his Anfwers to Dial: IV. Page 205, to 
 236. printed 1671. 
 
 And the late Learned Principal of St. Andrews, Mr. 
 Thomas, Forrefter in his Rectius lnflrundum, or A Re- 
 view of three Dialogues between/w/iT-^r.and D$ubter y 
 1684. Part Second is wholly on thefe Two y The Abju- 
 ration of Prelacy in both Covenants ; and, The Obli- 
 gation of thefeCovenants. 
 
 Some Hints of whofe Writings are fubjoined to the 
 following REVIEW, not only as Teftimomes for our 
 now condemned facred Covenants ; but alfo as Proofs 
 and Reafons, which the Condemnors fnould have con- 
 fider'd and try'd their Skill to invalidate, ere they had 
 fo arrogantly pafs'd Sentence againft them : Sure all 
 thefe Teftimonies of Covenanters may, with the Un~ 
 byaffed, counterbalance (andwill^ with judicious, ten- 
 der 
 
C vi > 
 
 der Chriftians, down-weigh") all that the Antieove- 
 nanters of our Day have laid, or can advance: And 
 may ferve as an Argument, ab Exemplis, from the 
 Pra&ice of the People of GOD ; which, as Mr. Shields 
 fays, to condemn were Impious, and to deny were moft 
 Impudent. 
 
 Alfo in Ireland, As there was great Indignation 
 againfl the National Covenant of Scotland, and an 
 Oath prefTed by the Deputy, tht Earl ot Straff or d&c. 
 condemning and abjuring that Way or Covenanting, 
 
 X638 1640 ; agamit which Oath, and the Swearers 
 
 of it, Mr. Rutberfcrd, in his Letters, pronounces, in 
 the Name of the Lord, fuch terrible Things; Part 2. 
 Lett. 27. To the perfecuted Church in Ireland 1639. 
 and Lett: 29. i'o Mr. Stewart t &c. Prifoners ofChrift 
 at Dublin, 1640. which was foon and dreadfully exe- 
 cute, in the Malfacre 1641, wherein fo many Thou- 
 far.ds of the Proteftants were milerably murdered : So 
 there was great Oppofition made to, and many Ob- 
 jections againft the Solemn League and Covenant o{ 
 the three Kingdoms, in 1643, CSV. as by the then 
 States, Lords Juftices, and mod of the furviving In- 
 habitants ; being Popifh, Prelatick. or Malignant Ene- 
 mies to the Covenanted Reformation. Vet, even 
 There and Then, our Lord had his Witneffes, confeffing 
 Him before Men, and boldly avouching and vindicating 
 his Caufe and Covenant. We fee a Paper, writ by 
 iome of the Minifters in the North of Ireland^ as ap- 
 pears in the Year 1644; wherein, alter the enfuing 
 Analyfis of the Covenant , there are above 30 Objecti- 
 ons againfl: that Covenant, folidly and fuccin&ly an- 
 fwered. But thele not being the Objections of the 
 Anti covenanters among-us no&, it feems not necelTary 
 to inicrt them, or the Aniwers thereto; tho' 'tis 
 thought fit (In regard we have fo litt'e from that One 
 of the Three confederate Pungdoms, to ihew their 
 Scnie of, and Adherence to that tacred Covenant) here 
 fco print, what introdue'd them in the fame Manu- 
 script:, vi*. 
 
 ,.:■ AN 
 
C vH ; 347 
 
 An ANALYSIS; Or, A brief Open- 
 ing and Explanation of the Solemn 
 ' League and Covenant, for Reforma- 
 tion and Defence of Religion, £j?c* 
 
 THIS Covenant hath a Preface, Six Articles, and 
 a Conclufion. 
 FIRST, In the Preface we have the Perfons, Ends, 
 Motives, S5c. 
 
 i. The Perfons Covenanting, vl^. Men of all Ranks 
 and Qualities in all the Three Kingdoms of England, 
 Scctland and Ireland. 
 
 2. The Ends aimed at by this Covenant are Three, 
 vi^. i. The Glory of God. 2. The Honour and Hap- 
 pinefs of the King and his Pofterity. 3. The true 
 publick Liberty, Safety and Feace of the three King- 
 doms. "Wherein every One's private Condition is 
 
 included 
 
 3. The Motives, Occafions and Inducements, lead- 
 ing on to take this Covenant, are Six, 1. Our living un- 
 der one King. 2. Our being of one reformed -Religi- 
 on. 3. Our Remembring the manifold bloody Plots 
 of the Enemies of God againft the true Religion, and 
 the Profeffors thereof, every Where, vj%. In France, 
 Germany > the Low Ceuntrej/s^nd efpecially in the pre- 
 fent Infurre&ion of Ireland, the Diflrefs of England, 
 and Dangers of Scotland. 4. Our not prevailing by Sup- 
 plications, Remonftrances, Protections and Sufferings. 
 
 5. The commendable Practice of thefe Kingdoms in 
 former Times, elpecially Anno 1587, between K. 
 James and Q Elizabeth againft the Spanijb Armado. 
 
 6. The Example of God's People in other Nations, as 
 in France the Low Countries, &c. 
 
 Upon all thefe the Preface declares, That we refolye 
 to enter into the League and Covenanted to fubferibe 
 and fwear it with our Hands lifted up to the mo(k 
 high God i Which is a aoft reverend Sign and Expref- 
 
 £on 
 
( viii ) 
 
 fion of a Solemn Calling on the Name of God, as 
 Abraham did, Gen. 14* 22. And we have goodRea- 
 fon to do fo to our God, who hath lifted up his Hand 
 to us, and for us, to do us Good, E^ek. 20. 5,6. 
 
 Secondly, The Articles of the Covenant are either 
 for Reformation in the two Fir/} ; or for Rights in the 
 next Two, or for Peace in the I aft Two. Every one 
 of thefe are, Firft Pofitively, for thefe Things fore- 
 laid j and then Privatively, or againit. theOppofers there- 
 of. 
 
 In all thefe Articles we take GOD to Witnefs, 
 
 1. Of the Manner. 2. Or the Matter. 
 
 The Manner of our Undertaking is, 1. Sincerely* 
 and not in Hypocrify. 2. Really, and not verbally, 
 or in Profeflion only. 3. Conftantly, and not for a 
 Time only. 4. Trufting in GOD's Grace, and not in 
 our own Strength. 5. To do according to, and inour 
 fever al Places and Callings ,and net beyond our Power, 
 Place, or Calling. 
 
 The Matter of the ift Article, which we undertake^ 
 
 is ' 
 
 ift, To endeavour to preferve the Reformed Religi- 
 on in the Kirk of Scotland. 1. In Dottrine, it is all 
 Orthodox. 2. \nWorfbip, it is pure and unmixed. 3. 
 In Difc'i pi hie and Government, againft our common 
 Enemies j for it is warantable, and noways Tyranni- 
 cal. 
 
 idly* To endeavour the Reformation of Religion in 
 England and Ireland, in all thefe Particulars of Dc- 
 ftrine, Wcrfoip, Difciplinc and Governments according 
 to GOD's Word (as the only Rule) and the Example cf 
 the b eft reformed Churches, as the mod laudable and 
 convenient Copies according to that Rule. 
 
 ^dly, To endeavour in Manner abovefaid to bring 
 the Churches cfGod in all the three 'Kingdoms, to the 
 near eft Conjunction and Uniformity, In 1. Religion. 1. 
 JProftffion cf Faith. 3 .' Form of Church-G 'overnment . 4. 
 Direllory forWorfnip. 5. And Caiechifing. 
 
 The End of all which is, [.That we, and dur Pofteri- 
 ti may live in Faith and Love *s Brcthren x And, 2» 
 
 7bk* 
 
That the Lord may delight to dwell in the mtdfl ofufi 
 And lo to avoid the dtvi illi Divisions uhich Prelacy 
 and Ceremonies ra.fcti amon^ft us, as a Partition* 
 
 Wall. 
 
 Therefore confidtr, that we undertake this Cove- 
 nant for our Children, as well as our felves; fee ng it 
 is, ihat ur Poflenty way live ai Brethren : And fo we 
 muit be careful to inftruA them he ein, and to caufe 
 them to make Conference thereof; v. hich our zealous 
 Example a^d Practice will b ft Sear in upon them. 
 And without iu:h r. i igtnt Inflru&ion of our Children, 
 and good Example given by us to them, GOD may 
 juftly p'a^ue us, and iet them forget and fa'l from this 
 Covenant, and the judgments of God will fall on the 
 Poftcrity, as on Jftael, for K. Saul s breaking of the 
 Oath to the Gibeonites, 2 Sam. 21. I« 
 
 IT. In the 2d Article , We dccla-e againfl: tVe oppofite 
 Courfes to Reform tion, 'ibxt voe jhall in the like Man* 
 tier, that is to fay, fincerely, really, conflantly. thro* 
 Gtd's Grace \ and according to cur Places and Cal- 
 lings \ and further, without Refpecl ofPerforts, endea- 
 vour the Extirpation cf i. Popery, 2. Prelacy, (that is 
 Church-Government by (1.) Archbithops.' (2.) Bi- 
 ihops. (3.) Deans. (4.) Deans and Chapters. (5.) 
 Chancellors. (6) CommifTaries. (7.) Arch deacons, 
 and all other Eccleflaftical Officers depending anthac 
 Hierarchie. 
 
 3. Super tfition, as Growings, Holy-days, C£r. 
 
 4. Herejjf, as Arminianifm, Anabaptiirn, $$c. 
 
 V Schifm % as Separation from lawful and well-con> 
 ftitute Churches. 
 
 6. Pr fanity of a 1 ! Sorts,as Drunkennefs,Sv.earing.$8>?.' 
 
 7. Whatsoever is f und contrary to found DoStine^ 
 and the Power cf Gcdlinefs. 
 
 ^ The Ends which we have before us, in this Article, 
 are, f 
 
 u To beware, That we partake not mother Mens 
 Sins and Plagues. 
 
 2. That the Lord may be One y and bh Namt One % 
 hi the three Kingdoms* 
 
 B in. In 
 
( :f h . 
 
 III. In the Third Article, We undertake* in Man- 
 far forefaid, and with our Eflates and Liv.es> mutually 
 to prefer ve and defend, 
 
 i. The Rights and Privilege of Parliament. 
 
 2. The Liberties of the Kingdoms* 
 
 3. The K'mgs Mayfly's Per [on and Authority, in tie 
 Ftiferyatich and Defence of the true Religion 3 and 
 Liberties of the Kingdoms* 
 
 The End aimed at herein is, That the World and 
 our Ccnfcirnces may bear Witnefs of our Loyalty ; and 
 that we have no Intentions to diminijh his Majeftys 
 \ufl Power and Greatnefs- 
 
 IV. Tn the Fourth Article, 
 
 ift, We undertake againft the Enemies of True Re- 
 ligion, the King, the Parliament, and Peoples Rights; 
 and to Endeavour to difcover all of them* Namely, 
 
 0-) Such as hinder the Reformation of Religion, as 
 allPapiusand Prefer (Is do. 
 
 C2.) Such as dkfide between the King and his Sub* 
 jefts, as all Flatterers, and politick Incendiaries. 
 
 (3*) Thefe who divide one of the kingdoms from 
 dn.tber. 
 
 (4.) There who make Fashions or Parties among 
 the People., contrary to this League and Covenant* 
 
 idly, To endeavour, that they be brought to publick 
 Trial] 
 
 And, idly, That they receive condign Punifiment, 
 as the D gree of the Offences fhall require or deferve ; 
 or, as the Jupreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms (or 
 others having Power from them) fhaU judge convenient. 
 
 V. fn the Fifth Article, We promife to Endeavour 
 that thefe Kingdoms may remain conjoin* d in a firm 
 Peace and Union, to all Poflerity ; as is concluded by 
 both Parliaments. And, That fuflice be done upon the 
 wilful Oppofers thereof as in the former Article* Thefe 
 Things we are to endeavour, according tt cur Places 
 and Inter efls* 
 
 VL In the Sixth Article, We undertake, 
 I- To Aflifl and Defend (in this common Caufe of 
 Religion* Liberties, and Peace of the Kingdoms) all 
 
 thefe 
 
( xi -) ^ 
 
 thofe, that enter into this League and Covenant, in the 
 Maintaining and Pursuing thereof. 
 
 2. N^t to juffer cur [elves to be withdrawn from 
 this blfjpd Union y mither dirtttly ragainft the Covenant) 
 nor indireBly (upon other Quarrels) to weaken them, 
 who maintain the Covenant ; neither by any Com- 
 bination, Perfwaficn, nor Terror. 
 
 3. Not to make Defection to the Contrary Party ; 
 Nor to jj ive ourfelves to a detefiable Neutrality in this 
 Caufe, which p much concerns', !• The Glory cfGcd, 
 l.ToeGood of theKingdoms ^She Hcmur of th j King* 
 
 4. That we Jhall ^calcufly and conftantly cntinuc 
 therein, againft all Oppofites. 
 
 And, 5. Promote the fame againft all Impediments , . 
 according to our Power, all the Days of our Lives. 
 
 6. That, what we cannot fupprefs, or overcome 
 ewfelves, we jhall reveal, and make knownj that it 
 way be timely prevented. 
 
 AU this we promife to do, as in the Sight of Gsd* 
 
 X -1ROLY, in the Conclufi n there is, 
 
 1. A Confejfion of many Sins againft God, and his 
 Son Chrill Jcfus (evident in the Fruits thereof, v'vr* 
 Our prefent Diftrefles and Dangers,) 
 
 2. A Profejfton of Delire to be numbed, I. For our 
 own Sins. 2. For the Sins or thjfe Kingdoms. More 
 particularly,, for trnt, (1.) We have not valued the 
 Gcfpel. (2.) Nor labored for the Power and \ y uritf 
 thereof, (3.) Ncr endeavoured to receive Chrifl in our 
 Hearts. (4.) Nor to walk worthy of Him in our Lives > 
 as we ought to have done 5 which are the Caufi cf all 
 ether Sins amongfi us 
 
 3. A Purpofc, Defirs and Endeavour, avowed and 
 promifed, for ourfelves, and all others under our Power 
 and Charge, both in Pubiick andPrivate : in all duties 
 to God and Man, To amend our Lives *, and each 
 
 to go bef;re another > in the Example of a real Re fir* . 
 tnation. 
 
 4. The Ends, a'med^t in all the £, arc, 1. T I 
 the Lord may turn v.viy his Wrath. 2. That 
 may eftablifti thefe'Cburches in Truth and Peace. 
 
 B 2 *> The 
 
f ( xii •) 
 
 '$• The fVemn Taking or" th's Covenant is exprefTed 
 in that, I. We make it in the Prefenceof ALMIGHTY 
 GOD. 2. With expreis Rem m ^ranre that Hi is tbs 
 Searcher of aU H'.arts 3- With Profeffion of a true 
 Intention to perform the fame* 4. With an Appeal to 
 fjie lame GOD in the great Day, faying, As we (hall 
 anfwer to GOD > in the Day, when the Secrets of aU 
 Hearts /ball be laid cpen. 
 
 6. All is doled with a Prayer to God (without whofe 
 He'p we can do nothing) I. To h? ftrengthntd by His 
 Spirit for this End. 2. That he would blefs cur De~ 
 fires and Proceedings with fuch Succefs> as may be % 
 (1.) Deliverance and Safety to H:s People. (2.) En* 
 tturagement to other Chriflian Courches, groning under, 
 cr in Danger if the T ke of Antichrift'ian Tyranny t to 
 jcin m the fames or like A [foci at ion and Covenant. 
 
 And the great Ends look'd to, and defired, herein, 
 are, 1. The Glory cf GOD. 2- The Enlargement of the 
 Kingdom of. JB US CHR'ST. 3. The Peace and 
 Tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Common* 
 wealths* Amen. 
 
 Here follow, in the Manufcript, Anfwers to 32 
 Obje&ions moved againft the Solemn League and Co- 
 venant of the three Kingdoms, in Ireland, viz. 8 
 State-obj-Aions contiined in a Proclamation, dared 
 18 December 164.3, hy thj then Lords Juftices; but 
 not pub'.ifhed i» the North, till the 24 ot April 1644, a * 
 JSelfaf}, when the faid Lords had no Commiffion. 14 
 Popular Objections ; and 10 tacite or Heart-prejudi- 
 ces, againft the (aid Covenant : Among all which Ob- 
 jections, foundly anfwered, only this following is rela- 
 tive to the Purpofe now in Hand, vi{. 
 
 M The 1 ith Objection is, That howbeit we read of 
 « c diverfe Covenants made in the Old Teftament, yet 
 *< no fuch Covenant is to be found in the New Tefta- 
 <c ment. 
 
 <c We Anfwer, t. This Objc&ion takes away the 
 *• Authority of the Old Teftament, which holds now 
 I* as well as then* in all Xhin^s a except in the Cere- 
 monial 
 
( xiii ; Z'? 3 
 
 * c momal Law, whi?h had its Accom^ifh-mnt in 
 44 Chrift. 2 The O.d Teftament foreto'd. Putin 
 44 the Ti'm^sof the New Tcftvnent, thee ihn'-i be 
 44 an unanimousFlowing of the People of God; t > his 
 •* holy Hill. That the Inhabitants ot on? City, (ho I'd 
 44 go to the Inhabitants or another, wiihing the n to fe k 
 cc the Lord, and they wouM go, alfo ; and. tbat one 
 * 4 ihmld (ay, lam the Lord's, and another fubf-'ribe 
 ? 4 with his .dand to the Lord ; \nd that, when a'l the 
 44 Ends of the Earth were to look to rhe Lord, every ' 
 « Tongue fh'iii d fwear to God. If a: 2. 2, 3. Mic: 4. 
 * 4 i, 2. .Zrtta 8. 23, 21. Ifa. 44. 5. & 4«;. 22, 23. 
 * c And whoever doubted to apply that unto the Times 
 44 01 the New 1'eftament, which was foretold by Jerc- 
 * miab, Chap. 50^4, «>. 
 
 84 And albeit the Hiftory of the New Teflament 
 4C d^th not report, That fuch a Covenant was mide ; 
 * 6 becaufe no whole* Nation had then unanimoufly re- 
 « 4 ceivei the G'ipel; and the Chriftians were fo mixed 
 44 ainoni the H achen, th it even the Preaching of the 
 14 Goipd, c mcerning Ch ft crucified, was a-ftumbr 
 44 ling d lock to the ?ero; and to the G entile s Foolifh- 
 « neis. ¥etit was foretold by John % that the Called, 
 44 Cholen and Fa. thrill would to cleave to the LAM.3, 
 Kt that they ihall taake Wir for him, and with him 5 
 44 when the Kings ihall lend th-ir Power to the Beafl ; 
 44 and alio they will follow the Lamb, in an Army, 
 44 when the Bead and falie Prophets, and the Kings 
 <c and Captains ihall came to fight againll Chrifl and 
 
 44 his \rmies ; who would not be knit together, net- 
 V ther could th^y requite the Waore, as required, 
 
 45 Rev. 18. 6. hut being tied to one another in fome 
 44 ho;y Obligation and Covenant. 
 
 Mr. Shield *, in hisHhd let loofe, p. 6«j. fays, " This 
 * c is tha: Covenant, comprehending the Purpo e of all 
 «* prior, and the Pattern of all pofterior Covenants, 
 44 to which Chrid's Witneifes did always adhere, for 
 <£ which the prefent Witneffes do fuffjr and contend ; 
 44 That Covenant,which the Reprefentative of Church 
 « 4 and State, in the thf ee Nations, did folemnly fub- 
 
 « fcribc 
 
C xfa ) 
 
 cc fcrib* and (wear, for tUsmlelves and Pofrerityt of 
 u which the Obligation, either to the Duty or the Pu- 
 * 4 niihmer.t. continues indifpenfibly on the Generati- 
 « on; which, for the moral, Equity of its Matter, the 
 « For mali ry of its Manner, the importance of its Par- 
 <e j?r</V, the Holinefs of its folerrn Engagement . and 
 <i tke Glory of its Ends no Power on tarth can dif- 
 cc anul, dibble, or difpenfe ; That Covenant, which 
 ** the Lord did ratify from Heaven, by theConyer- 
 * c fion of manv Thoufands, at their entring under the 
 < c Bond of it, fecuring and eftabliihing unco them and 
 <c all the Faithful, the Blcfnngs and Privileges trtre- 
 *« in expreffed, and avouching himfeir to be their 
 * c GOD, as they had avouched themselves to be his 
 < c People : That Covenant, which in all the Gontro- 
 * c verfies it hath occafioned, did never receive a 
 « c greater Confirmation, than from the Malice and Op- 
 ' c pofttionof itsAdveriaries; Tbat Covenant, which 
 <c Malignants do malign and deny, and Sectaries 1 r -orn 
 *' and lay afide, as an Almanack cut of Date ; w a 
 « 4 hath been many Ways traduced and reproached bv E ne- 
 ** mies.and yet,cou!d never be reilc&ed on by any Seri- 
 * c ous in this Land, without a honourable and fragrant 
 < c Remembrance ? Especially that Retortion of Adver- 
 " faries, of the Rigour of its fmpoiition upon Recu- 
 < c iants, to juftify their Cruelty upon its Auerters 
 <c now, is to be refelled, not with Con utacion of its 
 «* Importance, but with Difdain c pudence * 
 
 * For who were the Rejufmts r but wicked Enemies 
 * € to God, and Church and Nation, who for their 
 " Malignancy were then to be profecuted ; not for their 
 * c Scrupling at a Covenant, but for their contumaci- 
 ■* ous Contempt of a Law : This was no Violence done 
 *' to their Conference: for as they had none, and could 
 <c not pretend to any, (o they were never troubled for 
 u that, but for their Oppofition to and- Conspiracy a- 
 ,c gainft the common Caufe. 3 ' 
 
 The following REVIEW fhouH been pub'ifhed fome 
 Months ago, ; but it wanted the Imprimatur of fome 
 not very torward (not to iay 3 indifferent) in the Cafe; 
 
 which 
 
wh:~h to our worthy and zealous 'Aficeftors and Mar* 
 tyrs was a Cafe cj Confejjion; even to appear Valiant 
 for the Truth, the Cauie of Chrift, a Covenanted Re- 
 formation according to his holy Word : Which very few 
 car neill/ contend i or , in thefe peaceable, yet perillous 
 Times, far more dangerous to the Soul, by prevailing 
 Errors, and abounding Iniquities of all Sorts, 2 Tim. 
 3« 1 — 6. than the troublous Tiroes of Penecution to 
 the Body. Inordinate Seif-Iove gives carnal Counfel, 
 Spare thy Self; and the Fear of Man bringeth a Snare. 
 As Lukewarmnefs in Religion is lochiomto Chriir,I£ev. 
 3. So deteftable Indifferency and Neutrality in his 
 Caufe, 2. e. Lukewarmnefs, is Solemnly engag'd 
 againit in the Covenant. 
 
 As the R. Author of the Review did not fee't fit, 
 or needful, to anfwerj in Order, every Section, or 
 Sentence in the Anticovenanters Paper; So/tis thought 
 expedient, however impertinent Criticks may call it, 
 to make fome Addition of Reafons, Authorities, &c» 
 without Diminishing the Matter.or Altering the Phrafe 
 of the Reviewer. While the Author's Allowance and 
 Brethrens Approbation, were fo long expected for 
 publifliing this Review, out comes in Augufi or End 
 of July, An £jfay y tc prove toe Perpetual Obligation of 
 the National Covenant ef the Church of Scotland, with 
 Remarks on tbt ee fcandal us Letters, &c< Upon which 
 £Jfay and^ Remarks* tho' many other Remarks might 
 be made ; yet I only notice, hie i$ nunc , That, what- 
 ever Truths and Sayings worthy of Credit and Ac- 
 ceptance be in them, They not Effacing to prove the 
 perpetual Obligation of our Solemn League and Co- 
 venant but palling it S'uco pede in deep Silence, which 
 fome m3y take for Gonfent, that it is not Obligatory, 
 or may be buried in Oblivion, renders the Effay 
 lefs acceptable to fome. And not making any Remarks^ 
 however brief or general, upon the Letter here in View, 
 the' Publication of that Efjay can be no Impediment to 
 the Printing, Neceflity or Ufefulnefs of this Review. 
 Wherewith if the R. Author be not pleafed, it be 
 pubiifa'd without his Knowledge, and not io accurate, 
 
 or 
 
( xvf > 
 
 or full, as he wouM had ir ; let him amend or enlarge 
 it, as he will, in the Second Ed'rtjcn. 
 
 Now thele cur Covenants only of late controverted 
 by feemingly Pious Perfons, being not only iolemn 
 Engagements, Promifes, Oaths, Vov.s and facred 
 Covenants, as compofed at firit. ard extended in the 
 Acknowledgment o; Sirs and Engagem nt to Duties: 
 But alTo a Cornpvnd of our Conkifion of Faith, yea, 
 of the whole Divine Lav , and (a* great. Mward faith, 
 in his Earneft Contending;!, P. 23SO the biff- d W rd 
 of the Lord explained and accommdate \ V\ hereby we 
 Engage our feives and Poft-i it) to maintain what is 
 attained conform to it, and reform what is rot agree- 
 able thereunto; not in our oWb Strength, but through 
 his Grace enabling us, according to our feveral P'aces 
 and Stations; as is evident fr.- rv. th eXprefs Words 
 and fubje& Matter of thefe Cov nants, more than once 
 fufhcientiy proven by Scri'rure. Let any Detra&er, 
 who will be fo hardy, as to difur-A-e the fame, appear 
 and bring forth their ftrongeft \rguments ; *tis here 
 undertaken, and feems no diffi'u 1 1 ask, to prove fuch 
 Antifcripturifts and fVntichriftfan (how much foeyer 
 they pretend to be for Chri ft) a? well as Anti covenanters; 
 yea in Britain and Ireland Apoftates too, who de- 
 ferring the Covenant of their Fathers, and taking Oaths 
 contrary to ard exe'rfive of cur holy Covenants, are 
 perjured : Especially fuch as by Office ihou^d be and 
 pretend to be Keepers of both Tables of the L w, ?r& 
 the Keys of the Kingdom- en vi^. Chrill's 
 
 Houfe on Earth. But it (eerrre Few fuch *»ull incline" 
 to hazard their Caufe, in a pub; ck or printed Dik 
 pute, for which they fhewo fo much Zeal: As 
 
 finding itfafer to dHve their Defign privately, by diC- 
 perfing Letters, or Preaching (where. none rrplyj 
 reflecting on the Practi *e of our Reformers, in Entri J-g 
 into National Covenants, and Condemning ,the faid 
 Covenants. But they w bo Condemn our Covenants, 
 mud confequently Condemn our Eteforniatii n, and 
 the Scriptures by which they are warranted, and the 
 Blood of Chrift's Ss<nts and Martyrs, v h«i m J intain*d 
 and feal'd them with their desrelt Biood. Farewell. 
 
 A 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 mmmmmmmm 
 
 A 
 
 REVIEW 
 
 Of a Paper lately written againft our 
 National, and Solemn League and 
 Covenant. 
 
 HER£ was put into my Hand a Pa- 
 per lately written, condemning the 
 Pra&ice of our worthy Anceftors, 
 in entring into National Covenants,' 
 elpecially theSolemnLeagne andCo- 
 venant ; and hearing the Author is 
 publickly propagating his Notions 
 with great Zeal, to the Sedu&ion of fome weak People,' 
 who yet are reputed pious, I thought t it notamifs to Re- 
 view the Paper. The Author is faid to be a prefent 
 Minifter of the Church of Scotland, which juftly rai- 
 feth the Indignation of fincere Presbyterians, that any 
 bearing that Chara&er of a Presbyterian Minifter lhould 
 attempt to trample on the laudable Methods, our 
 Church was direfted into, for promoting the Work ot 
 Reformation. The Church of Scotland formerly ac- 
 counted Covenanting with God their Duty, Honour 
 and Happinefs*, as is evident, particularly from the A&s 
 of Affembly from 1638 to 164.9; and this Method was 
 highly approved by the Venerable AfTembly at lPefl- 
 winfier, as auguft, pious and learned a Body of Men, 
 as has conftituted a Synod fincc the Apoftles Days : 
 C Yci 
 
( is ; 
 
 Yet this Author would make the World believe all thefe 
 Alfemblies were under a Delufion, led away with a 
 Spirit of Error, taking Methods dire&ly oppofite to 
 the Mind of Chrift, and confequently were therein An* 
 tichriftian. Whether it be fo, or not, fhall be enquired 
 in the prefent REVIEW. 
 
 In his Preamble, he fays, <c I fhall endeavour to lay 
 <c open to you fuch Thoughts as I have at prefent upon 
 rc that Subject, and that with all Freedom — intend- 
 ** ing nothingjif I deceive not my felf, but your Bene- 
 < c fit, and my own Conviction, if I be in a Miftaks 
 
 " >- deliring to think foberly in a Matter, where- 
 
 *« in a great many of the Godly, in the Nation, are of 
 f< - different Sentiments from what I incline to think ; 
 "and to be fo much fen fible of my Blindnefs, and 
 * ftrong Byafs in me to Error, and my Readinefs to 
 fc be deceived, as to ly open to Conviftion from the 
 cc Law and the Teftimony." 
 
 jinfw. i. If fuch as follow in his Paper be his pre- 
 fent Thoughts, they are vain, finfiil, erroneous and 
 dangerous Thoughts, as may appear in the Review , 
 to the unbyafled Reader, and to himfelf upon ferious 
 fecond Thoughts. And, if he ly open to Ccthvi$ion> 
 let him hear what the Holy Spirit faith, in the Lavr 
 andTeJ}imony y Jer. 4. 14. —How long Jhall thy vain 
 Thoughts lodge within thee \ Acts 8. 21, 22, 23. Thy 
 Heart is not right in the Sight of God: Repent there- 
 fore of this thy Wickednefs, and pray God, if per* 
 haps, the Thoughts of thine Heart may be forgiven 
 thee* But, 2. It teems, as thefe were Thoughts he 
 inclined to think* fo he was refolved to lay them open; 
 and to difcover them with all Freedom>[Gr. Parrhefia,! 
 with Boldnefs of Face, & Freedom of Speeeh,fo the Word 
 imp«rts. Hence, it we can't find hisName at his Paper, 
 we may conjectuie,'twas he,whofo boldly and publiek- 
 ly, at feveral Occafions, vented (uch heterodox Thoughts 
 at Dundee, within thefe Twelve Months laft paft ; or 
 fome that fpoke for him, with a Parrhefia, in the 
 Church- judicatories fince. Whoever he be, he ufeth 
 a Boldnsis of Speech in a Strain different from and 
 
 con- 
 
( «9 ) 
 
 (Contrary to what becomes an Ambaflfador for Chriit, 
 Epb. 6. 19, 20. to make known the My fiery of the 
 Cofpel. However, 3. We may let fbme Things he 
 fays here, in his Preamble, ftand as Conctffions on both 
 Sides. That (1.) A great many of the Gcdly have 
 different Sentiments from him : We yield more, vi\* 
 That all the Orthodox have not only different, but aU 
 (o contrary Sentiments in this Matter ; yea masy 
 that are neither Godly nor Orthodox, have Sentiments 
 contrary to his, with Refpe& to the Religion and Ob- 
 ligation of Solemn and National Promifes, Oaths, 
 Vows} Covenants. (2.) His Bl in dnefs ; we concede 
 to this alfo, as very evident in the Scope and Subject 
 of this Paper. (3 J His Byafs to Error, we grant it, 
 and that he has too much inclined to follow it, in fo 
 boldly uttering fuch Errors. (4O His Readinefs to 
 be deceived ; we are forced, by what we fee and hear 
 of his falfe Portions, to grant, that he is not only 
 ready to be, but is actually deceived : And it were 
 good for him that he did not go about to deceive and 
 leduce Others ; for he lays open,v. r hh all Freedom, thefe 
 Thoughts, wherein he is, and others by his rough 
 Garment, may be deceived, E^ei. 14. 9. O that he, 
 who commands his to take Heed that fhey be not de- 
 eeived, even by fuch as come in his Name, would 
 break the Snare, difcover the Danger of 'fuch Decei- 
 vers, and keep his Difciples from going after them} 
 Luke 21. 3. Truce-hreaizers are ranked among the 
 woril that profefs the Nafme of Cbrilt ; from whom, 
 tho' they have a Form of GodJinefs t we are comman- 
 ded to turn away, 2 Tim. 3. 5. 
 
 He fays, My Scruples, with RcfpcB to our Cove- 
 nants, efpecially the Solemn League, and the Lawful- 
 nefs of entring into them, and therefore the Obligation, 
 of them, take their Rife chiefly from the Views J have 
 of the New Tefiament Church, and its DiftinQion from 
 that of the Old Tefiament. 
 
 Anfw. 1. If he had Scrupks, it would been more 
 expedient, to endeavour the Removal of them by pri- 
 
 C 2 vate 
 
r 20 > 
 
 vate Converfation with MiniHers and others, than to 
 make a Noife about them in Sermons and Writing ; 
 wherein he difcovers, that his Scruples, if they were 
 but fueh at firft, are quickly ( welled up to a dire& An- 
 titbefis and Oppofition to our Covenants ; as is plain 
 from his pofitive and prefumptuous Way of Speak- 
 ing. 2. He profefTes Scruples about the very Obliga- 
 tion of our Covenants, which, one would think, ihould 
 be acknowledged inviolable ; confidering that the Mat- 
 ter of them is good, being provioufly bound upon us 
 by the Lord's Word; tho' he had Scruples about feve- 
 ral Things, relative to the Manner of entring into 
 them, yet the known Rule, Fattum valet, quod, fieri 
 non debuit (i. e. That which ihould not been done is 
 valid, or binding, when done) might have cautioned 
 bim againft denying the Obligation of our Covenants : 
 Tho' it were granted (which will not be) that our Co? 
 venants ihould not been made ; yet now that they are 
 made,and bind to nothing that's finful, their Obligation 
 remains firm. See Jef. 9. 3. CSV. Tnat Covenant, which 
 Jfrael made with the Gibeonites, tho' there was Fraud 
 on the one Part, Raihnefs and "Want of Circumfpe&ion 
 on the other ; yet its Obligation remained .• And for 
 King Saul's breaking it, the Israelites were puniihed 
 by the Lord (2 Sam. 21. 1, 2. ) But let us hear on 
 on what Grounds our anticovenanting Author pro- 
 «eeds : Only the Difficulty is, how to come at his true 
 Sentiments ; for he is not at the Pains to explain his 
 Terms, or fix a clear State of the Queftion ; but throws 
 together a Heap of loofe Affertions, fome of them ve- 
 ry wild and unheard of, except among the Coccei- 
 ansy the German Anabapttfts, or the Englijh Setlari- 
 ens i All dete&ed and confuted long ago, by our zea- 
 lous, learned, covenanting Anceftors, whom he con- 
 temns. The bed ConJftru&ion can be put on his Eflay 
 is, that he would introduce the Independent Models 
 tho' he (eems not to underftand that either fufficiently. 
 But tho' his Method of Reafoning is confufed, yet I 
 fhall pace after him Foot for Foot, and notice at leaft 
 thefe Steps that go fortheft out of (he Way. 
 
( * ) 
 
 The firft Ground he lays down is a« follows, fays he, 
 <c I think it was peculiar to the Oid Tefb.ment 
 ic Church of Ifrael, that the Common-wealth aid 
 " Church were the fame, To that to be a Member of 
 <c the Common-Wealth and of the Church were then 
 " the fame : And the reft of the Nations being Aliens 
 rt to that Common-wealth, which was the only vifible 
 " Church, were without the Church o^God, Epb.2. 12. 
 " But, (fays he) in Oppoiition co this typical Church, 
 u which was- an earthly Kingdom, the New Teftament 
 c ' Church, or Kingdeon of Heaven, Confiits not of a- 
 " x\y Earthly Kingdom, nor of many Common- 
 le wealths joined in one, but of a Society gathered out 
 ct of all Nations] into one in Chrift, C5V." And 
 downward, he fays, 4C The vifible Church of "Chrift. u- 
 cc pon Earth, is a diftinct Society from all earthly Com- 
 " mpn-wealths, conftfting only of (uch as, in any Na- 
 <c tion, have a fair Appearance of belonging to this 
 " heavenly Society, and not of any whole Nation ; for 
 <c Chrift muft rule every where, in the midft of his 
 * c Enemies ; So that the Church and Common-wealth 
 ." are diilincT, 8V.' 8 
 
 Anfvo. There are feveral Things here which deferve 
 to be quarrelled; As, 1. That he confines the Oxl 
 'Teftament Church to 1 frail \ Whereas the Old Tefta- 
 ment Difpenfation muft be reckoned from the fird 
 Promife after the Fall, Gen. 3. i<>. which was many 
 Ages before IfraeVs Time. 2. He thinks it was pe- 
 culiar to the Qld Ye lament Church of Ifrael, that ths 
 Common-wealth and the Church were the fame, &c. 
 This he repetes often, as what he's pofitive in ; and 
 in his 3d Fofition, Vag. «;. he aflerts that their K'mzs 
 ivere then an Ecclefiaftick Office. Now this is al- 
 together falfe ; for there was a true Diftinction between 
 the Ecclefiaftick and Civil Jurifdictions, in Mefes his 
 Time and downwards. The Priefts and Civil Magi« 
 Urates had their diftinct. Offices,and might not encroach 
 tipon one another. See 2 Chron, 26. 18. As it is now^ 
 fo was it then ; tho' the Ecclefiafticks may be Members 
 of the Common-wealth, syid the Civil Magistrates 
 
 may 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 may be Members of the Church ; yet this does not 
 remove the Ditlin&ion btWeen Church and State,either 
 under the Old or New Teftament. As is fully proved 
 by famous Mr. Geo. Gillefpe in his Aaron's Red bloffom- 
 iȣ, Chap, 2 and 3. Wherein he illuftrates and proves 
 thefe two Points, 1. That the Jewifl) Church was for- 
 vnaViy diftir.ft from the Jewifh State. 2. That there 
 was an EcclefiafticalSanhedrin and Government, diftinft 
 from the Civil. So that 'tis altogether falfe, which the 
 Anticovenanter aflerts, that it was peculiar to the Old 
 Teftament that the Church and Common-wealth were 
 the fame. 3. 'Tis alio falfe, That to be a Member of 
 that Common-wealth and of the Church were then the 
 fame: If he means, as hefeemstodo, that when one 
 became a Member of the Jewijh Church, he, at the 
 fame Time, became a Member of the Common-Wealth. 
 How will this Author prove, that all the Profelytes 
 from among the Gentiles did, upon their Joining with 
 the Jewifh Churcb,become Members oftheir Common- 
 wealth,at the fame Time ? The Contrary appears from 
 Atis 8. 27, 28. of the Ethiopian Eunuch. GiUefpie 
 proves (ibid. Chap. 4.) That there wasExcommunication 
 among the Jews> as well as in the New Teftament 
 Church ; when any were Excommunicate from being 
 Members of the Church, they did not prelently forfeit 
 their Right to all Civil Privileges in the Common- 
 wealth. 4. Neither is it univerialty true, which the 
 Author aflerts, that the reft of the Nations, being Aliens . 
 to the Common-wealth of ffrael, were without the 
 Church cf God ; as was fhown juft now. Some Pro- 
 felytes were Aliens to the Jewijh Common-wealth, 
 and yet were within the Church of God. Eph. 1. 12. 
 doth not prove his Aifertion, but rather a Diftin&ion 
 of Common-wealth and Covenants of Tromife, which he 
 confounds ; for the Text proves, That they (in Time 
 paft, being Gentiles in the Fleih, v. 11.) were at that 
 lime without Chrift ; being Aliens from the Common- 
 roealth tf/Ifrael,(as all Profelytes of other Nations were) 
 and Strangers from the Covenants cf Prcmife, fas the 
 Profelytes were not.) So that Profelytes of theG entiles 
 
 might 
 
(a*5 ; 
 
 might plead an Intereft in Chrift, according to the 
 Covenants cfVromije \ tho'they could claim no Portion 
 of Canaan, nor Part in the Common-wealth. 5. He 
 calls the Old Teftament Church a Typical Church* 
 Does he think, that the Old Teftament Church was 
 only a TYPE of the New Teftament Church ? A Type, 
 as a Type, is but a mere Shadow, prefiguring fome 
 Thing future : But tho' the Jewifh Church was for a 
 Time taught by Types, it was not merely Typical, 
 but a real Church. From the Beginning to the E nd of 
 the World, the Church is homogeneous, of the fame 
 Kind, and one Body; As the Body ©f Man is fmall 
 in Infancy, and gradually grows up to full Stature; So 
 the Old Teftament Church was,in Minority ^compared 
 with the New Teftament Church, which is of a more 
 advanced Age and Stature. The Author might as 
 well fay, that a Minor is but a Type of what he will 
 be, when actually poffefling the Inheritance ; Or, that 
 a Child is a Type of what he will be, when advanced 
 to Man's Stature : Which would be no greater Noj> 
 fcnfe than his making the Old Teftament Church 
 merely Typical of the New Teftament Church, when 
 they are both of the fame Kind, differing only in De- 
 grees. 6. 'Tis yet more furprifing, how he comes to 
 j call the Old Teftament Church, an Earthly Kingdom. 
 It was no otherwife Earthly than all the Militant 
 [Church on Earth is, from the Beginning to the End 
 ! of the World ; As it is now,fo was it then, their Bodies 
 were on Earth, while worfhipping God. But the 
 Patriarchs, Prophets and other Saints, under the Old 
 Teftament were fpiritual, and heavenly -minded, as 
 well as the Saints under the New. And the Inftitutions 
 of that Difpenfation, were at that Time, fit enough 
 thro* the Divine Blefling, to guide the EleA to the 
 MeJJlab,the Way to Heaven. When the Apoftle fpeaks 
 of a worldly Tarbenack, and Wajbings, which fervc 
 for purifying the Flejb, he intimates that thefe were 
 fome o£thcTypes 9 which pointed at Chrift, the glorious 
 Antitype^ and he fpeaks diminutively of themjcompar'd 
 With kirn- £ut this gives not the lead Countenance 
 
 to 
 
( 2 4 ) 
 
 to our' Author's calling the Old Teftament Church, a 
 Typical Churchy and an Earthly Kingdom ; for which 
 he has no manner of Warrant from Scripture. Nor does 
 the Scripture allow him to ftate an Opposition between 
 the Old Teftament Church and the New ; as he does, 
 when he fays, IN OPPOSITION to this Typical 
 Churchy ivhich was an Earthly Kingdom, the Neto 
 Teftament Churchy or Kingdom of Heaven confifts not 
 of any Earthly Kingdom, &c. 
 
 Anfxo. We find that Term [the Kingdom of Heaven] 
 frequently ufed by Chrift and his Apoftles, but in 
 different Senfes ; Sometimes it fignifies Chrift's Entry 
 on his publick Miniftry, as Matt. 3. 2, 3. and 12. 
 28, Sometimes it fignifies the faving Operations of the 
 Holy Spirit, in Regeneration and San&ification, Mark 
 12. 34. Rom* 14. 1 7. Sometimes it Signifies the Church, 
 particularly the New Teftament Church ; or rather 
 the clearer Manifeftatfon of Heavenly Grace under the 
 New Teftament, as Mark 1. 14, 15. Zuku 10. 9, H. 
 3 Tis call'd a Kingdom with Refpe& to its conquering 
 •Power ; and the Kingdom of Heaven, becaufe it comes 
 from Heaven, calls us to be Heavenly, and will be com- 
 pleated in Heaven. All which are "applicable to the 
 Old Teftament Church, as well as the New ; tho* the 
 New enjoys a greater Degree of Light and Freedom, 
 yet 'tis not another Species or Kind of Church, than 
 the Old Teftament Church wa?. 
 
 The Reader may fee how contrary this Author's Opi- 
 nion is to the received Doctrine of the Church of Scot- 
 /tf»^,Confeffion of Faith ^Chap.-]* § 5, 6« " There are not' 
 * c twoCovenantsofGrace,difrering in Subftance^butone 
 •* &the fame under variousDifpenfations." AndZargcr 
 Catethifm^Queftion 33, 34,35. And that there is no 
 eftential or fpecifick Difference between the Church 
 vifible under the Old and New Teftament ; See Larger 
 Catecbifm> Queftion 62. <c The vifible Church is" a 
 cc Society made up of all fuch, as in all AGES and 
 «' Places of the World do profefs the true Religion, 
 <c and of their Children. " See the Scriptures adduced 
 to prove this, and the above Articles of Confeflion, 
 
 This 
 
 
This Anticof enantin^ Author's Way of fpeaking has 
 a great Affinity with the Errors of the Cocceian taction 
 in the Netherlands, and of ibme Sectaries in England* 
 'Tis known alfo what dreadful Here-fies among the 
 Myfticks, Anab op lifts and Entbufiafts of Germany ', 
 were ulhered in by a vilifying firil the Old Teflament, 
 and then external Ordinances and Order ; They pre- 
 tended all Things fhould be reformed, refined and 
 fpiritualized under the New Teftamcnt in Oppoiition 
 to their Notion of the Old Teftament Difpenfation. 
 If our Author go on, as he has begun, 'tis hard to 
 fay, where he may end. Kc fubjoms — that the Nevr 
 Ttfiamcnt Cburcb confifls not of any Earthly Kingdom, 
 &c. Anfw. 'Tis true that the Church, as a Cburcb, 
 is not an Earthly Kingdom, neither under the Old, nor 
 New Teftament. But, if a whole Nation, or feveral 
 Nations profefs the true Religion,and fubjeA to Chrift's 
 Ordinances, as all the Proteftant Kingdoms and Com- 
 mon-wealths do, or fhould do, art this Day, they ma/ 
 and mull be reckoned a Part ef ChriftVs univerfal, 
 vifible Church. Hi's Definition of the New Teftamenc 
 Church agrees alfo to the Old Teltament Church, vi%* 
 That It is a Society gathered cut of all Nations into 
 One in Cbrift, dec. And of fucb as, in any Nation, 
 have a fair Appearance cf belonging to this Heavenly 
 Society. He iuould have added a Clauie, including 
 alfo the Children tffucb. May not a whole Nation have 
 a Profeffion of the true Religion,and externally fu£je& 
 to Chrift's Ordinances ? Why then adds he, That 
 the Church confifts not of any v>bole Nation ? His 
 Reafon is as ftrange \ For, fays he, Cbrifi mufi rule 
 every where in the midfi of bis Enemies ; Which proves 
 not what he juft now laid, but rather the Contrary. 
 He finds his own Redeemed Ones in a State of Enmity, 
 when he firft comes tp them, and fubdues them to 
 himfelf : Such as be in Subje&ion so him, are not 
 to be reckoned his Enemies, who will not have this 
 Man to rule over them. 
 
 His next Ground is, " The Commonwealth of 
 
 Jfrael became a Church by Ycrtue pi the Covenants 
 
 JD of 
 
C * 6 J 
 
 <c of Promife, from which the Gentiles were Strangers.* 
 iC Tbefe Covenants, as I take it (fays he; were the 
 *' Covenant of Circumcifion, and the Sinai Covenant^ 
 U including in it the whole Law of Commandments, 
 * f contained in Ordinances." f$c* 
 
 Jnfw. i. He makes that firft which Ihould be put 
 in the latter Place *, He fuppofeth Jfrael was a Com- 
 mon-wealth before it was a Church ; whereas there was 
 a Church in the Patriarchs Families from Adam to 
 Ncab, from Ncah to Abraham, and from him to Mofes\ 
 ater that Time they became a Common-wealth. 2. 
 He fays, T^hcj became a Church by Virtue of the Cove- 
 nants of Promife; whereby, as is clear by his follow- 
 ing Words, he underftands the Covenant of Circum* 
 i*f\m and the Sinai Covenant* Anfw. The Foundation 
 of their Chureh-Conftitution was the Lord's Grace, 
 thro' the Promifed Mejfiab> reveal'd in the firft Pro- 
 wife, Gen* 3. 15. The after Promifes were but Hy- 
 drations of that firft One : And whoever received, or 
 profefTed to receive that Promife, with the fubfequent 
 Explications of it,byFaith,were received into theCburch. 
 Abraham received the fame, therefore the Lord appen- 
 ded the Seal of Circumcifion, for Confirmation of his & 
 his Pofterity's Faith. But as to theSinai Covenantee 
 Dr< Owen on Heb. 8. 6. and Petto on the Covenants .• 
 "Who think that the Covenant at Sinai differed vaftiy 
 from that of Circumcifion. Owen is of Opinion, that 
 at Srnai was a particular Covenant with the lfraelites % 
 intended principally to eoavift them of Sin, tg beat 
 down their Pride, and fo to drive them to the Meffiab 
 prefigured by the Typical Ceremonies. The Debate 
 t«en lies between Dr. Owen and our Author, Whether 
 the Sinai Covenant was one of the Covenants of Pro- 
 jnife, irentioned Epb. 2. 12. as he fays, All Orthodox 
 Divines agree, that by the Covenants of Promife we 
 are to understand the Covenant o f Grace, termed Co- 
 venants, in the Plural, with Refpeft to the feveral 
 more Remarkable Revelations thereof. 
 
 But this Author fays, They are called Covenants of 
 Promife, BFCAUSE, by them, the Promife of Chrifl 
 teas inch fed amvng the Seed of Abraham according to 
 
 the 
 
(3^7 ) 
 
 the Flejh. 'Tis true, Abraham received a Promife, 
 That the Meffiab fhould defcend of him according to 
 the Flefh ; but the Word [INCLOSED] Teems to 
 exclude all, but Abraham's Seed, from Benefit by 
 Chrift under the Old Teftament. Whereas the Pro- 
 feljtes, not of his Seed,, had Intereft in Chrift. The 
 Author makes the Covenants of PromTe the fame with 
 the Ceremonial Law, and fays, Tbefe Covenants rvert 
 a Partion-rv all between the\zw\fa Common- waUb and 
 other Nations* Hence it will follow, That Chrift 
 having broke down that Wall of Partition,we mull not 
 fpeak more of the Covenants of Promife, as obtaining, 
 or of any Ufe, now under the New Te&atnenr, if we 
 will be advifed by this Author. Behold how far a 
 beloved Hypotbefis will lead Men / It mud be a deep 
 Prejudice he has conceived againft our National Co- 
 venants, that for their S'ke he would turn out of Doors 
 with them the Covenants ol Promife, i. e. the Cove- 
 nant of Grace. 
 
 He fays, The Covenants of Promife exduded all other 
 Nations, but the Jews, from ChriJ} % till he fooulJL come* 
 Anjvj, The Scripture fays, The LordfurTsr'd or pc?r* 
 mitted the other Nations to walk in their own Ways, 
 Atts. 14. 16. and did not give them his Word and Or- 
 dinances, Pfal. 147. uit. But it feems an unprece- 
 dented Way of fpraking to fay, The very Covenant* 
 of Promife EXCLUDED them from Chrift. I fi 
 no fuchEKclufory Claufe, Gen* 3. 15. and 49. 10. Ifa. 
 45. 22. and the like. If our Author's Notion had 
 been true, the Profeiytes would have been utterly 
 debarred from Chrift ; But we know they w-re not. 
 
 Neither is that true which the Author Ailerts; Thac 
 by the Sinai Covenant the "Jews beldtbtxLand of Canaan. 
 I rather think they held it, as the Accompliihment of 
 the Lord's free Promife, made to Abraham, Ifaac and 
 Jacob, long before the Sinai Covenant. That Cove- 
 nant was broken almoft as foo'n as made ; hence, if 
 they had no other Security for Canaan., they would 
 never have entred it: But Mfes and others pleaded 
 on the Promife, made to Abraham, Jfaa; and Jacob. 
 D 2 He 
 
( 2« ) 
 
 He alfo contradi&s the holy Text, Rom* 4. 13, 14. 
 Gal. 3. 17, iS. 
 
 Again he fays, c But now Chrift is come in Room of 
 c thete Covenants, whereby the Promile was inclofed 
 * to the jtewj.' Anfw. Chrift is come in Room of Typi- 
 cal Ceremonies ; but that he is come in Room of the 
 Covenants of Promife, the Author will never be able to 
 J>rove : r/or Chrift came not in their Room to abolifh 
 them j but he came according to them, in Profecution 
 of them, and to expend the Difpenfation of the Cove- 
 nant of Grace to the Gentile World. The Author fays, 
 Cbrift's Coming, &c. is the End of the Covenant of 
 Circumcifion* Anfw. But he hath inftituted Baptifm 
 and a baptifmal Covenant in the Room thereof, till the 
 Erd of Time: The Author therefore is not like to get 
 rid of Covenants, da what he can. 
 
 He further fays, Chrift is the Covenant of the People, 
 —tbe oily Thing by robicb one Sinner can ft and fairer 
 for the Inheritance than another. Anfto. Hefpeaksas if 
 this were peculiar to the New Teftament,but nothing is 
 more plain and certain than that it was even fo under 
 the Old Teftament. See Larg. Cat.Queft, 34. with the 
 Scripture Proofs. 
 
 He adds, Chrift is tbs only Bond a f Union and Cent* 
 tnumon in the Church. Anjto. Yet Means muft not 
 be excluded. Chrift is indeed the Centre of Union 
 and communion in his Church, he joins the Members 
 th reor into one Body ,by his Holy Spirit ; yet ordi- 
 narily he does ^t by the Means of his own Inftitution, 
 as Veh'-les o his Grace : Such as the Word, Sacra- 
 ments, Church Government ; and even by Confeflxons 
 of Faith, containing the Form of found Words ; and 
 why not alfo by foiemn Covenants i 
 
 He fays, ' To feek the Thing typified by the old, 
 
 * Coves mts elfewhere, or to feek to imitate them by 
 
 * ar,y earthly Covenants, qr to bring in any earthly 
 
 * Covenants into the New Tenement Church as a 
 
 * Foundation of Church-Communion, is in my View 
 € crofs to tha N^wTeftament Difpenfstion,and a bring 
 
 * ing theDtfcipk* again under theYoke of Bondage; and 
 
 there* 
 
(.1C9 J. 
 
 ' therefore by all Means to be avoided : This fecms to 
 J me to be done by ourCovenants (5V. " 
 
 Anfw. AH tbie unfound Aflfertions, noticed already 
 in his Preamble, were laid as Foundations, whereon to 
 raife a Battery againft our Covenants : And now be 
 begins the Attack direeVy. But having feen how loofe 
 his Foundations are, it may be hoped his Succefs will 
 not be great. I- Befides his repeting his former Blun- 
 ders, he fuppofes that all the Covenants we read of 
 in the Old Tettament were merely Ceremonial and 
 Typical ; fuch as that in King Afa\ Time, 2 Chton. 
 15. But 'tis importable for him to prove, that fuch 
 Old Tcftament Covenants were Typical ; for therein 
 the Jews covenanted to ferve the Lord according to 
 his Will, revealed to thorn': Hence, tho' they engaged 
 themfelves to the Observation of the Ceremonial Law, 
 then enjoined them ; yet, their Covenanting, in it felf 
 confidered, was purely Moral, a'nd fuch as will con- 
 tinue to be a Duty to the End of the World : For all 
 Chriftians are bound to engage themfelves to the Lord, 
 to his Truths, Caufe and Service, both perfonally, and 
 in Conjunction with others : As may be fhown more 
 fully afterwards. 
 
 The Author goes on with his dimtnutjve, difdainful 
 Epithets, calliag them Earthly Covenants •, but I would 
 ask his Scripture Warrant ? The Lord was pleafed to 
 promife to Abraham, that he would give the Land of 
 Canaan to his Seed; yet tha^was not the principal 
 Thing t intended in the Covenant ; elfe Abraham* tho' 
 the Lord's principal Favourite and Friend, would been 
 little the better of it. But by the Covenant he en- 
 joyed fweet Communion with God here, and arrived 
 at compleat Blelfednefs in Heaven. Will the Author 
 dare then to call it an earthly Covenant ? 
 
 He objects, Tbpt in the Solemn League* the Com~ 
 mon-wealth, as a Commm-wealth, entred into Cburcb- 
 eommunion — and downwards, that thereby the 
 Church and Common-wealth were blended together, 
 
 Anfw. This Objection is very weak and nonfenfical; 
 for tho* Magiftrates, Minifters and People of all Sorts 
 
 in 
 
( ?o ) 
 
 in the three Kingdoms, fook the Solemn League ; yetl 
 that is Co far from removing, that it confirms the Di- 
 itin&ion of Civil and Eccleflaltick juriidiAions, and 
 Difference of Stations ; for, i. There are many Duties 
 Incumbent on them all in Common, as Men and Chri- 
 stians ; thefe they all jointly covenanted' to perform. 2« 
 As to Duties Of the Magistrate's diSce^ or of the Mi- 
 nifter's Office, they, who were irt thefe Offices, cove- 
 nanted to perform them refpe&ively ; the Magiftme 
 What is proper for him ; and the MTn fo-r what is pro- 
 ber for him : And likewife private C rift'ans thereby 
 engaged themfelvesto keep within the Bounds of their 
 Station, without en:nroaching upon what is peculiar 
 td either of the former. And as none can reasonably 
 doubt of all the Inhabitants in the Three Kingdoms, 
 being obliged unto thefe Duties, each in his own 
 Sphere and Station, and to be mutually a (Tilting one to 
 aflother, all together," and each in his own Place and 
 Station, for the promoting of that common Caufe of 
 Religion, againfl the Enemies thereof: So it may be 
 evident to any, who confider our Covenants, that they 
 are calculated for prefcrving a beautiful Order and 
 Regularity throughout the whole Community. He 
 fays, ' The Solemn Leagus and Covenant is a Church- 
 6 Covenant, eftablifliing Church-communion on fuch a 
 
 * Footing, as divided the Members of the vifible 
 
 * Church from one anbjiier, and mixed in the profane 
 4 -World into the Communion of the Church.' Jnjtv. 
 'This (hall be anfVeted afterward in a more properPlace. 
 Only here he fhoufd know and notice, that it is not a 
 Covenant, purely Ecclefislrick, nor purely Civil; but 
 a general Covenant, wherein Perfons of all Sorts do 
 Join ; yet each in his own Station, as ju'ft now hinted. 
 
 His 3d Ground is- l The Church or Common -wealth 
 f 6f Ifrael had Three ftarding Oifices in it, fuitab !e 
 
 * fo the Eirfhlv but Typical Nature of it, vi%. Vxc- 
 
 * #hee, Prieft, and King all of them FccJqfiaftical Ot : 
 
 * fcc£s ; like unto which there Was never, nor will be 
 
 * any, in any ftfafolh, but in the Htayenly Nation, 
 
 * typi/iedi 
 
( ?' ) 
 
 f typified by the Farthly Nation of Jfraeh And t^ers 
 « th-y are only to be round in the Per On of Jefus 
 c Chrifi ; He is the only Thing like the King of Ifrael. 
 * and the Govemcur thereof, in the New-Teftament 
 « Church, £&. , 
 
 Anf. l. He fays, Tbe Church, cr Common-wealth 
 confounding them, or making both one, which was 
 fliewed to be fa He, in An fiver to his fir ft Ground : For 
 that Church and State were Formally diftin& ; They 
 had ordinarily diftLnft Rulers, Priefts and Levites for 
 the One, Judges and Kings for the Other ; Dift:n& 
 A&s, Sacrificing, Uc . in the Church ; Death, Ba- 
 niihrr.ent, &r. E\ra 7. ?0. in the State: Diftinft Qb* 
 je&s, Matters of the LORD, and Matters of the King, 
 2 Chron. 19. 11. Diftincr. La~s t Ceremonial for the 
 Church, Judicial for the Common-wealth, and the 
 Moral for both: Sometimes diftin& Members, when 
 thefe of the One were not admitted to fome Privileges 
 of the Other: The Form of the State did alter from 
 Judges to Kings, but the Church was unalterably tbe 
 fame .' And they had their diitinct Periods of Durati- 
 on; for. the Church continued (tho' corrupt) after the 
 Civil Government was overturned by the Romans* 
 See Naphtali Pref. p. 35, &c. 2. Neither the Church, 
 nor the State had thefe three Offices in it, as the Au- 
 thor affirms : The State had Kings, fome of them alfo 
 Prophets, but none Priefts j Tbe Church had Priefts 
 and Prophets, but no Kings. 3. "Tis falfe (as was 
 {aid on Head ifi.) That the King was an Ecclefiafl'uk 
 Office, or Officer ; elfe Saul (their £rft King) had not 
 been rejected for Sacrificing once, 1 Sam. 13. 9-*- 14. 
 Nor U^iah plagued for attempting to burn Incenfe, 
 iChron. 26, 18— 21. If the Author could prove this 
 hi6 Aflertion, he would much ftrengthen the Hands of 
 Erafiians : For it is pro mi fed Ufa. 49. 23.) That 
 Kings fhould be Nurfing-Fathers to the Gofpel- 
 Church, as well as they were to the Jewijh CfoA-ch 5 
 or, as he terms it, in the heavenly Nation, as they 
 were in the earthly Nation of Ifrael. And as it is evi- 
 deatj the faid three Offices were cot ail Ecclefiaftical 
 
 ill 
 
( 3* ; 
 
 in the Jewifb Church : fo, we grant, they ntver will be 
 all Ecclefiafthal in the Gofpel Church ; for the Kiflgtyr 
 Office in any mere Man was never, is not, nor ever 
 fhall be BccUfxafticaU 4. He infinuates, that Chrift 
 was not King in the Old Teftament Church ', but cer- 
 tain it is, He was, is, and fhall be the Prophet, Prieft 
 and King, the only Head and Saviour of his Church, 
 from the Beginning to the End of the World, PfaU 2. 
 6. I fa. 33. 22. The Lord is our King, be v>iU fave us* 
 Ifa. p. 6, 7. See Confejs. of Faitb, Cbap. 8. §. 1. 
 JLarg. Cat.gueft. 42 — 4*5> with the Scripture Proofs. 
 It will not prove his Afiertion to fay, that fome of the 
 Kin^s of Ijrael were Types of Chrift } which Kings 
 under the Gofpel are not: For their being Types did 
 not make their Office Ecclefiaftick : There were emi- 
 nent Types of Chrift that were not Ecclefiaftick Offi- 
 cers, as Jofeph^ Jojhua, &c. Nor will their ordering 
 the Affairs of the Temple and Courfes of the Priefts 
 prove it •, for this they did not as Kings, but as Pro- 
 phets, fuch were David^ Solomon, divinely infpired. 
 Rutherford's Survey of Mr. Hooker's Sum of Church" 
 JDifczpline Page 477. ' The Churches of the ]ews 
 « and Gentiles have the fame Head and King in them, 
 
 * reigning in the fame Miniftry and Word, Hof. 1. 11. 
 ■ £pb- 1. 21. (£4. 11 — 13. Col. 1. 1%. Saved by Faith, 
 
 * and the fame Grace of Chrift, Aits 15. 8.— II- C? to- 
 
 * 42*43. Heb. 11. 1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 10. 3, 4. — TjbtRock 
 
 * was Chrift. 
 
 He is fo kind as to own, That tbefe who juffereji 
 en the Head of Chrift' 's being the only Head of his 
 Church, were fo far Martyrs of Jejus Chrift. Yet 
 he lets us know, he will not be led orF his Road by 
 them ; for he lays. He is net obliged to believe their 
 Notions about the Covenants. His ConceHion will not 
 lave him from the Guilt .and Scandal of condemning 
 their Tsftimcny, fcal'd with their Blood : For it is 
 known that they died all adhering to our Covenants, as 
 comprehensive of all they fufFered for. This Gentle- 
 man, forfooth, on the Matter declares to the World, 
 TJiat tkefe who Jfuffered for adhering to our Cove-* 
 
 nants, 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 nants, were miferably deluded ; and thus he tramples 
 on their Blood 
 
 Ay but lie tells us, He approves not ofthefe v>bo burnt 
 the Covenant. Is rot that greatGoodnefs in him ? BuC 
 why is he difpleafed with them ? Is it becaufe the Mat- 
 ter of the Covenant was good, and therefore the Cove- 
 nant itfelf fhould not be burnt? No, his Rea "on is, 
 Hecaufe they did it by Virtue of the A3 of Supremacy, 
 ufurping Cbrift's Kyai Prerogative. Which plainly 
 intimates, that if they had kept free of that Ufurpa- 
 tion, it would been no Fault in them to burn the Co- 
 venants. I am fure the Author goes near to treat the 
 Covenants as rudely as the Burners of them ; at lead 
 in labouring to the very utmoft of his Power, to ren- 
 der them odious, ard to blot out the Memory thereof 
 for ever. If our Covenants do retain their obliging 
 Force on us, (as I £rmly believe they do, and 'tis pro- 
 ven by Orthodox Divines) then fure, this Man will be 
 found guilty of dreadful Perjury, and of Endeavours 
 to involve the three Kingdoms in the fame Guilt, by 
 teaching People that it was finful to make fuch Cove- 
 nants,anda Duty to lay them afide altogether; and that 
 the Church fhould never make any more of that Rind 
 hereafter to the World's End. I do not wrong him, 
 tor his Paper will fairly bear all this. See Mat. 5, 19. 
 
 He feys, ' The folemn League brings in Earthly 
 * Power into the Church.' Anfw. If he mean, that 
 h obliges Magiftrates to protect and affift the Church ; 
 this is but what is their Duty before the Lord : Thdy 
 are to judge jtr God, not to bear the Sword in vain, 
 but to encourage tbe Good> to be Terrors to evil Doers* 
 &c. Rom. 13. 3, 4*. But this Man, it feems, would have 
 aboundlefs Toleration ; he fpeaksas if he thought, ic 
 would do beft ( to let the World loofe, to -take off 
 all Reins of external Government and Laws : No vifible 
 external Courts, no Authority, ncr Government te 
 check or bound People ; No, thefe are too Old Tefta- 
 ment-Iike ; all muftbe fpiritual in the New Tejflarnent. 
 Whatelte can he mean, by complaining, That the So- 
 >-ntn League and Covenant brings m Earthy Peptf in* 
 E u 
 
 3W 
 
( J4 ) 
 
 to the Church <* Whoever reads the Solemn League, 
 may fee, there's nothing therein blameable on thac 
 Head, unlefs People will mil out with the Bible it 
 felf. 
 
 J-Je goes on, Page 6. The plain C*/e,fays he, is y When 
 a Multitude were to be brought into the Church, who 
 bad ho feeling (f the Truth, &c. they behoved to be 
 d:a'J rvrt'j another Way, that is, by fuch Power as 
 they htul a Senje.of; and is there any Thing of Cbrift's 
 Kingdom in this ? Anfw. i.That is not the plain Cafe; 
 ft.r the inhabitants or the Three Kingdoms, who took 
 the Covenant, were Members of the Vifible Church 
 before : So it was not at all the Defign of the Covenant 
 to bring them into the Church. W hat for a Man muft 
 this Author be r Who knew very well, that the Cove- 
 nanters were joined in Church-communion, and did 
 actually communicate together as Occaiion offered, 
 before any Motion of the Solemn League was made ; 
 and yet he aflert?, I know not how often, that it was 
 made a Church-Covenant, to turn the Common-wealth 
 into a Church, to b'ingPeple into the Church, and 
 to creft a Church upen the Covenant ; with a Number 
 of like Exprttlions, which, his own Heart muft be con- 
 feious, is a falfe Repreftntation of the Matter. He 
 gives flireud Infinuations, that external Force was 
 ufed to compel People to take the Covenant, viz- Sucb 
 Fewer, as they had a Senfe cf, &c. But when he pro- 
 duces Irftances, they fhall be confidered : The moil 
 Sincere and hearty Covenanters refufe the Charge, as 
 may be feen in their Writings, 'it is plain, the Corn- 
 million of the General Aifembly 1648, debarred the 
 Perfons accelfary to the unlawful Engagement in War 
 from renewing the Covenant. See Confef. 1725. Page 
 
 37 6 - . 
 
 See fome Minifters ANSWERS, to the REPLIES 
 ofMinifters and ProfefTors of Divinity in Aberdeen, 
 concerning the Covenant 1638. 
 
 Anfw, to 1 Reply. — « And for that which difpleafetb 
 M you in our Way, that we deal after fuch a Manner 
 f with P&ople to come in : We anfwer, That we have 
 
 « feen 
 
1 feen in this Land, the Day of tbs Lord's Poner y 
 f wherein his People have moft willingly offered them* 
 ' felves in Multitudes, like the Dew of the Morning ; 
 € That others, of no fmall Note, have offered their 
 
 * Subfcriptionsy and have been refufed, till Time 
 4 fnould try, that they join in Sincerity, from Love 
 1 to the Caufe, and not from the Fear of Men. And 
 
 * that no Threatnings have been ufed ; except, of the 
 
 * defcrved Judgment of God \ nor Force, except the 
 € Force of JReafon, from the high Refpeft which we 
 4 owe to Religion, to our King to our Native Coun- 
 
 * try, to our felves, and to the Pofterity ; which 
 4 hath been to fome a greater Conftraint, than any ex- 
 4 ternal Violence : And we wifn may alfo prevail with 
 4 you.* 
 
 Alfo Mr. Gi\\efpie\ MifccUany Queftions, Pag. 191,. J 
 
 192. Qbjeft. * Why are we forced and compelled into 
 
 * the Covenant i 
 
 c Anfw. 1. If any known Malignant, or Compiler 
 4 with the Rebels, or with any Enemy of this Caufe, 
 
 * hath been received, either to the Covenant, or Sa- 
 4 craments, without Signs of Repentance (I mean, fuch, 
 c as Men in Charity ought to be fatisiied with; for 
 4 their former Malignancy, and Scandal \ *iis more 
 4 than Minilters and Elderihips can Anfwer, tither 
 4 to God, or the Afts and Conftitutions of this Na- 
 
 * tionai Church. I truft all faithful and confeientious 
 4 Minilfers have laboured to keep themfelves pure in 
 4 fuch Things. ■ 2. Men are not ptherwife 
 
 * drawn, or forced into the Covenant, than into other 
 4 neceffary Duties. Nay, it ought not to be called a 
 c Forcing or Compelling. Are Men forced to fpare 
 4 their Neighbours Life, becaufe Murder is feverely 
 4 punifhed r" Or are Men compelled to be Loyal, becauf© 
 4 Traitors are exemplary punifhed i There may 
 4 and mud be a Willingnefs and Freenefs in the doing 
 4 of the contrary Duty ; altho* great Sins muft not 
 4 gounpunimed. Men are not compelled to Vertue, 
 4 becaufe Vice is punifiied ; elfe Vertue were not Ver- 
 
 E 2 4 tue. 
 
( ?6 J 
 
 c tue. Thefe that refufe the Covenant, reproach it 3 
 « or rail againft it, {let our anticov wanting Author 
 
 * note this,) ought to be looked upon as Enemies to 
 « it, and dealt with accordingly ; Yet, if any Man 
 
 * were known to take the Covenaat againft his Will, 
 € he were not to be received* 3. Thefe Two may 
 « well (land together, to cenfure the Contempt or Ne- 
 ' glee* of a Duty 5 and withal to cenfure Wickednefs in 
 
 * the Perfon, that hath taken up the Practice of the 
 c Duty. If any Ifraelite would not worlhip the true 
 
 * God, he was to be put to Death, 2 Chrcn. 15. 13. 
 f But withal, if, worshipping the true God, he was 
 « found to be a Murderer, an Adulterer, 8?c. for this 
 
 * alfo he was to be put to Death.— —'Tis juft fo here, 
 
 * Refufers of the Covenant, and Railers againft it, 
 3 are juitly cenfured : But witfotl, if Wickednefs and 
 1 Malignancy be found in any, that have taken the 
 
 * Covenant ; their Offence and Cenfure is not to be 
 I extenuated, but to be aggravated.' 
 
 Says he, / call all Church-covenants Legal and Earth' 
 1y> that go not upon the pure Footing of the New Tefla- 
 went Difpenfation. 
 
 Anjw, Some wifh to fee this Man's Scheme at full 
 Length, that they may know what is the New Tefta- 
 ment Difpenfation according to him ; what's that pure 
 Footing, and what Sort of Covenants he would be for. 
 Till we fee the Author's fine Scheme, he muft allow 
 us to think our Covenants are very confonant to the 
 New Teitement Difpenfation. It is prophelied, that 
 in the New Teftament Times, Perfons and Nations 
 fhould folemnly devote themfelves to the Lord, re- 
 nouncing t4ieir own Strength and Righteoufnefs, and 
 relying on Cbrift, fay, In the Lord have 1 Righteouf- 
 nefs and Strength . Ifa. 44. $• & 4$. 22, 23. 
 
 Jer. 50. 5. This is exemplified in our Covenants : Our 
 Covenanters declare their Deiire to be humbled for 
 Sin, to receive and reft upon Chrift, for Justification 
 and San&ification, and, in the Strength of Chrift, to 
 waHc in all the Ways or holy Obedience, (ft . He fays, 
 
 drifts 
 
( ?7 ) 377 
 
 Chrifi's Amending has tranflated the Place of the 
 Church's Worfhip fromEatth to Heaven. Anfw.Here is 
 old Myfticifm to the Life. Believers indeed are called, 
 to fet their Affe&ions en Things above, where Cbrifl 
 is at the Father's Right-hand. But that and the like 
 Expseffions do not fay that the Place of their Worftip 
 is tranflated from Earth to Heaven. Place is attribu- 
 ted to Bodies, Corpora fcla funt in loco: Therefore, 
 while Believers Souls are in their Bodies, and thefe u- 
 pon the Earth, that is the Place ®f their Worftnp, and 
 not Heaven. He adds, The Seat of the Church's Power 
 is in Heaven* Anfw. Chrift's Humane Nature is in- 
 deed in Heaven, but, as God, he is every where pre- 
 lent ; and he authorizeth his AmbaiTadors to aet for 
 him, and in his Name to hold Ecclefiaftick Judicato- 
 ries here on Earth, and has prorr.ifed'his Prefence witb 
 them, Mat. 18. 20. C£ 28. 20. What therefore can this 
 Gentleman intend by confining the Seat of the 
 Church's Power to Heaven ? This feems to confirm 
 what was noticed before, that the Author could at a 
 cheap Rate, part with Judicatories, Government and 
 Authority here on Earth. 
 
 He expoftulates with us, faying, Why turn we a- 
 gain to thefe beggarly Elements f Anfw. Tho' the great 
 Apoftle of the Gentiles, under the ConduA of Di- 
 vine Infpiration, call the Typical Ceremonies (when 
 abolifhed by Chrift's Death) beggarly or empty, poor 
 Elements ; not in the leaft vilifying them, fo long as 
 they were ftampt with divine Authority ; but when 
 the Lord had actually aboliihed, and forbid the Ufe 
 of them, and yet Judaizing Chriftians would needs 
 retain them, as if they had an intrinfick Goodnefs ; 
 the Apoftle doth ehallenge thefe People for turning 
 back to thefe poor Elements ; for fuch they were, when 
 ftript of Divine Inftitution : I fay, Tho' the Apoftle 
 fpeaks thus of $he abrogated Ceremonies, how dare 
 this Author rank Covenanting among thefe beggarly 
 Elements ? He had need to try what Spirit he is mo- 
 ved by, and examine what Warrant he has for fo fpeak. 
 pg > left he be found guilty of throwing Contempt 
 
 upojj 
 
( ?8 ) 
 
 upon an Ordinance of Go.i, and a Duty of the Moral 
 Law, which remains perpetually binding. Yea, the 
 Things covenanted are all Duties of the nrll and fecond 
 Table of the Law of God ; to explode and reje& theie, 
 as beggarly Elements, is blafphemou9. 
 
 He adds, / fee nothing in tbefe Covenants, but a 
 pitiful Shadow of the old Earthli Cburcb. Anf. What 
 pitiful Ignorance, intolerable Pride, and daring Pre- 
 fumption is bewrayed by this Man ! 'Tis furpnfing 
 that his Confcience flies not in his Face-, for fuch Lan- 
 guage, that borders on Blafphemy ; taking all Ways 
 to throw Contempt on the Church of God, where the 
 Divine Majefty vouchfafed his gracious Pretence, for 
 fo many Ages, declaring there to as bis Reft \ fir be 
 defird it, Pfal. 132. 14. & 46. 4, 5. And where there 
 was fo much Communion and iweet Intercourfe be- 
 tween God and his dearly beloved People ; as we may 
 fee, among other Places, in the Pfalms of David, Pfal. 
 26. 8. & 27. 4. & 36. 8. & 42. & 63. 84. Yet this 
 Man is not afraid to reprelent that Church by all 
 diminutive, difrefpectful, and vilipending Epithets ; 
 calling it a Qmmou-wealtb Cburcb, a Typical Churchy 
 an Old Earthly Cburcb: WV:1 meet With more of this 
 Language yet before us. We need the lefs wonder he 
 ipares not our lacred, folemn Covenants^ He averrs 
 be fees nothing in them, but a pitiful Shadow cf the 
 Old Earthly Cburcb. Our worthy Reformers, from 
 the firft Dawning of the Reformation, Entred into 
 Covenants, as we find in Kwmc's Hiftory, at Edinburgh 
 December^ 15^7. At Perth. May 31ft, i«><;o. At 
 Zeitb, April \ 2th, 1560. At Air, September 4th, 
 1562. And all along this Church found iingular Ad- 
 vantage by that MUt) : But what does this Author va- 
 lue our Reformers ? fuch as Kmx, Davidfcn^ IVelJb, 
 Rutherfurd, Gillefpie, Durham, the two Gutbrics, 
 and the other eminent' y pious and learned Servants of 
 God, with the goodly Company of private Chriftians, 
 who were dear and near to God; yea the General Af- 
 fetnblies of this Church ; who all declared for the Co- 
 venants : This Author declares upon the Matter, that 
 
 they 
 
( 39 y 
 
 they wereall a Set of pitiful judaizers. Now, whether 
 ihall We believe him, or them? They have declared 
 thro* their Life, 2nd many or them at their Death.and 
 feverais at the Place of Execution, when about to die 
 Martyrs lor the Covenants ar.d Work of Reformation; 
 that the Lord had by his Word and Spirit perfwaded 
 them of the Goodreis of chat Caule ; had ihined upon 
 their Souls in owning it, iofacb a Manner, as to leave 
 them r.o Room to doubt ol it. Let the Reader but 
 perufea few Books \ frail mention, vi%. Calderwccd's 
 Hilhrj, The Fulfilling of toe Scriptures, Rutherfurtfs 
 letters^ 1 he Life of Mr. John Ifelfb, once Minifter 
 zt Air\ Naptbali-y 1 he Hind let loofe, The Cloud of 
 Witnejfts, iVodroivs Hlftorjr of the SufFerngs of the 
 Cburcu of Satland , not to fpeak of thee in England 
 and Ireland, who have left their Teftimonies in Fa- 
 vours of the Covenant. 
 
 P. 8. He fays, I find no Warrant in the Nero Tefla- 
 went, nor any Shadow cf Ground for the 'fe Covenants, 
 &c. Anf. If there be Warrants for them in the OJd 
 Teftament, will not that fuffice ? Is not the Old Te- 
 ftament our Rule, as well as the New ? But we ihall 
 enquire afterwards, whether, or not, there be Warrant 
 for them in the New Teftament. 
 
 Mr. Rutberfurd, in his Survey of Mr. 'Hooier's 
 Sum ef Church DifcifUne. p. 481. fays, u It is but 
 <c an AnabaptiftGroiuid,to feek a Warrant for aNational 
 <fc Covenant, under the New Teftament : For, I again 
 <c defire him to give me a Warrant tor, 1. A National 
 
 * Profeflion. 2. A National Promife to be the Lord's 
 <c People. 3. A National Confeffion of Sins. 4. A 
 * c National Petitioning for Grace, to avow the Truth 
 " to the End, and to tranfmit it to Pofterity. 5. A 
 " National Confeffion of Faith ; except we argue thus; 
 " A fingle Man does this, a David warramably did 
 u fwear, PfaU 119. 106. Ergo, a Nation may do the 
 
 * like. The Examples of the Jewifh Church are 
 «* Moral,T\ot Typical: The Oath was not tied to Temple- 
 " Sacrifice, or the like. It's prophefied, There lhall 
 •' be Sweariug,and Subfcribing to the Lord, %er. 50. 
 
( 4o ) 
 
 u fo 5. An Oath is a Law-band againft Back-flidingJ 
 ** under the New Teftament, as under the Old,enjoin'd 
 ,c in the Third Commandment. And there be War- 
 tf rants for Oaths in the New Teftament. Rom, 9, 1. 
 " Phil. 1. 8. 1 Thef. 2. 10. 2 Or. 1. 23. and 11. 31. 
 <c — It is Morale Deut. 6. 13. and 10. 20. Ha. 19. 1 8. 
 
 * 21. and 45. 23. 
 
 Says he, Chrift has made Account of the Church 
 apparently crofs to the Defign of them, &c. Anfw. 
 The Defigns exprefly declared in the Covenants, are 
 the Glory of God, the Reformation of the Church, ac- 
 cording to the Word of God; the Curbing of Herefies, 
 ftrrois and Sin of all Sorts; the Advancement o^ Re- 
 ligion. I am pretty fure then 'tis falfe, that Chrift has 
 made an Account of the N«w Teftament Church crofs 
 to the Defign of our Covenants. 
 
 From Scripture he comes to Chursh.Wiftory^ and 
 pofitively fays, In the fir ft 300 Tears there was not the 
 teaft Appearance of thef e Things y &e. Anfw. It would 
 feem by bis Confidence, he had not only fearch'd all 
 the Records of the firft three Centuries ; but aifo had 
 forte other Way to know, that all that Time there was 
 NOT THE LEAST APPEARANCE of thefeThings. 
 I'm fure this is too far faid, and a wide Way of f peaking. 
 But I would ask him, Was there nothing like a Creed 
 all that Time ? Was there no declared Agreement in 
 Principles of Religion among Chriftians p No joint 
 Renunciation of Errors ? If there was any Thing of 
 thatK.ind,'tis mere than an Appearance of Covenanting, 
 'tis a Covenant upon the Matter. 
 
 Mr. Rutherfnrd,ubifupra, p. 496. fays, c OurNa- 
 « tiona! Vow is to the whole Duties of the firft and 
 « fecend Table ; which vveTy our felves to perform, 
 9 both in Baptifm,; in the Lord's Supper, in Self-judg- 
 
 * ing, in Confeflion of Sin. ' 
 
 He repetes his Notion of the Old Teftament Cove- 
 nants being Types, which had their Accomplishment in 
 Chrift.and hisfpiritudl New Teftament Church, Anfwo 
 This wasfpoken to before, and vill come in afterwards : 
 Only I would know what he means by The New 
 
 Te- 
 
( 4, ) W 
 
 Teftament Church being fpiritual. For, he fays, « It 
 te is the Manner of the Old Teftament to fhadow forth 
 cc fpiritual Things of the New, by Earthly Reiem- 
 M blances; and if we feek not the fpiritual Accomplifh- 
 <c ment of them in the New Teftament, we will labour, 
 <c in a greatMeafure,at leaft under the fameMifUke about 
 t( them, as the Jews did, who were fo pleated with the 
 " Thoughts ofa temporal Kingdom, that they flighted 
 < c the Appearance Chriil made to them in their Day;" 
 Anfw. This is the very Dialect of thofe Htreticks, who 
 deny that the Old Teftament is of any Force under the 
 New. Does this Man think that the New-Teftamenc 
 Church has no external Ordinances, nor Rules and 
 Prefcriptions about outward Worfhip ? He {peaks as 
 if he were for putting down the Office of the Miniftry, 
 and all Church-Govemrrwnt, and all external Wor- 
 ftip. Would he introduce Myflicifm and Quietifm y 
 and turn all religious Duties into an inward, intellec- 
 tual Bufinefs only ? His Refining, at this Rate, is the 
 Way to expofe Religion, and all that profefs it, to 
 Contempt ; and to caft a Reflection on God himfelf^ 
 who has inftituted external Means, Ordinances and 
 
 ; Order in his Church. 
 
 When he infinuates, That our Anccftors laboured 
 
 I under the fame Mi/take, as the Jews did, who were fo 
 pleafed with the Thoughts of a temporal Kingdom^ 
 that- they flighted Chrift himfelf. He difcovers how 
 unworthy Thoughts he has of the bed Men have lived 
 in thefe latter Ages, and reproaches the Work of God, 
 in our Reformation. His fcurrilous Paper is ftuif'd 
 with pure Slander and Calumny, fuch as that, He 
 fays, The Protefters had a View that the Church and. 
 Commonwealth were one and the fame* Anfw. Their 
 Writings will give him the Lie in this Point : Thefe 
 Men had better and more juft Thoughts of Matters j 
 well did they underftand the Diftin&ion between 
 Church and State, as their Writings teftify ; fuoh as 
 Huberford\ Divine Right of Church-Government* 
 But it we believe this Author, whatever Knowledge 
 F thsj; 
 
( 4* ) 
 
 they had, 1 they were atibitious, afpiring, carna. 
 Men. 
 
 He accufes theie good Men of AfFe&ing a tem- 
 temporal Kingdom, as the Difciples of Old, and 
 fays, "The Covenants proceeded upon the Old Miftake 
 <c of a Temporal Kingdom, and from an Inclination, 
 " even in the beft of thefe, who had the Conduct of 
 <c that Bufinefs, co take Cbrifl by Force and make him 
 " a King \ and they were plainly deiigning an Imitation 
 " of the Earthly Church of the Jews, wherein they 
 * f were not to be imitated. " He finds fault with a 
 Sentence in the Book, call'd Naphthali, viz. ci 1 hat 
 '* Scotland was the likeft Thing on Earth to the Church 
 " of the yews. " And he adds, tc I cannot fay this 
 leften'd my Scruples againft the Covenants. " 
 
 Anfvo. How came he to know the Inclinations and 
 fecret Defigns of the Covenanters; He fays, Even the 
 beft of them had an Inclination^ to take Chrtft by Force, 
 &c. This is Ravery ; The Protefters had more Senfe 
 than to make the Church and Common-wealth one 
 and the fame, or leek to ere& a temporal Kingdom. 
 Might he not been content with accufing the more 
 Corrupt ? But muft he wound the Memory of the 
 very bdft of them ? The Story of thefe carnal People, 
 who inclined to take Cbrifl by Force, and make him a 
 King, John 6. 15. is brought in by this Author mod 
 impertinently, and applied moft flanderoufly: 'Tis 
 pure Calumny, when he charges the like Folly and 
 JFault on the beft of the Lord's Servants and People, 
 who were a&ing for the Glory of God, in promoting 
 the Covenanted Work of Reformation. But the Memory 
 & Fame of thefe good and great Men,is beyond this Au- 
 thor's impotent Attacks. He ftill aims his Stroke at their 
 Heart, he fays, They were plainly Defigning an Imi- 
 tation of the Jews* i. e. They were Judaizing ; he 
 means they were doing fomething like that, for which 
 the Apoftle fo fharply chides the Galatians and Col- 
 loffians. But, furely it was their Duty, to imitate the 
 fewijb Church herein, tho' be calls it Earthly ? Was 
 it not their Duty to imitate what the Lord's Word 
 
 pro- 
 
propofes for Imitation, whether in Old, or New Te* 
 ftament ? Particularly in the Matter of Coveianting ; 
 in whichRefpe& that Sentence inNapbtbali is both true, 
 and may be ipoke to the great Honour of Scotland ? 
 If this Gentleman take Offence, we cannot help it. 
 
 But if he could, without Prejudice, have read for- 
 ward in the Preface to Naphtbali, where that ExpreiTion 
 he quarrels is found, he might have met with much 
 to remove that Scruple, and perhaps other Doubts ; 
 at lead more, contrary to his grofs Opinions and falfe 
 Aflertions, than the Anticovenanter was capable to 
 enervate : For there, P. 34 to 44, it is evinced, 
 " That the LORD hath fixed Difcriminative Bour- 
 u daries between his own Kingdom,and the Kingdoms 
 * c of the Earth (that is, Between his Church and other 
 (i Civil Societies, and their refpe&ive Governments) 
 <c For tho' both confift of Men, and fometimes of the 
 ct fame Perfons; tho 5 both kave Order & Government, 
 M a Power to exercife it, and that derived from GOD; 
 " and the Perfons inverted therewith Ihould be qua- 
 " lified, and in the Excrcife thereof walk abfolutely 
 ci by the Rule of the Word ; Puniihing and Cenfuring 
 €i alter clear Convi&ion by Confeffion, or Probation, 
 '< and Ihould ultimately Aim at the Glory of God, 
 " and the Good of the People, $c. Yet they are 
 c< Formally Diftin& : For they con£(l of Men under 
 «• diftin& Notions and Relations- — The Form of the 
 4i One may be Monarchical, the Other not ; The 
 cc Obje& of the One is Civil, of the Ot&sr Spiritual ; 
 " The Nature of the One, and Manner of Exercifmg 
 " it, is Magiilerial, the Other is Mir.ifterial ; The 
 <c A&s and Sentences of the One are Corporal, the 
 w Other Spiritual ;— The One is performed in the 
 < c Name o! the iupreme MapjhaU^ the Other in the 
 « Name ofjESUS CHRIST-, The immediate End 
 u of the One is the Good of the Common-wealth* of 
 K the Other ;he Good of Souls. Yea, tho' the Church 
 <f and Common-wealth or the jevis, of all others that 
 n ever were, did moil a^ree, yet were they Formally 
 " di&inil. " And 'tis there proven from Scripture, 
 F 2 that 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 that, as the Church and State of the Jews were diftin&, 
 {q they had their diftinft Governments and Judicatories 
 for exercing the fame refpe&ively. 
 
 It has been the Thought of good and wife Men, that 
 Scotland has been the likeft Thing on Earth to the 
 Nation of the Jews ; and her Church like that Church 
 for diilinguifhing Privileges, Attainments, and Con- 
 formity to the Mind of God : Which is fo far from 
 being a Blemiih, that all People of Senfe will own it is 
 the Beauty, Happinefs, and Dignity of Scotland. 
 The Scots had the Gofpel early preached among them 
 with great Succefs ; Chriftianity foon became the Reli- 
 gion of the Nation, our Rings and Parliaments fub- 
 mitted to it, Anno 203. The Scots have been an un- 
 conquered People, except that they were once banifh- 
 e-d the Ifle by the Perfidy of the Pitls, and the Unju- 
 ftice of the Romans 1 But God restored them to their 
 own Land, and caufed the Pi&s contribute to, and 
 concur in it. They were never fond of a foreign Yoke, 
 nor are to this Day : They kept the Crown in one Line 
 about 2000 Years, I fhall not fay all their Kings were 
 as kind to them. They never fubmitted to Rome Pa- 
 gan, and were as little fond of Rome Antichriftian. It 
 was long (and not without the Oppreffion of our own 
 siufled Princes) before we were overwhelmed with the 
 Idolatry and Superftifions of the myitical Babylon; nor 
 were the Culdees extirpated till the 14 Century. And 
 even in the thickelt Darknefs of Popery, there were 
 fnme Glimmerings of primitive Light in Scotland, and 
 federals that never bowed the Knee to Baal. The Lol- 
 lards of Kyle v. ere early famous; And after that the 
 Reformation dawned, there were Martyrs early in 
 Scotland. This Nation quickly fiiook off the Papal 
 Yoke, and covenanted againft Error in Doctrine, and 
 Corruption in W«r(hip, agsinfl Abufes and Innovati- 
 ons, Time after Time, refitting unto Blood in De- 
 fence of the Truths and Ordinances of God. We have 
 ilruggled for our religious Privileges and Rights as a 
 Church, and for our Civil Liberties as a Nation, againfl: 
 pur own milled Princes and feduced Parliaments, and 
 
 againft 
 
t 45 ) &* 
 
 againft our neighbour Nation : We have wreftled a- 
 gainft Monarchist Tyranny, and Democratitk Anar- 
 chy; We have oppofed Prelatick Domination, and 
 Sectarian Confufion in the Church : We kept up the 
 Dignity, Power, andPrivileges of our Parliaments, till 
 they voted themfelves down ; There was great Light 
 in Scotland, both as to Religion and humane Learning, 
 in Times when Barbarifm overfpread the reft of Europe, 
 (o that the greateft Univerfities abroad were fur- 
 nifhed from us with ProfeiTbrs in all Sciences. There 
 have been great Lights for Grace andHolinefsin Scot- 
 land, both before the Entry of Popery, and fince the 
 Reformation, through the good Hand of God. Refor- 
 ming Times have fucceeded Times of Apoftacy. Scot- 
 land was fo famous abroad, that a foreign Divine writes • 
 of it, 
 
 Gens dilefta DEO, progreffibus ardua Sanftis, 
 Natio Divina conftabiiita Manu. 
 
 In Englijb thus, 
 
 A People lov'd of God, purely reformed, 
 By Pow'r Divine a Nation roell confirm 1 'd. 
 
 From all which it is pretty plain, there is fcarce a 
 Nation under Heaven liker that of the Jews than Stk* 
 land) in what is de/irable and commendable. I hearti- 
 ly wifh our Nation be not left to be like the Jews al- 
 io in Apoftacy from the Truth and Worfhip of God, 
 and Breach of national Engagements; and io to pull 
 down Judgments and defolating Strokes upon ourfelves, 
 as the Jews have done : I fear,this Author will be found 
 to have caft in his Mite for helping forward Defection 
 from our covenanted Reformation. 
 
 He fays further, The Covenants had a Tendency to 
 ruine Difcipline : For, fays he, they were a Mean of 
 fixing the profane World with the vifible Church, in 
 Scotland, England and Ireland ; and fo did in a great 
 Meafure deftroy the Diftin&ion between the Church and 
 
 the 
 
( 4« •) 
 
 the World, &c. Anf. He accufes the Covenants of all 
 banner of ill Fruits and Confequences ; they mud 
 be very bad, if we believe this Author : But we muft 
 know, that he is fetting up for the Notions of the 
 Mnglijh Independents, fuch as Broxonifis, Barrow, Ro- 
 bin/on, and other rigid Separates ; for he reckons all 
 to be of the profane World, and not of the vifible 
 Church ; except only thefe, who can give credible E- 
 •vidences of their Regeneration and Converfion, and 
 that they are true Believers. 
 
 Our Divines, in the Controversy with the Indepen- 
 dents, have fu&ciently proved, that a profefs'd Belief 
 of the Gofpel, and Subje&ion to Chrift's Ordinances, 
 is that which entitles Perfons to be own'd as Members 
 ef the viftble Church. Thus it was in the Apoftle's 
 Days; as is made out in the following Treatifes, Ru* 
 therfurd'sDue Right of Presbytery, Hocrnbeck de In- 
 depentifmo, Wood againft Zccifer, Baillie's Dijfxoafive, 
 Durham on Scandal. All the Inhabitants of Britain 
 «nd Ireland, who profeffed found Do&rine, and fub- 
 je&ed to Gofpel-ordinances, were Members of the vi- 
 iible Church, long before the Solemn League ; parti- 
 cularly, they who took l\\e Covenant, did therein 
 folemnly profefs their Defire to repent of, and turn 
 from Sin to God in Chrift, and to walk with Hiin 
 in all the Ways of Holinels : Therefore, whatever Jea- 
 loufies might be entertaip'd> about the Sincerity of 
 many of them, rhey were all Members of the vifible 
 fible Church, and not the profane World ; as this Au- 
 thor fpeaks : And 'tis undeniable, that a good Number 
 of them were eminent Saints, moving in an higher 
 Sphere of practical Godlinefs, than perhaps this Au- 
 thor has a Notion of. s T;s plain, he would have all 
 the Protectant Nations reckon'd the profane World, 
 without the Church, except fome tew Perfons pick'd 
 out from among them, and thefe few gathered into a 
 Church, after the Independent Way, or fome fantaftick 
 Model of this Author's own contriving ; tho' he has 
 not yet fufficiently formed it in his Brain. But, the 
 vaft AbfmxHties, the fatal Confluences, as well as 
 
 the 
 
( 47 I ™ 
 
 the Urtlawfiilnefs of the Independent Way, have reen 
 difcovered by our Divines, and fadly experienced, in 
 theieNations and elfewbere. S~e BailHe'sPijftbxfive^rid 
 Rutberftird againlt Hooker. Would this Author have 
 all (except his fev? pickt Ones) to be debarred from 
 Church- Communion, tho' they are baptized Periens ? 
 And would he hare the Children offuch debarred from 
 Baptifm ; and To treated as Hea?hens? This mult be 
 the Confequence of his Tenet : Then, one or two of 
 his reputed Believers muft dwell in a Family with fe« 
 verals of the profane World as he calls them , i. e % 
 Heathens, Unbaptized, or that fhould not have been 
 baptized. And a few of his reputed Believers in a Pa- 
 rilh, or perhaps in a whole Country- fide, muft carry 
 toward all their Neighbours around them, as Pagans^ 
 without the Chnrch of Cbrift. Whence would enfue 
 unexpreifible Diforders, Heart-alienation, and all other 
 Evils. 
 
 2. Whereas he accufes the Covenants of Dcfiroying 
 Vifcipline ; 'tis rood falfe : For, i. They bind to the 
 Exercife of Difcipline, according to God's Word. 
 2. They oblige the Covenanters, to endeavour Refor- 
 mation in the Church, from whatever is contrary to 
 found DoUrins and tbe Power of Godlinefs : And if 
 the Author fay, Thefe Things tend to deftroy Difci* 
 pline, he may as well fay, that for a Man to ufe proper 
 Means of Health, is the Way to Self-murder. 
 
 Our Author goes on telling us, That < if half the 
 c Pains, that was beftowed to purify the Army and 
 
 * State, had boen beftnwed upon purifying the 
 c Communion of the Church from fuch> as had not a 
 
 * credible Profeffion of Faith in Chrift, CSV. It would 
 ' have tended much more to the Credit of the Church, 
 
 * and the Glory of the Head of it, CSr.' Anfw. If 
 this Overture had taken Place, univerfally thro' BrU 
 tain at that Time, it is probable few of the prefenc 
 Generation would have been within the Communion 
 of Chrift's Church ; but the Generality would been, ac 
 this Day, a Part of the profane World: And it is a Que* 
 ftioo,if c^Au*btt s sA[iK^<H$ would fc#ve fteod tfieTri- 
 
C 48 ) 
 
 al ? And if not,he himfelf would have been one of the pre 3 
 rofane World,& Unbaptized,till fuchTimeas he had at- 
 tained a credibleProfeflion of Faith inChrift; And confe- 
 quently, would have laboured under all the Difadvan- 
 tages, that may be fuppofed to attend that Heathenifh 
 State. Yea probably, by this Time, Britain and Ire- 
 land would not had the Face of a Chriftian Church. 
 Whoever ferioufly confiders thefe and the like native 
 Consequences of our Author's Opinion, muft be con- 
 vinced, that as it wants Countenance from the Lord's 
 Word, fo it is deftrudtive to Religion and humane So- 
 ciety. OurWorthyProgenitors thought they had not our 
 Lord's Warrant for iuch a Method ; The Apcflks 
 Baptized all who made a morally ferious Profeflion of 
 their Belief of the Truth, and promifed Subjection to 
 Chrift's Ordinances! Tho' Chrift well knew the Ry- 
 pocrify of Judas, he admitted him to be one of his 
 Difciples \ Our Anceftors thought it fafeft to follow 
 Scripture-patterns ; They were afraid of g.«ing to work 
 fo ftri&ly as this Writer (peaks, left in plucking up the 
 Tares, they Ihould root out the Wheat with them. 
 See, Alat, 13. 28, 29, 41. where Chrift forbids fuch 
 a Method. The Mimfters of our Church, then, wanted 
 not a Spirit of Decerning, and were not too eafily fatif- 
 fied about Peoples Sincerity ; They were not too cre- 
 dulous, but they chofe the gcod old Way of Chrift and 
 his Apcftles: They knew, tho' fome were not truly 
 converted at their AdmifTion into the Church, they 
 might be converted afterwards through the Lord's 
 Bleiling on Ordinances, to which they had profeffed 
 Subjection ; Being within the Church, they had many 
 Means, and much Encouragement to feek Grace; And 
 accordingly Multitudes were favingly wrought upon 
 afterwards. One the other Hand, They were aware 
 that People might talk by Rott of Experiences in 
 Religion, and high Attainments in Communion with 
 Cod, when they knew nothing thereof in Reality; They 
 might pretend to have experiene'd what they had 
 heard and read in the Experience of others. As 'tis 
 k.nownjbme do, at their Admiifion to Communion with 
 
 Inds- 
 
( 49 > 3 ^ 
 
 Independent Congregations ; They copy Declarations, 
 and rteal Stories of Experiences from one another, 
 as thofe, Jer. 23. 30. who ftole the Word of God. Is 
 not this a bold Lying to the Holy Ghoft, and a bad 
 Beginning of Church-memberfhip? Every £ody knows, 
 'tis eafy for naughty ProfefFors to make Noife with high 
 Pretentions, and.to have a much fairer Shew for a little 
 in the Eyes of Men, than the Children of Light s . 
 Many Times, the Bed of People, for feveral Reafons, *, 
 fpeak not much of their Experiences, " and are averfe 
 from making fuch publick broad Declarations of their 
 Converfion, &c. So that the Independent-method of 
 admitting to Church-communion, is far from being . 
 fuited to diftinguifh rightly between the Precious and 
 the Vile. 
 
 If we fearch the Scriptures, we may fee that the 
 Apoftles received into Chureh-communion fuch of the 
 Gentiles as made a morally ferious Profeflion of their 
 Faith inChrift : There is no Reafon to think they made 
 fuch a narrow Enquiry into the Gracious State of every 
 one they received into the Church, as Independents 
 plead for : Yea, 'tis plain, if they had done fo, they 
 could not have Received and Baptized fo many in one 
 Day, as we read they did, Atts 2. 41. But be that as 
 it will, they no doubt all profeft their Faith in Chriftj 
 and Obedience to him. But when once Perfons were 
 joined to the Church, and when a Church was planted 
 in a City or Country, They and their Pofterity were 
 owned as Members of the Vifible Church,Dotwithftand- 
 ing conGderably great Sins, and too glaring Signs of 
 Unregeneracy. The Sins that would have kept tbesn, 
 out at fir ft, did not immediately exclude them after- 
 wards. Nothing did unchurch thefe who were once 
 made Members of the Church,but either, 1 . Obftinate 
 Impenitence under grofs Scandals, which expofed to 
 Excommunication : Or, 2. Total Apoftafy from the 
 Gofpel : Or- 3. Divine Judgments, taking the Gofpei 
 from them, or them from the Gofpel .* As might be 
 
 proved, if needful 
 
 SU 
 
( *° ) 
 
 Simon Magus, upon his making a Morally Serious 
 Profeffion of Faith in Chrift,was receivedinto theCom- 
 munion of the Church, and Baptized. When after- 
 wards he gave evident Proof pf his being in the Gall 
 of Bitterneis,, and Bond of Iniquity, the Apofile did 
 not thereupon purge him out of the Church (as this 
 
 tho' his Sin was of fuch a Nature, that the Apoftle in- 
 Jinuats a Doubt, if it would be forgiveu : If perhaps 
 'the Thought of thine Heart may be forgiven^ A&s 8. 
 22. Tho' he was difcovered to be an Unbeliever, one 
 wholly 'void of laving Grace, fuch as our Author calls 
 one of the Profane World ; Yet he was continued a 
 Member of the vifible Church, untill he made a total 
 Apoftacy, and founded the abominable Se6t of the 
 Cnofiicks, if what Hiltories relate concerning him be 
 true. Tho' Chrift knew Judas to be an Heart-enemy 
 and Traitor, yet he was not purged out of Church- 
 comunion, untill he Apoflatiz'd totally, by betraying 
 Chrift, defpairing of Mercy, and committing Self 
 Murder. Many of the Corinthians, Galatians, He* 
 breves, and others to whom the Apoftles wrote, gave 
 too great Evidence of their wanting true Grace, as we 
 may gather from what is (aid of them in the Epiftles 
 directed to them ; particularly, i Cor, 5. 11. & 4. 21. 
 Phi/. 3. lS, 19. Gal. 3.4, 11. Heb, 4, 1. .£5. 12.& 6.4. 
 Jam, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, Chapters. See alfo theEpiftles to the 
 SevenChurches ofAfia,Rev, 2.& 3. Chapters. .Church- 
 Lmciplme was adminiftred in the Apoftles Days, accor- 
 ding to the Lord's Word, with great Zeal. Yetthefe 
 whom our Author calls ike profane World, were mixed 
 with the Church then as now. Chrift and his Apoftles 
 were not rafh (as our Author would have been) in 
 purging out of Church-Communion all Perfons who 
 had not a credible Appearance of faving Grace ; even 
 thefe who denied the Refurre&ion, were not inftantly 
 thrown out, 1 Cor. 1$. 12. The Apoftle firftlabour'd to 
 convince them of their Error* He wanted not Zeal, 
 
 *V yet 
 
c 5. ; ■ 3 f 
 
 yet was not fo hafty to cut off Members from th 
 vifible Church. God bears long with particular 
 Churches, before he caft them off; Therefore Mini- 
 fters fhould bear long before they turn Pcrfons out of 
 the Church. The Author will not dare to find Fault 
 with the Conduit of Chrift and his Apoftles, yet he 
 condemns the Church of Scotland^ who have been aim- 
 ing,tho 5 in Weaknefs, to copy after that Glorious Scrip- 
 tural Pattern, in the Method of admitting to, and ex- 
 cluding from Church-Communion. 
 
 In Oppofition to this fcriptural Method, our Au- 
 thor, and others of the Independent Way, plead for 
 the Exclufion of all who give Evidence of their want- 
 ing true Grace. Tho' at the fame Time, fome doubt, 
 if our Author, and many others who pretend fo high, 
 be indeed Judges competent to pronounce who have a 
 credibleAppearance of Grace,and who not. And,what if 
 they happen to exclude fome, who, before the Lord, 
 are true Believers, and perhaps have Experience of tfce 
 Power and Life of Godlinefs, far beyond thefe who 
 prefume to judge and exclude them ? Some ly much 
 concealed, and remain unknown; the Koife of their 
 Feet is not heard in the Streets : And perhaps fuch 
 cannot fay much about themfelves, to tatisfy fuch a 
 niceCritick as ourAuthorjThatf/^'/j^v; a fair Appear- 
 ance of belonging to the heavenly Society ^and a credible, 
 Appearance of true faith inCbrift^s our Author (peaks; 
 and yet are true Believers, dear and near to God. How 
 often are the Lord's own Children (o in the Dark, and 
 under Do.ots, (Satan aifo violently tempting them to 
 deny their Intereft in Chriil) that they dace fay little 
 or nothing concerning their being in a State of Grace, 
 if it be not to deny it : Yea, the Matter may be carried 
 fo far in fome Cafes, that Others, as wejl as themfelves^ 
 may fear the worft concerning them. What would our 
 Author do with fuch? The Rule he lays down 3 lays ; Such 
 fhould be purged out of the Church) and yet they are 
 Lord's tenderly beloved Children, and may be far pre- 
 ferable to others who make much Noife of their Faith 
 acid Ckriitun Experiences; The mult noify Prcfeffors 
 G z have 
 
( 5* ) 
 
 have been ©ften difcovered to be utter Strangers to fin- 
 cere Godlinefs. Rev. 3. 1. 
 
 The Author obje&s. That cur Covenants divided the 
 vifible Churchy were made a Term of Communion* 
 took in the profane World, and excluded the Godly, ad' 
 tr/itting Donald of the Hies, and excluding Dr. Owen, 
 i$c. for fuch is his Manner of fpeaking in Converfation. 
 
 Anfvo. The World knows this is not true , for the 
 Independents, whom he means, took the Solemn League* 
 particularly thefe of them who were Members of the 
 Wejiminjler yJJfembly and thefe of them who were 
 Tarliament-men, yea Dr. Owen himfelf. How fincere 
 they were in doing it, and how they performed their 
 Vows, I make no inquiry at the Time ? Some Judicious 
 Writers have mar.itefted,that many of the Independents 
 grofly violated the Covenant, and abufed thefe who 
 laboured to keep it. 2. Our Author is miftaken, if he 
 thinks it was fo rar a Term of Communion, as all that 
 took it were admitted to theLord'S Table ; for this was 
 not Fa&. And if there were unwarrantable Stretches 
 made by any particular Perfons, our Covenants are 
 rot chargeable therewith, they contain no fuch Thing. 
 "^." I wifh this Author had not twitted our Church 
 .With admitting Donald of the Iftes, and excluding Dr. 
 Owen: I wifh it more tor Dr. Owens Sake, than for 
 any Slur he can lodge on our Church on this Account. 
 Had there been any Juftice in this Charge, it became 
 our Author not to imitate Ham y (o far as to expofe a 
 Church of Chrift wherein he was baptized. As for 
 Donald of the ifies'JL know not hisChara&t - : But as for 
 Dr. Owen, He had deferted the Presbyterian Way, 
 before he C3me to Scotland as Cromwell's Chaplain : 
 .And then, -tis probable he fought not Admiftion to 
 Communion with this Church ; And truly the Do&or 
 had diptfo far in politick Projects, which from regard 
 to his Memory I fhall not mention, that as Matters 
 then flood, none needed much wonder, if our upright 
 Minifters carried a little fhyly toward him, as one im- 
 barket in the unjuftifiable Caufe of the Independent 
 Arid Republican Fa&ion ; feveral cf'A'hofe Aftings even 
 
 this 
 
m 
 
 ( K > r. 
 
 this our modeft Author will want a Brow to excufe; 
 
 But that very Learned and Godly Divine afterwards 
 had much better Thoughts of the Church of Scotland 
 and her Affemblies. 'Tis known he faid, that the Gof- 
 pel was never fo Jweet to him as out of a Scots-Mart's 
 Mouth ; and in his Old-age he avow'd openly (tho' 
 many of his own Party were ill pleafed with him) that 
 he would account it his Honour to ft in a General 
 Affemblyoftbe Church ^/Scotland. Andit is well known 
 in his Iatefl Writings he fpeaks more favourably of the 
 Presbyterian Way, and of the Church of Scotland. 
 I had not faid To much, had I not been forced by the 
 Taunts of this Author, to a juft Vindication of our 
 Church, which I fear not to fay is the beft modelled 
 Church under Heaven, and moft conform to the Scrip- 
 ture-Pattern ; if God would help her to act accor- 
 ding to her known Principles. 
 
 The Author goes on with his Quarrels 3gain(l our 
 Covenants. He fays, They have a Tendency to lead 
 Men off from Chrift, by joining ether Things as a Foun- 
 dation of Church-Union and C:mmunion. Anfw. He 
 may on this Ground as well rejeA the Word and out- 
 Ward Ordinances of Chriil, for Fear they lead Men 
 off from Chrift ; Our Covenants point to Chrift, and 
 by (wearing them, the Covenanters declare their Defire 
 to receive him,depend on him,andto do all to hisGlory. 
 2. He fays, Many People flight the Gofpel, when they 
 hear not the Covenants commended. Anfw* It is little 
 W T onder,People are offended at tbeieMinifters,who fel- 
 dom, or never make honourable Mention of our Co- 
 venants, when there are fo many A&s of Aifembly from 
 1638 to 1649 in their Favours. But, 2. If fome People 
 have gone to Extremes on the one Hand, mull this 
 Author hurry into Extremes on the other ? Muft he 
 trample on our Covenants, and give them ill Names ? 
 Albeit the Author may in this loofe hgz gain fome Pro- 
 felytes ; yet I hope Scotland is not to far left of God^ 
 but that Thoufands in it will relent the Indignities he 
 has offered to the Memory of our Reformers and Co- 
 venanters, and the Wrong he has done to the Caufe of 
 
 Chrift. 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 Chrift. The Author feems to take it ill that People 
 flight him; but if he go on, he may come to meet with 
 more Difcountenance, and that juftiy ; 'Tis little Won- 
 der, tho' honed People teftify their DinatisfacHon with 
 him, and think it their Duty to receive Ordinances ad- 
 miniftred by others of found Principles, rather than 
 from one who reproaches the Cauie of God, and the 
 covenanted Work of Reformation in thefe Lands. Some 
 would not be under the Guilt they apprehend this Au- 
 thor has contracted this Way, no, not for the whole 
 World. May the Lord grant him Repentance and 
 Remiflionof Sins. 
 
 What follows in his Paper, is a DifTwaiive from 
 troubling our felves more about the Covenants ; he 
 would have us only* fay, In the Lord have I Righteouf- 
 nefs and Strength. Anjxo. 'Ti$ certainly the only 
 right Way to live by Faith in Chrift, without which 
 it is impoflible to pleafe God. But Faith in Chrift, is 
 very confident with Zeal for our Covenants; and our 
 Covenants bind us to a Life of Faith on Chrift. lie 
 complains next of a Bitternefs of Spirit attending 
 People's Zeal for the Covenants. An fro. He muft 
 give Inftances, and then probably what he calls Bitter- 
 xiefs of Spirit, will, on Trial, be found juft Zeal againft 
 thefe who betray their Trull. For Inttance, I fuppofe 
 the Author is a Minifter of the covenanted Trcsbyte~ 
 rian Church of Scotland, and has come under the ftri- 
 &eft Engagements at his Ordination, stnd other Times, 
 to own and maintain the Doctrine, Worfhiu, Difci- 
 pline and Government of this Church (which does -in- 
 clude our Covenants, and by his io engaging he has 
 covenanted, and has taken our Covenants materially) 
 and fois obliged to defend ourCovcuants againftAdver- 
 faries, and to improve thefe Covenants for Conviction 
 and Incitement of others to the Duties therein vowed ; 
 be having betrayed his Truft to fuch a Degree, as to 
 fpeak more bafely againft our Covenants than even the 
 Oxford Clergy ever did; he need not be iurprifed tho* 
 tome give him hisovvnName,and treat him more famili- 
 arly than he inclines : He who difcovers io much ill Ma- 
 ture 
 
< « > -. y 
 
 ture in his Paper and Preachings againd our Cove- 
 nants, has leait Reafon of any to complain of Bitterr.efs 
 in others. 
 
 Healledges the CovenantersPra&ice, with Reference 
 to the Civil Magiftrate, was a Difcredit to Religion; 
 but here he fpeafcs to darkly, I can fcarce conftrud it 
 into tolerable Ser.fe, nor know whether he is angry 
 with them (or being too loyal, or that they were not 
 loyal enough. If he mean the laft, as I conceive he 
 does, I anlwer, If any of them had failed in this, it 
 fhould not prejudge the common Caule ; his Friends 
 the Independents have no Reafon to boaft on this Score- 
 Town the Presbyterians of Scotland have oftner than 
 once, oppofed the iinful Meafures of their milled Prin- 
 ces, and have laboured to fave the Nation from Per- 
 jury and Tyranny ; but fo many have vindicated the 
 Presbyterians of Scotland from the Charge of Diflojal- 
 ty, that I fhall not enter on that Subject here. The 
 Author tells us, That as lively Chriflians as are cf bis 
 Acquaintance have no Zeal for this Way, Anfv>. \ 
 hope the Cbmpais ot his Acquaintance is not very 
 .wide, elfe it would be a fad Story. But what he Sub- 
 joins may fome way counterbalance this, vi^» That 
 many, andelfewhere he fays, a great many cf the God- 
 ly are jealous for tbefe Covenants* Anjjp. Long be it 
 fo, and may their N umber encreafe, for the Caufe is 
 juft, good, and honourable. 
 
 After all the mercilefs Blows he has dealt among the 
 Covenanters (which fome think might juftly provoke 
 their Friends to return them ; at leaft by laying him 
 down, alias by Depofitiori) He concludes breathing 
 out his laft Words with a Propofal of Forbearance : 
 But whether he means that hefhould let others alone., 
 who being dead are doing him no Harm, or that all 
 People lhould let him alone to do or fay as he pieafes, 
 that is the Queftion. He has followed his own Hu- 
 mour as to the iirft,«nd I think they whom it concerns, 
 lhould do him J u (lice as to the other. 
 
 I am informed the lame Author iniifts much on an 
 Argument againft our Covenants, which he forms from . 
 
( 5* > 
 
 jfer. 31^34* cited Heb. 8. 7—13. where the Lord 
 promifes to make a new Covenant, not according to 
 the Covenant be made with the Ifraelites when he took 
 them by the Hand, to lead them out of Egypt, which 
 they brake ; hut that this Jball be the Covenant, that be 
 mill write bis Law in their Hearts, &c. Hence he 
 argues, That under the New Teftament 3 the Lord him-. 
 felf will not make, nor warrant others to make any Co- 
 venants like that made with lfrael of old ; and confe- 
 quently that our National Covenants are deftitute of 
 Divine Warrant. Anfw. 1. Not to infifton his incon- 
 clufive Way of arguing ; the Scope of tbefe Scriptures,' 
 Jer. 31. 31, &c. Heb. 8. 7, &c in the Judgment of 
 Orthodox Commentators, is to fhew, that the old Dif- 
 penfation of the Covenant is aboliflied under the New 
 Teftament. i. e. The Ceremonial Law and Typical 
 Ordinances are laid afide, with other Things that were 
 peculiar to the Jewijb Common-wealth ; fuch as thefe 
 Laws, which are ordinarily called Judicial Laws. And 
 that under the New Teftament there ihould be a 
 more clear Revelation of the Covenant of Grace, 
 called a New Covenant, becaufe of the New Dif- 
 penfation, and new Inftitutions, different from thefe 
 under the Old Teftament. See Owen on Heb, 8. 7. 
 Engl. Annot. and Supplementers to PooVs Annot, on 
 the Place. Alfo Henry on Jer. 31. and his Ccntlnuat, 
 on Heb. 8. 7, &c. where it is faid, s The Body of all 
 
 * Divinity (as fome obferve) confifts very much in right- 
 
 * ly diftinguifhing between the two Covenants ; the 
 
 * Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace; and 
 
 * between the two Difpenfations of the Covenant of 
 c Grace, that under the Old Teftament, and that un- 
 4 der the New.' Which this Anticovenanter doth 
 not. I would refer the Reader likewife, for a further 
 Account of the Senfeof thefe Scriptures, to Rutberfurd's 
 Treatife on the Covenant of Grace, Pag. 343. Pie lays, 
 c The Holy Ghoft fpeaks of the New Covenant two 
 c Ways in Scripture, 1. As it ftands of Promifes, Pre- 
 ■ cepes, and ffiows both what God doth by Promifes, 
 6 and what we are obliged to do in Point of Duty, 
 
 A&s 
 
C 57 ) 
 
 « y&r* 2. 39- & 3= 2<5. 2 Or. 6. 17. 2. The Lord 
 
 * fpeaks often of the Covenant of Grace, as a&ed in an 
 c effe&Ual Way upon the Hearts of' the Ele& only ; as 
 ' in thefe Scriptures, Jer. 31. 31, 32, 33. & 32. 37, 
 « 38, 39. f^K 11. 16, 17, 8>r. & 36. 25, 26. in 
 
 * thefe Places the Lord fpeaks of the Covenant, not fo 
 c much as it contains our Duty, as principally it holdr, 
 f forth what the Lord fhall effectually do, according to 
 « his Decree. Ambaptifis from thefe Places fay, Tteri 
 « there is no external Covenanting under the New 
 
 * Teftament.' Bnt the Reader may fee how Ruther- 
 furd refutes them, in the Place cited ; Where he Vin^ 
 dicates the Scriptures, now under Conflderation O^. 
 Jer. 31. 31.— -Ck. & Keb.%. 7.) from the corrupt 
 Gloffes of other erroneous Perfons alfo, Papifts, Armi- 
 nians> Soclnians and Antinomians* Particularly he 
 proves, that thefe Scriptures do not contain an Ac- 
 count of the Covenant of Grace, in its full Extent and 
 Compafs ; but only abfolute Promifes of what the Lord 
 will infallibly work in the Souls of the Eleft. So that 
 our Author has no Shadow of Ground from thefe Texts 
 for his erroneous Opinion againft our folemn Cove- 
 venants, or national Covenanting. 
 
 Anfrv. 2. We mull diftinguilh between the Cove« 
 nant, which the Lord revealed, propofed and enter'd 
 into with his Church, conflituting the Method of their 
 Judication and eternal Salvation through Chriit, vi^ 
 the Covenant of Grace, revealed and preached in its: 
 full Tenor, and the different Difpenfations thereof; I 
 fay we muft diftinguifn between this Covenant of 
 Grace, and the other Covenants the ]ews entred into 
 with the Lord, which may be called their Covenant- 
 ing or Vowing to do their Duty, and to obferve what- 
 ever the Lord required of them, in Dependence oh the 
 Grace promifed in the Covenant of Grace. Our NatK 
 onal Covenants are an Itimaion of thefe Engagernents^ 
 to Duty, and not an Imitaion of the Covenant of 
 Grace, ftri&ly (o called. We dill disftinguifli between 
 the Covenant of Grace, and our National Covenants* 
 This Author either wilfully, or through Weaknefs, o» 
 
 H vcr-* 
 
..S 58 ; 
 
 verlooks this DiftintHon ; and confounds thefe Things, 
 which fhoUld be kept very diftinft. Tho' we muft 
 carefully diftinguifh between the Covenant of Grace, 
 and our National Covenants; yet, our National Co- 
 venants, as well as Perfonal Covenants, that Believers 
 enter into with the Lord, are mod agreeable to the Co- 
 venant of Grace, when People are iincere in them : 
 Such Covenants are conform to the Covenant of Grace, 
 In thefe Refpe£b, 1. The Covenant of Grace, as re- 
 corded in the Word, not only warrants fuch Perfonal 
 and National Covenants, as we plead for ; but alfo 
 contains Promifes of Grace, to determine and enable 
 Perfons to enter into them, Ifa. 44. 5. & 45. 23. Jer» 
 50.$. 2. The Covenant of .Grace contains Promifes 
 of Acceptance thro' Chrift, to thefe who fincerely en- 
 ter into luch Covenants. 3. The Covenants we plead 
 for, are to be entred into, profecuted and performed 
 altogether in a Suitablenefs to the Covenant of Grace, 
 i. e. The Covenanters fliould be fuch as have embra- 
 ced the Covenant of Grace, and are within the Bond 
 of it; and, by their Covenanting, they declare they 
 look for Salvation, Grace, Strength, Acceptance to 
 their Perfons and Performances, only in and through. 
 Chrift, according to the Tenor of the Covenant of 
 Grace : So that both Perfonal and National Covenant- 
 ing is an exprefs Declaration, that we embrace and 
 acquiefce in the Method of the Covenant of Grace ; 
 and that we will, thro 1 Divine Aid, live as Perfons in 
 Covenant with God, and ftudy to be to the Praife of 
 bis Grace, Eph. 1. 5,6. Without a View to be accep- 
 ted or faved for our fo Covenanting, or for any Thing 
 in us, or done by us ; but exoe&ing Acceptance and 
 Salvation purely from the Lord's free Grace, for the 
 Sake of Jefus Chrift alone, we, in a Senfe of the Law's 
 Obligation, and out of Love and Gratitude, engage 
 ourfelves to obferve and obey his Will, revealed to us 
 in his Word ; which is the Covenanting we plead for. 
 I wifh our Author would explain himfelf, and tell us, if 
 he think that a poor Sinner, in his fxrft receiving 
 Chrift, as a Saviour, Prieft and Sacrifice, and fub je&zng 
 
 f 
 
293 
 ( 59 ) 7 
 
 to him as a King, taking his Yoke upon him, Math , 
 li. 29. doth not thereby bind himfelf to all comman- 
 ded Duties? 1 Pet. 1. 15, 16. Luke 1. 6. And our Na- 
 tional Covenants extend no further. 
 
 Now, the Queftion, between this Author and us, is, 
 whether or not Chriftians may enter into Covenants of 
 this Sort laft mentioned ? The Aatbpr holds the 2V>- 
 gative, and we have examined his Reafons, and found 
 them of no Weight. In Opposition to his Opinion, we 
 hold, that Chriftians may, and fhould, , on a clear 
 Call, promife and fwear to be for the Lord, to worfhip 
 and ferve him according to his revealed Will, in Op- 
 pofition to all heretical, erroneous and fmful Ways, 
 let on Foot by his Enemies ; and that our National 
 Covenants were of this Kind. 
 
 Many Things have been faid already, in Defence of 
 our Covenants, yet the following Arguments may be 
 added for further Confirmation. 
 
 Arg. I. Whatever is our Duty, we may, through 
 prace, refolve, promife, and, on a clear Call, may 
 fwear to do it : But the Things engaged unto in our 
 Covenants are our Duty. Therefore,\ve may,through 
 Grace, refolve, promife, and on a clear Call fwear to 
 do them. 
 
 The firft Proportion will not be denied by any, but 
 Anabaptifls and Quakers, who hold that all Oaths are 
 unlawful under the New Teftament. But the Reader 
 may fee our Confejjion of Faith, Chap. 22. and Larger 
 Cat. on that Queft. What is required in the third, 
 Commandment? with the Scripture Proofs, there ci- 
 ted, for proving that Oaths and Vows are Duties of a 
 Moral Nature, and required under the New Tefta- 
 ment Difpenfation. See ajfo Durham on the Third 
 Commandment : Afo Sander f n de Juramento* and all 
 Orthodox Syflems of Divinitv, as Ejftnii Ccmpend. 
 Tbcol. Cap. 9. Ihef. 66. But hoping our Author is not 
 gone rhat Length, as to join with Quakers in denying 
 the Lawfulnefs of Oaths and Vows, I (hall not infill: to 
 prove it. Neither need I ft ay to Ihow what may be 
 H 2 accoun- 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 secoufltecl a clear Call to take an Oath. There is firffi 
 a Judicial Oath tendered by a Judge, and fworn before 
 him ; this mould be taken where there is a Controver- 
 sy, that cannot be otherwife determined, when Per- 
 fons are required by a lawful Judge. 2. There is a 
 Religious Oath and Vow, whereby Pcrfons bind them- 
 ie! ves to their Duty to God and Man, according to the 
 Divine Law ; the Call to this muft be cleared by the 
 Times and Circumftances wherein People are fitua- 
 ted ; and I believe all impartial judicous Perfons will 
 own, (and this Author cannotprove the Contrary) that 
 our Anceftors were in fuch Circumftances when they 
 took the Covenant, as fufficiently cleared their Call 
 thereunto. 
 
 As to the Second Proportion, vi\* That the Things 
 engaged unto in our Covenants are our Duty ; This 
 needs not be inlarged pn either : For any who read our 
 Covenants, will fee they bind us to nothing but what 
 was antecedently required of us in the Lord's Word, 
 >vi$. That we fhall adhere to the found Do&rine, 
 "Worfhip, Difcipline and Government of ChrifPs 
 Church : and endeavour, by all lawful Means, the 
 Extirpation of Here]}, Popery, Prelacy, Superfliticn, 
 gchifm, Profannefs , and what ever is contrary to found 
 Doctrine and the Power of Godlinefs, &c. None will 
 objeft a° ainft the Matter of our Covenants, but Papifls, 
 Prelaiifts, and other erroneous Perfons, who have been 
 fufficiently confuted by our Divines : The Reader may 
 fee Mr. Croft oris Analepfis, and his Analepfis Analepb- 
 the ; Alio a Book, Intituled, Timor cus ; The Apolo- 
 get'tcal Relation, The true Nonconformifi, and our Di- 
 vines who have written againft Prelacy, as Didoclavii, 
 Alt are Dam >ifce»um, Hind let Loofe ; Mr. Rule, For- 
 r efter, Jamifcn, Anderfcn, Lauder, &c. in their 
 Learn'd Writings on that Controverfy. Some objeft, 
 that many who took the Covenants, could not be pre* 
 futrid to under/land what are the Rights and Privi- 
 leges of Parliament, and what is the Difcipline of 
 the Church of Scotland, which they fwore to preferve. 
 JLnfw. A little ferious Application, in the Vie of pro- 
 per 
 
( 61 ) -Wl 
 
 per Means, might give them all fo much Knowledge 
 of thefe Things, as to convince them it was their Duty 
 topreferve them ; As to the Difcipline of the Church 
 of Scotland, an Account of it was extant in Print long 
 before the Solemn League was taken. If it be faid, 
 Several Things in the Difcipline are altered fince : I 
 Anfwer, Thefe Alterations do merely relate to the Form 
 and Manner of applying the Rules of Difcipline in 
 particular Cafes, as After-occurrences difcovered it ex- 
 pedient ; But there is no Change in the Subflance and 
 fundamental Rules of Difcipline, which the Covenan- 
 ters (wore to preferve ; fuch as, That Church-officers 
 frail try out Scandals, and ioflict Church-cenfures on 
 the Scandalous, for Reclaiming them, and for purging 
 the Church from what is ofFenfive, Matt. 18. i Tim: 
 5. 20. 1 Cor. $. 3, 4, 5. See famous Mr. Dur barn's 
 Treatife oj Scandal. It would be minded likewife, 
 That the Covenanters bind themfelves to endeavour 
 further Reformation ; Confequently any after Amend- 
 ments, as to the Form of Church difcipline, are very 
 confident with our Covenants. 
 
 Thus it may be evident, that the Matter of our Co- 
 venants is jud, good, and bound upon us by the Lord's 
 Word ; Therefore our Concluflon holds, That we may, 
 through Grace, refolve, promife, and, on a clear Call, 
 iwear to do the Things therein engaged unto. I fee 
 not what any can rationally Gbje& agatnd this Argu- 
 ment ; For if it is cur Duty to do fuch Things,fure we. 
 fhould refolve to do them both Perfonaily and Con- 
 jun&ly ; and feing Oaths and Vows are a Part of Divine 
 Worfhip required of us, and Means appointed of God 
 for binding us the more ftri&ly to our Duty, 'tis not 
 poflibleto give a Reafon why they (hould not be ufed 
 in this Cafe; We need to be engaged to our Duty by 
 the drongeft Bonds that the Lord allows ; and he has 
 inftituted Oaths and Vows for that very End. 'Tis 
 hoped our Author will not fay, that all Religion under 
 the New Tedament mud conlid only in the inviflbl? 
 Exercife of Grace, in the Soul, without all external 
 ProfefTion j will he not ownj That 3s Chriilians mud 
 
 be« 
 
( 6 2 ) 
 
 Relieve with their Hearts, fo aiuft they confers with 
 their Mouths? Rom. 10. 10. When Chriftians, in the 
 fcxercife of Faith, refolve firmly in their Hearts to 
 cleave to Chrift, to his Truths and Ways ; They may 
 with their Mouths exprefs that firm Refolution, by 
 the moft folemn Vows. 
 
 If any Obje&, That feeing we can do nothing with- 
 out the Aids of Divine Grace, and feeing the Lord is 
 free to give or withhold thefe as he pleafes, we fhould 
 rot vow to do what we know not if the Lord will in- 
 able us to do. Anfvo. This Obje&ion fcarce deferves 
 any Notice ; for it itrikes againfl all Oaths and Vows, 
 tho* the . Lord has exprefly commaded them, Dsut. 
 io. 20. & 6. 13. Jer. 4. 2. Pfal. j6. 11. Deut. 23* 
 21. with many other Places, warranting Religious 
 Vows; as Gen. 28. 21. Pfal. 152. 2. Jfa, 44. 5. & 
 45. 23. Eccles. ^.4. Mai. 1 14. The fame Lord, who 
 commands to Vow, promifes Grace for enabling his 
 People to perform, Pfal. 29. II. If a. 40. 29. 2 Cor. 
 12. 9. Phil. 4. 13. Eph. 6. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1. There- 
 fore Vows fhould be made in Faith, eying the Lord's 
 Command and Promife, relying on the Lord Jefus, 
 both for ftrengthning Grace, and for Acceptance, 
 
 If it be obje&ed, That tho* one fingle Believer may 
 Vow, yet a mixed Multitude fhould not jointly enter 
 into Religious Vows, feeing many of them wanting 
 Grace can do nothing but mock God by fuch Vows. 
 Anfvo. This Objection would (ay, the injoining mixed 
 Multitudes to covenant with God, is a Thing in- 
 trinfically. evil in it felf : And fo the Charge will reach 
 further than the Obje&ers are aware ; It will refleft on 
 the holy and wife Lord, who commanded the Jews 
 to enter into Covenant with him at Sinai and other 
 Times. Sure they were a mixe<\- Multitude. The 
 Objection alfo (hikes againft all Church-communion on 
 Earth; except amonglt. thefe, who know that their 
 whole Society are truly regenerated. The Obje&ors 
 may as well fay, that mixed Multitudes fhould not 
 join together in the Lord's Worfhip and Ordinance:}, 
 Prayer, l?raifes, C5V. Seeing the Unregenerate among 
 
 them 
 
f s, i ** 
 
 them, can do nothing art?. he in tbefe Duties .• But it 
 "is plain from Scripture, That the Lord has appointed 
 his Worfhtp to to be publickly performed,in the vifible 
 Church,tho' many,vJhojoin therein are unfincere,& ma- 
 ny will never be fincere therein. It wasfo in theApoftles 
 Days, and in the pureft Chiirches ever were on Earth. 
 It was fo in Ch rift's own Family. Now, by a Parity 
 of Reafon, mixed Multitudes, it they profefs true Re- 
 ligion, and externally fubjeft to Chrift's Ordinances, 
 with a moral SeriouTnefs, may enter into folemn Vows,' 
 jointly engaging to perform Duties incumbent on them 
 aH. As to theie who want faving Grace, that Want 
 neither frees them from their Obligation to enter into 
 fuch Covenants, when called ; neither does it pollute 
 the Duty to Others, who covenant fincerely ; no more 
 than in the Cafe of a mixed Multitude joining in pub- 
 lick Ordinances, Prayer, Praifes, &c» The Lord was 
 well pleafed with the Covenant, which King Afa and 
 his People entred into, t£o' many of them, no Doubt, 
 were deilitute of faving Grace, 2 Cbron. 15. according- 
 ly the Lord many Ways teftified his being well pleafed 
 with the Covenants our Anceftors enter'd into, notwith- 
 ftanding the Mixture of unfincere Perfons, who joined 
 Lberein. 
 
 Arg. II. It is lawful and commendable for People 
 to engage, to keep what is intrufted to them, and to be 
 faithful to the Truft repofed in them : And none, but 
 Atheiftsy will deny that the true Religion is a precious 
 Truft, committed by the Lord to the Church : There- 
 fore/tis theDuty of the Church,of Nations andPeople, 
 who are privileg'd with the Lord's precious Word, 
 Truths, and Ordinances, to bind themfelves, in the 
 ftrongeft Manner,to preferve, what is intruded to them. 
 pure and intire from all Corruptions, for the Glory of 
 God, their own Good, and the Benefit of Pofterity. 
 If Nations may bind themfelves folemnly to continue 
 Chriftian, and not to fall away to Paganifm, they may 
 alfo folemnly bind themfelves to maintain all the Truths 
 ot God, to fupprefs Errors, and tobatfoever is contrary 
 
 ft 
 
( <s 4 5 
 
 io found Dcttrine and the Pctoer of Godlinejs ! Vol 
 Inftance, they may covenant againft Arianifm, So* 
 cinianifrtty &c. to caft out the falfe Teachers of that 
 Alloy, and to put a Brand on fuch as are cold and un« 
 concern'd in thef e Matters. They who have a juft Re- 
 gard to Pofterity,may wiih for fuch a Covenant at this' 
 Day, when the Arian Herefy is fo much ftrengtbned 
 by fome, and {q little oppofed by others. In He* 
 %ekiab y s Time, Covenanting was thought a good Mean fl 
 to preferve the Purity of Religion, and to turn away 
 the Lord's Anger, 2 Kings 29. 10. Sure to covenant 
 againft the Spreading of damnable Herefies, fuch as are 
 on Foot in our Day, would be one Mean to turn away 
 the Lord's Anger, and to prevent the poifoning of 
 Souls in this, and fucceeding Generations. Had Noab*s 
 Children entred into fuch Covenants frequently after 
 the Flood, to keep the Lord's Ordinances pure, 'tis 
 like there Pofteiity had not turn'd fo foon, and fo ge- 
 nerally from the true God, to worfliip Sun, Moon, 
 Stars and all the Hoft of Heaven. As Tingle Perfons 
 may make perfonal Covenants ; fo Covenants may be 
 entred into by Families, Cities, Churches, Nations, 
 conjunftly, as was already fliown. 
 
 Arg. III. When a Nation avouches theLord, to be their 
 God,as it is exprelTed, Deut. 26.17, 18. (which allChri- 
 ftian Nations do upon the Matter) they covenant to 
 ferve the Lord according to his revealed Will> and to 
 efpoufe his Interefts. As when People own a Prince 
 fbr their rightful King, they bind themfelves to bear 
 faithful Allegiance to him : So, when People own the 
 Lord to be their God, they declare it to be their Du- 
 ty, to maintain his Truth, and iland up for all Things 
 wherein his Glory is concerned ; this they really bind 
 themfelves unto. Our Anceftors did this at, and af- 
 ter the Reformation, engaging themfelves to God, and 
 to one another by Oath, to own the true Religion, and 
 to defend one another, in Adherence thereunto: A"S 
 we fee in the feveral Draughts, recorded in Knox his 
 Hiftcry; one fubfcribed at Edinburgh, December 3d, 
 2557. another 1562, &c. as Pag. 38. That which 
 
is called the National Covenant, was fubfcribed Anni 
 1580, 1581, 1590, 1638, £5V. Wearenot afhamed of 
 any of thefe Draughts, nor of the worthy Patriot j,who 
 fubfcribed them. We read of the bindingForceof Vows* 
 in Num. 30 and how a Woman's Vow binds her, if 
 her Father or Husband heard and held their Peace* 
 Our National Covenant was fubfcribed by K. Ja. Vi- 
 and his Houfhold, - and after by all Ranks with the 
 Countenance of Civil Authority : Alfo both it, and the 
 Solemn League were (worn by K. Char. II. at Scoon, 
 What they did therein was an exprels Avouching of the 
 Lord to be their God. 'Tis intolerable that One, who 
 calls himfelf a Minifter of this Church, and has fubfcri- 
 bed our ConfeJJion of Faith and Formula, fhould dare 
 to fpeak againft fo plain a Duty. 
 
 Arg. IV. We find Inftances of the Lord's profeffing 
 People their entring into folemn Covenants to bind 
 themfelves more ftrongly to Duty, approved by the 
 Lord,and recorded in his Word for Imitation, as that in 
 Afa'sTime, 2Cbro.1t>. S^e alfo Deut. 29. iCbro. 29.10. 
 & 34. 31, 32. where we read that King Jcfiab ftcodin 
 bis Place, and made a Covenant before the Lord^to walk » 
 after the Lord, and to keep bis Commandments, &c. 
 3 2.He caufed all that were prefent i/* Jerufalem and Ben- 
 jamin J ofl and to it. And in the Book of Nebemiab, 9. 
 38. the Lord's People fpeak thus, iVe make a fure Cove* 
 nant y and write it, and our Princes, Levites and Prieflt 
 fealunto it. See alfo Cbap. 10. 28, 29. where we find 
 that all the People joined in the Covenant. 'Tis faid, 
 Tbey clave unto tbeir Brethren the Nobles, and entrei, 
 into a Curfe and an Oath to walk in God's Law, See 
 alfo Num. 21. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 If it be objected, that thefe being in the Old Tefla- 
 went, do not warrant Chriftians under the N>w Te- 
 ftament to make Covenants. I anfwer, The OldTefta* 
 ment is given us for a Rule of Faith and Practice, as 
 well as the New, and is of equal Authority and Force. . 
 It is true, the Ceremonial Law, recorded in tke Old 
 Teftament, is abrogated under the New : But the a* 
 bove mentioned Irftances, are plainly MoTal \ tho' the 
 1 Cc* 
 
C 66 ) 
 
 Ceremonial Law was then one Part of the Matter, 
 which the Jews vowed to obferve ; yet thsir Vowing 
 and Covenanting, in it felf confidered, was Moral, and, 
 a Duty incumbent on the Church in all Ages-, For what 
 was it but a Binding themfelves by the ftrongeft Ties, 
 to the true Religion, in Oppofition to Error, and all o- 
 ther Sins: Theretore our Covenants, which are of the 
 fame Nature, are lawful and good, being warranted 
 ky fuch notable Precedents, recorded in Scripture for 
 Imitation. Whatever Objections this Author makes 
 againit our Covenants, tend to prove, that Covenant- 
 ing is in it felf finful ; this feems to be his Judgment, 
 and this he labours to prove: And were this true, God 
 could never have injoined or approved it, cither under 
 the Old or New Teftament. All his Arguments look 
 this Way, to prove, National Covenanting to be in it 
 felf Sinful, and if they prove not this (which indeed 
 they will never do) they will do him no Service. 
 
 Arg. V. It is exprefly Prophefied in the Old Tefta, 
 ment, That in New Teftament Times, the Lord's 
 People fliould devote themfelves to the Lord, and 
 Swear to be for him, Ija. 2. 2. Micb f 4. 1 . Zeck. 2 f 20, 
 21, 22. That One Jhall fay, I am the Lord's; another 
 Subfcribe with his Hand to the Lord* Ifa. 44. 5. 
 That when the Ends of the Earth Jhall look to the Lord, 
 every Tongue Jhall fwear to him, Ifa. 45. 22, 23. 
 That they (hall ask the Way to Zicn, with their Faces 
 thitherward, faying, Come let us join our fejves to 
 the Lord) in a perpetual Covenant that Jhall not be fir- 
 gotten. Jer. 59 5. See Ifa, 19. 18, 21. Five Cities 
 in tb$ Land of Egypt Jhall Jpeak the Language of Ca- 
 naan, and fwear to the Lord of Hofis', tbeyJhaU vow a 
 Vow unto the Lord, and perform it. May it not be 
 judged,!* hat thefeNations entring into folemnCovenanc 
 with God, is fome Part of the Fulfilment of thefc 
 Prophecies ? Whereas it is ftill objected, That we find 
 no Warrants for, nor lnftances of fuch Covenanting, in 
 the Scriptures of the New Tejiament* I anfwer, 1. 
 'Tis fumcie'nt they are in theO!d,for theNewTeftament 
 iappofes and conmaas what is taught in the Old Tefta* 
 
 mont. 
 
( 6 7 .) ^"7 
 
 ment. 2. It may be anfwered, That the not recording 
 Inftances, proves not that there were no i'uch Inftances 
 of Solemn Covenanting in the the New Teftament 
 Church. Many Things were tranfacfced in thefeTimes, 
 which are not particularly recorded. Yet I am not a- 
 frald to form the following" Argument thus, 
 
 Arg. VI. We have fufficient Warrant ror, and In- 
 ftances of Chriftians covenanting with God, and with 
 one another in the New Teftament, to ferve the Lord 
 according to his revealed Will, and tooppofe Sin and 
 Error. Therefore the like may be done again. This 
 I prove by thefe Seriptures, which require Chrifti- 
 ans to fland fafl in the Faitb\ to quit them like Men 
 and be flrong a. To confefs Cbrifl and his Word be- 
 fore Men b. To fland fafl in the Lord c. To be 
 flrong in the Lord d. To fland fafl in the Liberty 
 wherewith Cbrifl has made them free e. To contend 
 for the Faith, and that eameflly f. Likewife by thefe 
 Scriptures which require Unity among Chriftians, 
 as Rom* 12. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 13, &c. Eph. 4.. 3, &c. 
 Philip. 2. 1, 2, 4. See Philip. 1. 27, Stand f aft inoht 
 Spirit, with one Mind, flriving together for the Faith 
 of the Gofpel. From all which, and many others that 
 might be cited, It is plain, That Chriilians are com- 
 manded in ftrong Terms, not only to refolve inward- 
 ly, each by himielf, but to declare outwardly their 
 fincere Refolution to own theCaufe or God, and to be 
 mutually aflifting one to another, in (o doing; and that 
 in Oppofltion to all Error and Sin; which cannot be 
 done without Words, clfe how ihal) they know one ano- 
 ther's Mind. And none but deluded Quakers will 
 deny, that an Oath may be interpofed in luch an im- 
 portant weighty Matter, for hying flronger Ties on 
 thsmfelves, and to give, mutual Security lor one ano- 
 ther's Firmnefsin the Common Cauie. I would gladly 
 know T how 'titpojjible to conceive of Chur cb -ccmmuni- 
 \ 2 When 
 
 a 1 Cor, 16. 12. b Luke 12. 8. Rem. 10. 9. Rev. 
 2. 13. c Philip. 4. 1. d Bpb. 6» io. e Gal. 5. *. 
 i Judc 3. 
 
( 6S J 
 
 O'tfj without Covenanting, more or lefs cxplicitely. 
 When the Apoftles conftituted Churches, we mull of 
 Neceiftty, fuppcfe that the People gave fome external 
 Declaration, or TelUmony of their flncere Resolution, 
 thro' the Lord's Help, to be faithful to Qod, and rnu. 
 tuaily helpful to one another, in a joint Owning of 
 Chriftian Religion againft all Oppofitcs. So much is 
 imported 'in. that Scripture, 2 Cor. 8. 5. Where theA- 
 poftle fays of the Churches of Macedonia, They fir/} 
 gave themfelves to the Lord, and unto us, by the Will 
 of God. Here is, 1. The Will of God authorifing 
 what they did. 2. A' facred Devoting and Dedicating 
 themfelves to the Lord, to be intirely for him. 3. A 
 declared Subjection to Chrift's Ambaifadors and Ordi-< 
 nances. Is there nothing here of a declared Refoluti- 
 on and Engagement to do what God requires.? Whe- 
 ther or not there was an Oath or Vow inter pofed, is not 
 faid ; but fure I am, here is material Covenanting. 
 See al'b Rev. 17. 14. & 19. 14. Where Chrift- is-re-, 
 prefented as a glorious King at the Head of his Army, 
 inlifted under his Banner. His Soldiers are faid to be 
 Called, Chcftn and faithful, engaged in the War againft 
 Chrift's Enemies; which fuppoies a Covenant, a Bond 
 (ftronger than 2.ny Military Oath ufual -in the Armies 
 of earthly Kings) engaging them to be faithful to 
 Chrift, and to one another ag3inft the common Enemy. 
 If our Anticovenanting Author had a Treafure inDar> 
 ger to be carried off by Robbers, I fancy he would rea- 
 dily covenant with his Neighbours to lecure it by their 
 mutual Afliftance ; Why then may not Chriftians cove- 
 nant together for preferving the precious Treafure of 
 true Religion, in Danger to be robbed f;nm them by 
 Perfecutors and fa'fe Teachers ? 'Tis alio ufual to 
 fwear Allegiance to lawful Kings, to defend their Roy- 
 al Authority againft all open Invaders and fecret Con- 
 ftnrators ; Is there not much more Reafon that the 
 Subjects of Chrift ihould fwear to ftand up for, and 
 maintain the Honour of his Divine Authority, and 
 Laws, againft his Enemies of every Sort ? For further 
 enforcing this, coniider, 
 
( <9 ) "9 
 
 ' Arg. VII. All Chriftians, at their Baptifm, come 
 under Solemn Engagments and Vows to be the Lord's ; 
 to be for him, and to fight againft Sin, Satan and the 
 world ; and all Religious Covenanting afterwards, is 
 but a more explicate Homologating, Owning and Re- 
 newing that of their Baptifmal Covenant: And it is 
 renewed either fecretly, which is called Perfonal Cove- 
 nanting ; or inConjunclion with aChriftianCommunity, 
 which is called Publick or National Covenenting ; And 
 the Baptifmal Covenant (which indifputably is of 
 Divine Inftitution, and to continue to the World's End) 
 does infer the Warrantablenets of a whole, Church's 
 Covenanting together, as may appear fr<W 1 Cor. 12. 
 13. where Chriftians are faid to be Baptised into one 
 Body ; and Epb. 4. 5. 'Tis called One Baptifm. 
 From whence the Apoftle, in both thefe Places, draws 
 Arguments for Unity among Chriftians ; Intimating, 
 that all. they who are .Baptized, are under Solemn En- 
 gagements to join and ftand firm together, as one Body, 
 in owning the Lord'sCaule,againft allOppofltes: There- 
 
 ' fore, as every one may renew his Baptifmal Vows by 
 Perfonal Covenanting *, So, a Community or Nation of 
 Baptized Chriftians may and fhou'd join together, as 
 one Body, in a Publick Owning and Renovation of 
 the Vows they came, under at their Baptifm.! The 
 like may be faid of the other Sacrament of the ZWi 
 Supper, at the receiving whereof, every Communicant ^ 
 personally, and ail of them conjuR&ly, come under 
 tbe moft Solemn Vows and Engagements to own and 
 maintain the true Religion to the utmoft of their Power 
 againft all Enemies. V/hat unparalleled Impudence 
 then is it for any to fiy, their is no Warrant in the 
 New Teftament for our National Covenants ! 
 
 I fhall not detain the Reader much longer ; Only a 
 Word may be added very Briefly* u Concerning the 
 Manner of entring into Covenants. 2. The Ufe fhould 
 be made of them. 3. Their Obligation on Pofterity. 
 As to the 
 
 Firfi, Surely great Pains fhould be taken to inftru<$ 
 $hofe who haye in View to enter into Covenant, 
 
 con, 
 
( 7° ) 
 
 concerning the Nature, the Matter and Jcap* of them, 
 and every Thing ihould be made as clear as poSible 
 from the Word of God ; Alio, concerning the Quali- 
 fications rtquifite in thefe who adventure on fo Solemn 
 a Work : They would be exhorted to examine their 
 State, their Cafe, their Sins % &c. to be humbled in a 
 Senfe of their Snfulnefs ; to fly to Chrift by Faith for 
 Justification, San&ifkation and Strength ; to Vow, 
 and pay their Vows. People ihould be excited to 
 much Prayer, Falling and Humiliation, in Secret, 
 Private and Publick, at fuch a Time ; efpccially to be 
 much in the Exercife of Faith on the Lord Jefus, with- 
 out whom they can do nothing acceptable to God, 
 ]obn 15. 5. Heb.ii.6. As to the 
 
 Second, Th^ Ufe (hould be made of Covenants. 1/?, 
 They Ihould not be made an Handle for Contention, 
 to raife angry Debates ip a Land ; Therefore I think 
 none Ihould be forced into them byThreats and Terrors. 
 }t may happen indeed, That, when a Nation generally 
 enters into Covenant, which none but ill-difpofed Per- 
 fons can except againft (as was the Cafe when our Co- 
 venants were taken) it may be found expedient to 
 keep out of Places of Truft, thofe, who, by oppofing 
 the Covenant and other concurring Signs, diicover their 
 Malignancy and Enmity agaiuil the Gaufe of God ; 
 But, I think, none Ihould be expofcd unto civil Pti- 
 nifhments and MulAs, merely for refufing thefe Co- 
 venants. Neither ihould they be made a diftinguifh- 
 IngTeJferaor Tokeq in admitting Perfons to fealing 
 Ordi nances ; Perfons fhould not be admitted there- 
 unto merely becaufe of their taking the Covenant, if 
 they want the other Qualifications requifite. And, 
 fome who* thro' Miftake or Weaknefs, have fcrupled 
 to take the Covenant, may, ceverthelels, beadmiretd 
 to fealing Ordinances, if they be found otherwile o^ua- 
 liited. idVfy The tlfe ihould be made of them, is to 
 awaken- Perlbns to a deeper Confideration, and more 
 jealous Performance of the Duties therein Vowed ; 
 ta drive Perfons more to the Lord Jefus Chrift, to the 
 A&ing faith on him for Grace and Strength,, pleading 
 
 for 
 
4-it 
 
 fit the ft ] d£>.Qg, of God on that Mean or his own In- 
 ftiturion, That; having made their Vows, they may 
 daily perform the : ame, £jaj. 61. ! j. & 119. 106. 3«4/p» 
 Thej friould be a Memorial to them, that they may ne- 
 ver forget how they have opened their Mouth to the 
 Lord tnd therefore fhould not go back, nor make In- 
 quiry after Vows: As the. lfradites were commanded 
 to have the Law written on their Pbyla&eries, and on 
 the nvift conspicuous and frequented Parts of their 
 Dwellings, to prevent forger ting it ; So the Covenants 
 fhould be made Ufe of to keep us in mind- how we 
 fhould behave at all Times. As to the 
 
 Tbird, The Obligation of the. Covenants onPofterity. 
 'Tis owned by all found Ca;uifts, that Covenants 
 (wherein there's nothing ilnful engaged, unto) do bind 
 Pofterity, even tho' tney may feem detrimental to 
 their fecularlntereft: The Paiiage concerning the Gibe- 
 QnitcS)Joftr. 9. compared with 2 Sam, 21, 1,2, &c .is 
 pertinent to thisPurpofe } the* there. was Fraud in the 
 making of that Covenant,, yet when the Pofterity long 
 after broke it, the Lord refented their Sin, by 
 fending on them Three Years Famine. See alio Gen, 
 5Q. 5, 6,25. Exod. 13. 19, where we read Vows con- 
 cerning the Bonds of Jacob and Jcfepb^ and how 
 pun&ually the Pofterity fulfilled them. We know, 
 Obligations granted by Parents, bind their Pofterity 
 and Heirs : If Confederacies among Kingdoms did not- 
 bind Pofterity, What horrid Confufions would follow? 
 The.Perfons who make the Confederacy may die very 
 quickly, thentbe Pofterity might a& direcVy agairit 
 the Faith plighted in the League. But all Nations 
 own- the Unrea/onablenels and Wickednefs of fuch a 
 Pofition ; Much more do Religious Covenants bind 
 Pofterity, the Matter of them being antecedently 
 commanded in the Law of God. 
 
 It it be Jaid, It thefe Duties are commanded by the 
 Law of God, there eannot be another Obligation fu- 
 peradded, from the Anceftors Covenant. Anfto* 'Tis 
 true, there cannot be a greater Obligation than whac 
 £ow* from the Lord's Authority in bis Law : But 
 
 then 
 
( 7* ) 
 
 then, the fame God, by his Authority in his Law^ 
 Warrants and Approves the new fuperadded Obli- 
 gation from the Anceftors Covenant , fo that, it is 
 {till the Lord's Law that lays on the Obligation : Hence 
 the Jews were declared more hainoufly guilty for 
 breaking the Covenant their Anceftors had made to 
 keep the Law of God ; I fay, the Jews were more hai- 
 noufly Guilty on that Account, than they would have 
 been, if their Anceftors had not fo Covenanted. The 
 Lord, who conftitutes the Relation between Ance- 
 fUrs and Pofterity, has appointed, that the Anceftors 
 lawful Covenants fhall defcend with a double Obligation 
 on their Pofterity. See more on this Subject, and alfo 
 concerning the Sin or Covenant-breaking, in the Apo- 
 logetical Relation, Printed i66<,. Se&ion 20. Pag. 
 327, CSV. Tho' this Author may flight fuch Books, yet 
 their Strength and found Arguments will gain them 
 .Regard with all, who pay due Refpe<ft to Scripture and 
 Reafon. 
 
 That Covenants made by Progenitors bind Pofteri- 
 ty, might be inftru&ed further by hich Arguments as 
 thefe following ; 1. Parents may by their Commands 
 oblige their Children, as far as that Authority extends 
 which the Lord gives them over their Children : And 
 if Children a& againft fuch Commands, they a& againft 
 the Authority God has given their Fathers over them ; 
 and, in fo doing, they fin againft God himfelf. The 
 Recbabites are bleffed for obeying their Father's Com- 
 mands, in a Matter antecedently left free, and under 
 no Divine Precept, Jer,^.6j 11, &c, 2. The Adju- 
 ration and Curfes of Progenitors take Effect on Pofte- 
 rity, Jcjh* 6. 26. 1 Kings 16. 34. 3. A Promife made 
 by Progenitors in their own Name, and in Name of 
 their Pofterity, tho* without their Confent or Accep- 
 tance, binds Children ; and if Children act. againft it, 
 they aft unfaithfully, for the Promife of the Fathers 
 is the Promife of the Pofterity alfo: And if the Pro- 
 mife be confirmed by Oath, invoking God to be the 
 Avenger of the Contempt of that Authority, it adds 
 to the Obligation, and its binding For« reaches as far 
 
 as 
 
< n > m 
 
 as the Promife ; The Authority of the Fathers over 
 Pofterity makes it fo. 4. Upon this Ground it is, 
 that the Contra&s and Agreements of Perfons, when 
 they coalefce into a Politick Body or Community, ha- 
 ving a Civil Order and Regular Government among 
 them, defcend unto, and continue upon the Commu° 
 nity in After-ages; and when an Oath is added confir- 
 ming thefe Con-traits, Pofterity cannot a& againft them 
 without Perjury, jj. There is no Shadow of Ufurpa- 
 tion overjthe Conference in the. Cafe before uS", feeing 
 theMatter ofourCovenantsis agreeable to thePrinciples 
 of Truthand Righteoufnefs. This is plain, (1.) God 
 covenants with Fathers, for themfelves and their Pofte- 
 rity ; fo he did. with Adam before the Fall, and with 
 Abraham after it. (2.) It appears from that Oath, 
 Z>eut. 29. 10, I4» 29. and from that Qath,-Ge». 50. 25. 
 compared with Exod. 13. 19. alfo that Oath, Jojb* 9. 
 1*5. for violating whereof, many Ages after, God pu- 
 nilhed Ifrasl y 2 Sam* 21.1,2. 6. Heagues and Allian* 
 ces among Kingdoms and Nations are univerfally 
 own'd to bind Pofterity, as much as the Generation 
 that firft entred into them, and that by virtue of the 
 Paternal Authority : The binding Force o\ the Proge* 
 nitors Contract, confirmed by their Promife or Oath, 
 defcends on Pofterity, and continues on the Politick 
 Body, notwithffonding of the Change, partial or total, 
 of the individual Conftituents from Age to Age ; that 
 no more alters the Identity of the Nations contra&ing, 
 than the Change, of Waters in the Channel does alter the 
 Samenefs oftheRiver. This is fo evident in itfelf,fo plain 
 to the common S-nle and Reafon of all Men in all Ages 
 and Nations, that none controverts it. The League 
 between Scotland and £rance> in the Days of Acbaito 
 K. of Scotland , and Charles the Great K. of francs* 
 was reckoned, without Debate, obligatory on Pofterity 
 for many Hundred Years : It is indeed now broken ; 
 where the Blame lies, let others enquire. 7. When 
 Progenitors fubjeft themfelves and their Pofterity to 
 the Government of a Prince and his Pofterity, and 
 ^ make a felemn Vow or Oath to thatPurpofe, it binds 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 Potlerity as far as is confiftent with the Lord's Word, 
 and the £nds of Government; the Poftcrity being the 
 Offspring of thefe who fubmitted to that Family : 
 Hence thefe who never took an Oath of Allegiance to 
 that Prince or his Pofterity lawfully inverted, may yet 
 be accufed of Treafon and Breach of Fealty, if they 
 a& againil the Government. 8. All own, that Fathers 
 fo reprefent their Children, that lawful Pactions and. 
 Contracts entred into, and Bonds granted by Bathers, 
 do bind Pofterity in Things which otherwife would 
 have been free and indifferent •, io far extends the Au- 
 th6rity the Lord has given Parents over their Children. 
 Much leis has any Ground to quarrel, when the Things 
 engaged unto by Progenitors, are commanded by the 
 Lord, or have an evident laiting Conveniency, being 
 plainly for the Advantage of Potlerity : Which is the 
 Cafe in the Matter of our National Covenants. 9. Such 
 has been the Religious Reverence of Promiies and 
 Qaths in all Ages among Men of Probity, that when 
 no Exception or Condition appeared from the Nature 
 of the Thing, or the declared Will of the Engagers, 
 Pofterity have ftill been underftood as compriled in 
 thefe Oaths and Promifes, as well as the iirft Enga- 
 gers. 
 
 As to the Objection made againfl our Covenants, from 
 the Unlawfulnefs of Subjects entring into Leagues with- 
 out Confent of their Kings. 'Tis well known, our 
 National Covenant was fubferibed by King James and 
 his Houfhold, Anno 15 So. and thereafter, by Ordinance 
 of the Lords of Secret Council^ and A&of the Ajfembly* 
 ftxbfcribed by Perlbns of all Ranks : It was fubferibed 
 again Anno I'Jpo. by all Sorts of Perfons, upon anew 
 Ordinance of the Secret Council, at the Defire of the 
 General Aflembly\ with a General Bond for Maintenance 
 ofthetrue Religion, and the King's Perfon, Anno 1639. 
 And this was Ratified by Ad of Parliament, the King's 
 Commijfioner prefent* As to the Solemn League, 'tis 
 evident, the Scotijh Nation was driven to it by un- 
 avoidable Neceffity. ' King Charles I. was unhappily 
 milled by bad Counceilours, Cburch-Mcn and others ; 
 
 and 
 
4-W 
 
 < n ) 
 
 and had done many unaccountable Things, I lore not 
 to mention : Nor would he hearken to any Advice ; 
 and if he had overcome the Englijb Parliament at that 
 Time by Force of Arms, he had reigned as abfolutely, 
 as ever any Prince in Europe, and claimed to be as far 
 above Law: Tis certain his Advifers were driving 
 nearer R:me, and nothing had been fafe, that his 
 Counsellors difliked. Our Anceftors fhewed all 
 Refped to the King's Perfon, all Regard to his juft 
 Authority ; But when they faw the King would lirten 
 to no moderate Counfels, nor hearken to juft Propofab, 
 they thought themfelves obliged in their own Defence 
 to do what they did. And whatever be faid againft 
 the Solemn League, it was (o far countenanced by King 
 Cburlss-li. that he folemnty (wore it, when Crowned 
 at Scocn, As to the breaking thereof, and ordering it 
 to be burnt,w:th the highcftCircumrtances ofContempt, 
 and feeking to extirpate all who adhered to it ; It lies 
 upon them who were acceffary to thole Pra&ices, or 
 juftify them, to account for it : Such Covenants have 
 an higher and . more lailing Obligation than is duly 
 minded by many. Prin:es take it ill to be mocked by 
 Subjects ; and there is ro Realon to think, a God of 
 Juftice and Jealoufy, and of a tranfeendently higher 
 Authority, will take it well to be mocked by Creatures. 
 There are Inftances of other Churches, Cities and 
 Nations, who thought it uieful and law ful to enter into 
 itich Leagues for the Maintenance of Religion ; fuch 
 as the Smahaldic-i League among the Princes ot 
 Germany, againft Charles V. The League or the 
 Proteflants in France, often renewed ; The League of 
 the City Strasbourg, with the Proteftant Can tins, Anno 
 IS29 : The League betwixt the Landgrave of HeJJe, 
 the City of Strasburg and the Proreftant Caj/tonx % 
 The Covenant of the Bohemian Noblemen, for the 
 Defence of their Lib^rtir-s, Anni 1547 ; The Religious 
 Covenant, called Concordia, entred into by the States 
 of Germany, containing a Confeflion of Faith, and 
 figned by three Ekikors, 46 other Princes and State*, 
 K 2 and 
 
( 7« ) 
 
 ^rsd 35 Cities \ And another League enter'd into by the 
 Protettant Princes of Germany ', Anno 1610. For my 
 Part, when Princes abufe their Power, and carry 
 it further than Law can warrant, and iraploy it to the 
 Subverfion of the true Religion, and Deftru&ion of 
 the Rights and Liberties of their People; I never (aw a 
 ic-lid lyeaTan why Subjects might not unite, and bind 
 themfcives to maintain the true Religion, and defend 
 their Civil Liberties, Rights, and Properties, againfl 
 iuch an Invafion made by their Princes. And I believe 
 few will quarrel that Practice, if they be not driving 
 foaie ill Deiign ; as thefe who this. Day decry Creeds, 
 Confeffions, and publick Declarations in Matters of 
 i ruth and Duty •, or fuch as expect, by gratifying the 
 Lufts of Princes, to be enriched by the Spoils of better 
 Men. This was an antiein Principle of our Nation, 
 not on; v at the Reformacion,but long before ; as appears 
 by a Letter from our Nobility and Gentry to the Pope, 
 Wrirten in the Days of K. Robert the Bruce, and with 
 his Allowance; translated by Sir George Mackenzie* As 
 far as I fee, the Law of Nature, the Word of God, 
 and the common Senfe of Mankind, will juftify the Pra- 
 ctice. The unlimited and ablolute Power of Kings, 
 and Obligation of Subjjdts to be intirely paifive, when 
 Kings are making Havock of all that's dear to them 
 asMen and Chri^ians,areThings that will not go down 
 with wife, fcrious and unbyaifed People All Kings 
 that now are, have been railed by the People, and 
 ewe their Authority to their Confent : And I never 
 read an Inftance of a People, when receiving a Perfon 
 or Family to Reign over them, their agreeing that the 
 Prince ihould have Power to do what he would, and 
 to uie them as ill as he pleaied; and to bind up them- 
 selves from refilling, tho' he ihould deftroy their Re- 
 ligion, ftrip them of all their Rights and Liberties, 
 drive them to the Shambles,if they ihould dare to make 
 one Step in the Way to Heaven ; fure, God never Lin* 
 powered Princes to do fuch Things. Who will think, 
 King's fftou'd not be refitted, fuppofe they fliould at- 
 tempt to deilroy all their Subjects, and turn their 
 
Dominions into one large Park for grazing Cattle, as 
 fome Gentlemen do theirLairdihips ? The very Roya- 
 lifts own a Ring may be refilled, if they give up them- ' 
 felves and their Kingdoms to a foreign Power. Ab- 
 folute Power, unlimited Authority over Rational 
 Creatures, are Rights peculiar to the great God; 
 And it is high Tre3lon againft Him, for any other to 
 claim it.- But this Argument I leave to the learned 
 Univerfities of Oxford and Cambrtge: They are as much 
 concerned to maxe good this Point, as the Church oi 
 Scotland ; and well are they able to do it. The Re- 
 volution, which they have (worn to maintain, Hands 
 0n this Foundation : And 'tis well known how a&nre 
 'they were in bringing it about ; many of the Church 
 of England having join'd heartily in inviting the Prince 
 of Orange over, to oppofe the arbitrary, illegal Mea- 
 fures of the late King fames, who had made bold Steps 
 toward the total Subverfion of Religion, Liberty, and 
 the Laws of the Land. 
 
 I fhall conclude this Paper with a Word to thele 
 who profefs themfelves true Presbyterians* When fo 
 direft an Attack upon our facrcd Covenants is made 
 by fome, of whom betterThmgs might have been expe- 
 cted ; and who, by the ftricteft Ties, were obliged to 
 build, what they now avowedly deftroy : I humbly * 
 think, Minifters and private Chriilians fhould beawak- 
 ned,t<i consider what has provoked theLord tofuflferfuch 
 a furpriftng Event. Poflibly it will be found a Rebuke 
 and Strake> among other Things, for the unaccoun, 
 table Lukewarmnefs and IndifFerency about our Cove- 
 nants, that has thefe many Years undeniably prevailed 
 among us; many have been as it wereafhamed to men- 
 tion them, and they who aim'd to teilify their conftanc 
 Regard to them (which was their Honour) were ri- 
 dicul'd. I am of the Mind likewife, that the prefent 
 Opposition to our Covenants, fro*}, as Airth no Bodv 
 would have thought, calls us all to reflect on the Per- 
 fidy, Perjury, and Covenant-breaking the Nations 
 ftaud chargeable with before the Lord, of old and late, 
 whatever Faults fome pretend to find iq the Manner 
 
 o 
 
( 78 J 
 
 of our Anccftors Covenanting; 'T»s fure, tho* there 
 had never been a formal National Covenant made, all 
 the inhabitants of Britain and Ireland are indifpen- 
 fably bound, to own and pra&ife the true Religion, and 
 by all 'awful Ways to oppofe what is contrary to found 
 Do&rine and the Power of Godiineis ; this they were 
 bound unto by the Authority of God, and this is the 
 very Thing vowed and fworn in our Covenants, where- 
 in cur Anoeftors, in t'neir own Name, and in Name of 
 their Pofterity, have bound their Souls, have vowed, 
 and with uplifted Hands to the mod high God, have 
 fworn to do what was antecedently their Duty : They 
 having, as Jepbtbab fpe ks, opened their Mouth to the 
 Lord, in fo publick iolemn a Manner openly before the 
 World, what an hainous aggravated Cr:me muft it be, 
 to violate fuch facred Vows, wherein the holy and 
 dreadful Name of God was invocated r It muft be ow- 
 ned, that the Sins of Britain and Ireland are of a more 
 Crimfon Colour, on this very Account, thin the Sins 
 of other Nations. Neither can it be denied, that we 
 with our Fathers have broke thefe Covenants, Times 
 and Ways paftNumbring : And Perjury and Covenant- 
 breaking being among the moft crying Sins, the Lord 
 is affuredly angry, and pleading a Controverfy with us 
 for the lame; therefore I believe, all who are not byafTed 
 with Error, or under the Power of uncommon Blind- 
 refs, will own, that nothing were more proper and ex- 
 pedient for us at this Day, than to make a ferious dili- 
 gent Inquiry, into the particular Ways we have broke 
 Covenant with God> and to endeavour, thro' Grace, to 
 mourn over and rspentof the fame, and to return to 
 Gcd, throughChrift. in trie Way of Perfonaland Natio- 
 nal Covenanting according to Scripture Directions, 
 Warrants and Examples, and according to thecommtr- 
 dable Precedents of this Church in former Times. Be- 
 ing convinced no true Presbyterians will move a Doubt 
 on this Head, might it not bethought tiz at this Time 
 (as a Teftimony againft anticovenanting Innovators , 
 who are running down Vresbyterian Principles ;) I fay, 
 might it not be thought fit at this Time, that the feve- 
 
 veral 
 
c 79 ; 4/j> 
 
 veral Presbyteries and Synods of this Church fend up 
 Inftruclions to the next General Ajfembly, defiring the 
 Affembiy may not only aflert the obliging Force of 
 our Covenants, but alio lay down Methods for fearch- 
 ing out the Land's Sins, particularly the Breaches of 
 our Covenants*, appointing Days of Humiliation and 
 Failing, and that in order to a Reoovation of them, 
 when the Lerd fhall fee fit to open a Door for lb glori- 
 ous a Work ? 
 
 1 ihall not fay whether lucb an Overture will take or 
 not, but I am pretty confident, none will be able by 
 Scripture or found Reafon to fhow that it is cither un- 
 lawful or unexpedient. And if the Lord is really wroth 
 and contending with us, as for other Sins, fo in parti- 
 cular tor Breaches of Covenant, as I uippofe, few will 
 dare to deny; and if by his Word and Providences he 
 is calling us to theDuty before mentioned,and that with- 
 out Delay ; it will not be fafe for any to opppofc or 
 wave it, on Pretence of any prudential Confideraticns. 
 The beft Politicks are thefe taught us in the Lord's 
 Word, fuch as that we fhould acquaint our J elves 
 with God NOW, and be at Peace with him, that Good 
 may come unto us, Job 22. 2i. That wejbould remem- 
 ber from whence we have fallen, repent , and do our 
 firfi Works, Rev. 2. 5. That wejhould not defer to pay 
 our Vows, for the Lord has no Vleafure in Fools* 
 Ecclef. 5. 4. O that we may know the Things that 
 belong to our Peace, before they be hid from our 
 Eyes- * 
 
 Mr. Zach. Crofton, in his Analepfis, Page 22. fays, 
 c The folemn League and Covenant feems to me, fo 
 4 little to differ from our baptifmal Covenant, that it 
 c is no hard Matter to refolve it into thefe three grand 
 c Heads, that were promifed in our Names, when we 
 « were baptized. All the Difference is, the baptifmal 
 4 Covenant was Perfonal and Private, this Publick and 
 « Politick. And in his Anal. AnaJepbthe, Page 3 V He 
 doth it thus, 4 For, if / mufi believe tht Articles of 
 
 1 the 
 
( So ) 
 
 * the Creed, I muft preferve found Do&rine, and re- 
 c form to my Power what is corrupt .• If I muft keep 
 ' God's Commandments* I muft purfue pure Worfhip, 
 c and Religion towards God ; and Loyalty, Love and 
 ' Unity towards Men : And, if / muft renounce the 
 
 * Devil and all bis Works, I muft extirpat Popery and 
 c Papal Prelacy, Super(lition,Herefy, Schifm, with all 
 1 Incendiaries and evil Inftruments, Hinderers of Re- 
 
 * formation. And ibid. Page 30. He (hews, that En- 
 ' tering into Covenants and fslemn League s, is di* 
 ' &ated by the Light of Nature, and directed by the 
 c Law of God, purfued and pra&ifed by all Nations 
 
 * (and by lfrael in the Cafes of Religion) as the utmoft 
 4 of humane Policy, and higheft Security to their 
 
 * Privileges endangered ; as a Method, dele fting con- 
 c cealed Enmity, debarring Fraud, expreffing Afre&ion 
 
 * engaging ConCcience, and animating Refolution; and 
 
 * fo, is a lawful proper and probable Means of Securi- 
 4 ty. If good in our Civil, why not in our Religious 
 
 * Concernments?' 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Advertifement. 
 
 WHile the foregoing Sheets voere at the Prefs, un- 
 known to the Author, and one Half being caft 
 off; the Ccpi he had under Consideration, came with 
 additions : Which enlarged Copy is punctually obfervd 
 in the latter Half that was to print ; but it could not 
 be fo in the former, wherein m oft of the Additions and 
 Alterations were, without Lojs : Therefore, that the 
 Reader way not be deprivd of them, they are mrftly 
 infert, with Reference to their proper Pages, in the jcl- 
 hvjing Appendix. 
 
 6 ** APPEN-- 
 
( 8r ) * U 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 Addenda omitted from Page 17. to 40, 
 
 IN the Intrcdxttion to 'the Anfwers, at the Head cf 
 P. 18. Let it offend none, when I fay, God him- 
 ielf teftified his Approbation of this Way, by a plenti- 
 ful Effufion of the Hoiy Ghoft, in thefe Covenanting 
 Days ; This was evident by the Converfion of Multi- 
 tudes of all Ranks, the Increafe of Grace, Knowledge 
 and Holinefs in thefe who were converted : The Body 
 of our Nobility and Gentry had another Air for So- 
 briety, Serioufnefs, and Regard to God, than they have 
 now, or have had for many Years bygone : Our Com- 
 mons were generally a Sett of People as remarkuble for 
 found Knowledge in Divine Matters, acquainted with 
 the Power of Godlinefs, and the fealing Comforts of 
 fincerc Religion, as have been perhaps in any Church 
 ilnce the Apoftolick Age. There was luchan Imprefiion 
 of Divine Things in the Hearts of all Ranks, that the 
 infectious Influence of a lewd Court and a fcandalous 
 Clergy could not wear it off, till that Generation had 
 left the Stage, and the next was near gone alfo. "S* haC 
 remains ot true Piety in the Land, is almoft .confin'd 
 to thefe who affeft that Way; Multitudes, in ftartding 
 for thefe Covenants,and the Intereft of Truth and Holi- 
 nefs contained in them, did bear the Brunt of a cruel 
 Perfecution for Twenty eight Yearsj Fining, Confining, 
 Imprifomnent, Banifhment, Spoiling of Goods, being 
 Hunted up and down likePartridges on the Mountains, 
 laying down their Lives on Scaffolds and Fftldt under 
 
 L tfec 
 
( » 2 ) 
 
 1 trie Direftion of their own honeft Minivers according 
 to the Word of God; a Sett of Men, or whom the Age 
 was not worthy,«all of them Confefifors, fome of them 
 Martyrs. I own, Matters are much changed now, We 
 have got new Teachers of another Tafte ; fome of them, 
 as 'tis fear'd, are infected with pernicious Herefies ; 
 others indifferent about Religion, the World is their 
 God ; others Sceptical in weighty Points of DoArine, 
 if not altogether Deifts ; others, tho' retaining a Form 
 ofGodlinefs, utter Strangers to the Power thereof. 
 The Author I deal with, tho' he join in promoting the 
 common Defe&ion, is a Man by himfelf ; his Province 
 is to attack our Covenants, to unhinge all Government 
 and Order in the Church, pull up the Hedges, let in 
 all Errors in Doctrine, Corruptions in Worfhip, that 
 he can look on as confident with Grace ; And all under 
 high Pretentions to Spirituality. If we believe him, 
 this Way of Covenanting is quite wrong, and altogether 
 unjuftifiable : Our Covenants ought not to have been 
 entred into ; And, after they are made, they no way 
 oblige: Our Alfemblies and worthy Minifters were 
 fadly deluded, every Step they took was againft the 
 Mind of Chrift ; Tho' many of themfeem'd to be as 
 much under the Condu& of Heaven, as any Men ever 
 breathed thefe Fifteen hundred Years. 
 
 P. 22. at the Middle. The Profelytes of Righteouf- 
 nefs, as they are called, when they were joined to the 
 Church,became not all therebyMembers of the Politick 
 Body,nor were they Subjects to the Civil Government 
 of the Kings and Governours of Judab : The Eunuch 
 mentioned A8s 8. 27. was not a Subject of the Roman 
 Emperor, much lefs of Herod or Pilate : If the Qu*en 
 of Sbeba became a Profelyte, file did not thereby be- 
 come a Subject of Solomon. 
 
 Lower Ibid. There were many Members of the 
 Church, who were not Members of the Politick Body 
 in Judea ; For Inftance, thefe Jews who remained 
 among the Nations, after the Return of the reft from 
 Babjlm. And what a Blunder is it, that this Author 
 
 aCerts 
 
/fZ2 
 
 ( 8? ) 
 
 afTerts tbeKingfhtp to have been an Eccleflaftick Office ? 
 We require him to make clear Proof of it. 
 
 P. 23. near the Foot. The Old Teftament Church 
 was a Society, ere&ed by God for Heavenly Ends, 
 a Nurfery for Plants of Grace, to be tranfplanted to 
 Glory : God himfelf calls them a Kingdom of Priefts, 
 and an holy Nation, Exod. 19. <;, 6. This the Apoftle 
 cites and applies to the New Teftament Church, 1 Pet* 
 2. 9. Te are a royal Priefihood, a holy Nation* Were 
 all the holy Patriarchs, Prophets and other Saints, 
 under the Old Teftament, Earthly Men, and Members 
 tneerly of an earth y Kingdom ? A bafe and profane 
 Suppofition. 
 
 P. 24. Tho* the Church confifts not of any earthly 
 Kingdom, as fuch, it may confifl of thefe, that in 
 another Refpeft and Capacity are Members of Secular 
 Kingdoms and Common-wealths. 
 
 P. 2<5. mar the Foot. In Anjwer to that, " Chriil 
 " muft rule every where in the Midfl of hisEnemies 
 h added, After Chriil has fubdued his Ranfomed Ones, 
 be furFers them to 4tay for a Time among his & their 
 Enemies. It is true, Chrift's Church invifible confifls 
 not of all the Members of any whole Nation: No 
 Nation is made up of Saints only. ChrifPs viable 
 Church is a Field of Corn, tho' it have Tares in it, 
 which he requires not to be wholly rooted out, till the 
 Time of Harveft. There are clofe Hypocrites, that; 
 the moff. difcerning Minifters cannot find out : And 
 there are looie ProfeJfors, not excommunicated : For 
 Difcipline will never be exactly, or perfectly admini- 
 fttred in this World. It is not to be expefted,that fin- 
 ful Men will come up fully to the Rule, tho' they fhould 
 aim at Perfection, no doubt. And whatever Purity 
 and Strict nets in Difcipline, this Author pretend to } 
 in his Congregation, there may be Ju/iajef among 
 thefe, -he reckons Saints: And perhaps, fome Saints 
 among thefe, he reckons the profane Warld : For 'tis 
 faid,he thus divides his Parifh. A vifible Church may 
 confift of a whole Nation, tho' they are not all true 
 S lints. Chrift's own Family had not all the Wedding- 
 h 2 Garment 
 
( 8.4 ; 
 
 Garment ; yet may well be the Pattern of a vifible 
 Church. It is true, Cbrifl reigns in the Midfl of bis 
 Enemies : He reigns in the iV^idft of open Enemies, 
 without the vifible Church, and over them too. He 
 reigns in Midft or Hypocrites, Formalifts and looic 
 proreilors, who are indeed his Enemies, within the 
 viiible Church. But what aims this Author at ? Would 
 he pull down all external Church-Government ; Bs- 
 caufe poor Miniilers are not omnifcient, to fearch 
 Hearts ? And the bed of them have not To much Zeal 
 and Wifdom, as they ought to have ? The Church of 
 Corinth Was a true Church, when there were Scandals 
 among them, no lefs than in our Church. 
 
 £age 26. He fays, « The Common-wealth of Ifrcel 
 c became a Church by Virtue of the Covenants of Pro- 
 * rnife, CSV." Anfw. Does he by a Common-wealth 
 mean that Church, as under the ^odel of Government 
 inftituted by God, at Sinai ? And means he, by the 
 Co'jftidnts cf rromife, the Covenant made with lfrael 
 then? It' fo, I mull tell him, That People was a Com- 
 mons-wealth, in fome Refpeft, before that Time. Yea, 
 before that Time, they were both a Church and Com- 
 mon-wealth : For they were a Society of People, who 
 had Laws and Ordinances, Government and Order, 
 both Sacred and Civil among them in Egypt, diflinft 
 from the Egyptians ; efpecially in Times of Peace, as 
 before the Death of Jofepb. And we read of their £7- 
 ders in Midfl of their heavieil Oppreffion, Exod. 4. 
 29. It is falfe, that they became a Church by the Co- 
 venant at Sinai: Tho* new Regulations were given 
 them at Sinai, new Inftitutions and Laws ; and their 
 Government, after that, had more of vifible State and 
 Splendor in the Eyes of the World ; yet, they w T ere a 
 Church long before: In Abraham** Family there was a 
 Church, a Society feparated to God, and a well gover- 
 ned One too, Gen. 18. 19. So alio in /faac's Family. 
 Jacob's Family was a Church before he went to Egypt : 
 And it was a Church of considerable Extent before the 
 Death of joftpb. They continued a Church, while 
 
 the/ 
 
they were in Egypt, notwithstanding their. Sins againft 
 God, and Oppreflions from Men ; God calls them his 
 People* They were a Church after they came out of 
 Egypt, before they came to Shia'u Ever) Society of 
 Men, who are devoted to God, fiibjecl to Church Of- 
 ficers of Divine Institution, and have God's Ordinary 
 ces difpenfed among them, is a Church. God has, in 
 all Times, had a Church in the World, either more or 
 lefs vifible. It was neither the laflitution of Circum- 
 cifion, nor the Sinai -Covenant that made them a Church. 
 This Writer underftands theie two to be the Covenants 
 of Promife, mentioned, Eph. 2. 12. Whereas Circum- 
 ciiion was only an Ordinance given to them, as a 
 Church, and fuppofed them to be a Church before ; 
 for it was. a Seal of the Covenant, between GOD, on 
 the one Part, and Abraham and his Posterity, on the 
 other, Rom. 4. Hence, in. the £rit Words of the De- 
 calogue, promulgate at S'mai > GOD calls hioifelf their 
 God, Exod. 20. 2. 
 
 P. 27. The Author faying < The PromiTe of Chrift 
 c was inclofed among the Seed of Abraham, &c.' Anjv>, 
 This did not exclude Chrift's defending of other Na- 
 tions alio ; our Lord came of Canaan by Rahab, 2nd of 
 Moab by Ruth. By INCLOSED, he feems to ex- 
 clude from the Grace of the Covenant all under the 
 Old Teftament who were not come of Abraham after 
 the Flelli ; for which he has no Warrant. Neither 
 Lot nor MeJchi^edek defcended of Abraham, vet were 
 within the Covenant. Abraham's whole Kufhold (and 
 his Servants were not few} received the Seal of the Co- 
 venant, Gen. 17. 23. Rahaby Ruth, Ebedmeleib the 
 Ethiopian, with other Profelytes in great Numbers, 
 had a Share in the Grace of God's Covenant. What 
 will this Author hy to that Scripture, Afts. 2. < 9 to 
 
 Ibid. Thefe Covenants, were a VartlltcnAVaU^ &c. 
 Anfw. Indeed the Ceremonial and Judicial Laws were 
 a Wall of Partition between theOld Teftament Church, 
 and the reft of the Nations, excluding all from that 
 Communian,who fubmittcd not to theie Ordinances of 
 
 Gcd ; 
 
( 85 ) 
 
 God ; and fo were the ilnlefs Occafion of much ©f that 
 Enmity and Contempt the Pagan Nations vented a- 
 
 fainit the Church : But thefe were not fo a \Vall of 
 •artirion, as to debar any from the Grace of the Co* 
 venant, that were made content to fubmit to thefe Ho- 
 ly Inftitutions, i Kings 8. 41,42,43. The Apoftle 
 by the Covenants of Promife, Eph. 2. 12. did not un~ 
 derftand the Ceremonial Law .* For he mentions thefe 
 Covenants, as the continuing Privilege of the Church* 
 Indeed by the Law of Commandments contained in 
 Ordinances , Verfe 14, i^. he underftands the Cere- 
 monial Law : That Wall of Partition is broken down 
 now. But the Covenants of Promije remain the fame 
 in Subftance, under different Difpenfations 
 
 Ibid. The Covenants of Pr&mife excluded all other 
 Nations, &c. Anfw. Line 31. None of the other Na- 
 tipns were excluded, but thele, who excluded 
 themfelves by keeping* at a Diftance from the true 
 Religion revealed to the ]ews ; And fo the Gofpel ex- 
 cludes many at this Day. 
 
 P. 28* Line 1 $ . Chrift is come? in the Room of 
 Types and Figures, the Body in Room of Shadows \ 
 but he is not come in the Room of God's Covenant of 
 Grace : He is come, not to annul, but fulfil that. He 
 is come in Accomplifhment of his Promife to redeem 
 his People, to purchafe and pour down the Spirit, to 
 give a more full and clear Revelation of Goipel-Myfte- 
 ries, to fprinkle many Nations, to be God's Salvation 
 to the Ends of the Earth ; a Light to the Gentiles, as 
 well as the Glory of his People lfrael: And ail accor- 
 ding to the Covenants of Promife, i. e- The Covenant 
 of Grace, which will continue to the End of the World. 
 The Author fays, Cbriffs Coming is the End of the 
 Covenant of Circumcifion. Jlnfvo. Chrift did vacate 
 Circumciflon and the PafTover ; but not the Covenant 
 of Grace whereof they were Seals : Which Covenant 
 is now fealed by Ba^tifm and the Lord's Supfer^ which 
 are to continue tiH the End of Time. And thefe New 
 Teftament Sacraments imply Covenanting between 
 
 God 
 
c * 7 ; 
 
 God and his People* 'Tis hoped this Author would 
 rot have the baptH'mal Covenant laid afide ; nor thefe 
 Engagements, Chriftians corrre under, at their receiving 
 the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 
 Add ibid* Line 22. 
 (Thrift is indeed the Covenant of the People^ Ifa. 49* 
 8. But our Author tells us not, in "what Relpefts he 
 is fo. Doubtlefs he is the Surety of the Covenant, 
 the Mediator of it ; and To he was under the Old Te- 
 itament, as well as now. He purchafed r:ll the Grace 
 of the Covenant, and by his Spirit applies it, to his 
 redeemed Ones, Heb. 9. 22. But he is not the actual 
 federal Tranfa&ion between the Soul and himfelf: He 
 is neither the infufed Principle of Grace, nor the Aft 
 of Faith, whereby we receive a Saviour, and tranfaft 
 with him. Chrift is not our Intereft in Chrift, our 
 Relation to him, nor Union with him. But he may be 
 called the Covenant ; becaufe, if once we are in Chrift, 
 we are within the Covenant, and have a Right to all 
 the Grace and Promtfes of it. 1 Cor. 1. 20. Belides, 
 there is nothing here peculiar to the New Teftament 
 which was not under the Old, whatever our Author 
 infinuate to the contrary. P. 29. L. 23. Add, 
 
 2. How durft the Author infinite, that our Cove- 
 nanters fought the Thing [ignited elfe where than in 
 Chrift ? Or what Realon Can he give of his calling 
 the Old Teftament Covenants Typical ? We would 
 fain learn what they were Types of. Sure he will never 
 be able to fatisfy any rational Enquirer upon this Head. 
 Nor will he be able to prove, that Covenanting with 
 God, is a typical Ceremony, no more to be ufed than 
 the Jewifh Sacrifices, or Circumcifionand the Paflover. 
 Receiving Chrift by Faith, and engaging, in his 
 Stre»gth, under Conduft of his Spirit, to be faith- 
 ful to him, and his Interefts, is a real Covenanting : 
 And will he call that Typical ; and therefore not to be 
 done under the New Teftament ? Is that merely Typi- 
 cal, which the Prophets of old did foretell concerning 
 the New Teftament Church ? //«. 44. 3, 4, 5. The 
 
 Ac- 
 
( 88 ; 
 
 Accomplifhment whereof in Part, we read, i Cor. S. 
 5 ? Moreover, 
 
 'Tis ftrange he was not afraid, to call thefe Cove- 
 nants, which the Lord required and approved, Earth- 
 ly Covenants ; They were Ipiritual Evangelick Duties, 
 performed under the fpecial Conduct ot the Spirit of 
 Grace and Holinels. It mutt then be intolerable In- 
 folence, in this Author, to vilifie them, at fuch a 
 Rate; for which he can fhow no Precedent, but in the 
 Writings of Myfticks, German Anabaptifls^ and Eng~ 
 Vfh Sectarians. He calls Covenanting a Bringing the 
 Jlifciples under a Jcke of Bondage* For my part, I 
 fee no Bondage, no Yoke here ; but that eafy Yoke, 
 which all fhould take on them, Matt. il. 28. 1 Jo. 5.3. 
 What is there here Earthly ? except that Men outward- 
 ly profefs, promife and i'wear with their Mouths, and ' 
 iubfcribe with their Hands, according to I fa. 44. 5, 6. 
 Does this Author think, Men ihould rranfaft with God 
 only in Heart, and not make any Confeffion with their 
 Mouths? Ror». 10. 9, 10. May not a Man with his 
 Family profefs their Acceptance of Chrift, refolve and 
 engage to ^rvc God, and walk in all his Commands, 
 as. Jojhua did ? J of. 24. 15. Luke 1. 6. May not a 
 City do the like? Let this Author take Care of De- 
 ferving that Character, Jude 1 c 
 
 P. 30. near the Head. What fhould hinder the 
 Members ot a Nation, Common-wealth, or Kingdom, 
 who are at the fame Time the Members of a Church, 
 to enter into a Covenant with GOD, to obey him as 
 Chr.iflians in their feveral Stations ; to maintain Truth 
 cf.Doftrine, and Purity or Ordinances, as a Church; 
 and alio to preferve their Rights, Privileges and Li- 
 berties, as a Common-wealth,- at- the fame Timer" 
 May not this he done, : without (infully blending tke 
 Church and Common-xoeaUb^ At this Rate, 1 kndw 
 not hat our Author will make Members of Church • 
 and State, meeting in ens Hou'e for Divine Worfhip,- 
 a {infill Blending of Church and State together: Ma- 
 gistrates andMiniiters joining in arOath,to perform the 
 Duties incumbent on them refpe&ively 3 in their feve- 
 ral 
 
**■■& ... 
 
 ( Sp ) 
 
 ral Stations, is no more unlawful, than their Meeting 
 in one Houfe, to receive Inftru&ions in, and Exhorta- 
 tions to thair refpeetive Duties, from the Ambatfadors 
 of Chrift. A Church-Member, as fuch, may folemn- 
 1/ engage, under the Influence of Grace, and in De. 
 pendence thereupon, to endeavour the Performance of 
 all Duties, incumbent on him, in every Capacity and 
 Relation he Hands in ; either in Church, or State: 
 And all the Members of a Church may bind themfelves 
 conjunctly to do the lame: And fuch a Covenant may 
 be IpeciaUy called for by, and acceptable to God, a 
 Piece of Worfhip and Homage to him, which none are 
 capable of performing, bnt the Members of a vifible 
 Church. 
 
 P. 30. L. 28. Anfm. It would feem he diflikes 
 all Covenanting againft Epijcopacy, Liturgies and hu- 
 mane Inventions in God's Worfhip ; becaufePre/<jf//?r 
 may be Church-Members, and may have true Grace, 
 and yet, by Reafon of their holding the Errors, juft 
 now mentioned,they would not join in fuch a Covenant. 
 Neither, it feems, would he have us to covenant againft 
 any Errors or Corruptions, which he thinks may pol- 
 fibly be entertained by any, who have true Grace. 
 I fufped he'll not get many Followers in this Opinion, 
 among true Presbyterians. 
 
 He quarrels the Covenants, for mixing the Church 
 faith the profane World. Anfw. It win be hard for 
 the belt Church to exclude from her Communion all, 
 that in fome Refpefb, may be clafTed with the profane 
 World ; the purefl Church on Earth could never fay 
 they did fo. There have been, and will beHypocrites in 
 all Churches onEarth. But ourAuthor.it feems,inclines 
 to a clearer Riddance, than our Lord allows, Mat, 13. 
 29. In the fceft Churches there have been Members, 
 that too openly bewrayed their Ungodlinefs \ yet bet- 
 ter and wifer Men, than our Author, have net ben too 
 fcafty to ttitow them out, A3 s 8. 1 Ccr. 11. Thefe that 
 have cried loaded againft fuch Mixtures, and quarrel- 
 led Churches on that Account, have been often . found, 
 in the Iftue, none of the fceft Chara&er, rotwithftand- 
 
 M Hig 
 
ing their high Profeflion. Gracious Men are for wai- 
 ting long on Perfons, who are far from being what they 
 Should be, before they excommunicate them ; remem- 
 bring what they themfelres formerly were ; and being 
 fenfible of their remaining Infirmities, they learn to 
 be meek, patient and charitable, Gal. 6. 1,2. Tit, 3. 
 2, 3. 2 Tim. 2. 24, 25, 26. They are not the beft 
 Churches, which are molt ready with their Anathe- 
 ma's and fpeedy fummar Ejections: And they often 
 turn the Key the wrong Way ; Witnefs, the corrupt 
 Jewijb Church in our Lord's Time, and the Rimijh 
 Church. 
 
 P. 32. Near the Foot. He is not obliged to follow 
 their Notions about the Covenant, Anfvj. Neither he, 
 nor any other is obliged to follow their Notions, bt- 
 caufe they are theirs ; nor the Notions of any that lead 
 away from the Truth. But as far as the Thoughts of 
 thefe Martyrs were conform to the Mind of Chrift, he 
 he is obliged to follow them, under a greater Penalty 
 than he is aware of, Jer, 6. 16, Song u 7, 8. He had 
 beft take Care, that he aft not fo, as their Teitimony 
 and Blood will rife in Judgment againft him. 
 
 P. 33. L, 12. But, befides the Aft of Supremacy 
 was there no Contempt of the Oath of God, in burn- 
 ing thefe Covenants ? Was there no Indignity offer'd 
 to him, whofe Name was invocate therein ? The Author 
 complains not of thefe Things ; for he was confeious 
 he himfelf had endeavourd, to the utmoft, to blacken 
 thefe Covenants, and make the Memory of them un- 
 favory, as well as they, who burnt them . He baufe 
 out, That thefe Covenants were unlawfully entred into, 
 fhould not have been made ; That they do not, nor 
 cannot bind us ; That they are a Yoke of Bondage on 
 Chrift's Difciples ; That they divide the Church of 
 Chrift, and bring the profane World into it ; and (if 
 we believe him) what Evil have they not done ? Pof- 
 fibly the Author is further engaged than he is aware** 
 It is dangerous to meddle with Edge-tools. The 
 Magiftrate, that attended the Burning of thefe Cove 
 
 rants. 
 
^r'SI 
 
 ( 9* ) 
 
 rants, had his ftately Buildings burnt, many Years 
 after. The Parliament of Scotland condemned thefe 
 Covenants, and Jenjoined People to renounce them ; 
 and now there is not fuch a Thing as a Scottijh Parlia- 
 ment: The Scottijh Council emitted many wicked and 
 bloody A&s againft them, who laboured to keep thefe 
 Covenants ;'and now there is no Scottijh Council. Many 
 of all Ranks in the Nation concurrd in breaking and 
 renouncing the Covenants : And now there is not fuch 
 a Thing in the World, as a Scottijh Kingdom, if we 
 fpeak in a Stile agreeable to the Treaty of Union with 
 England , or the Style of thefe, who hold that Union 
 to be the legal Deed of the Nation. Yet, I am told, 
 there is iuch a Thing extant, as a Scottijh Church, and 
 a Presbyterian Church too j which retains dill fome 
 Regard for thefe Covenants." King Charles II. took 
 thefe Covenants, and afterwards not only broke them, 
 in Face of the Sun, but exerted his utmoft Endeavour* 
 to caufe the whole Nation break, and abjure them : 
 He and his Brother fpared no Pains to bury the Memory 
 of them, and to ruine all, who adhered to them ; and 
 this Day they have none of their Seed,to fit on aThrone, 
 or wear a Crown, in thefe Lands. I would not be 
 pofitive in interpreting all theDefigns of Divine Provi- 
 dence, wherein are unfearchable Depths : But there is 
 abundance of Reafon to think, fuch Things came to 
 pafs, as a juft Revenge of the hainous Indignities 
 offer'd to thele Covenants, and to the glorious Name of 
 God, invocate in them ; together with the other God- 
 provoking Sins of the late Times. Perhaps it were our 
 Author's Wifdom, to be civil tothefe Covenants: And 
 he himfclf afterwards may be of my Mind ; He has 
 ventured too far already, labouring to perfwade People 
 to renounce our Covenants; and to would involve the 
 Nation inPerjury. The Judgments of God are a great 
 Deep. 
 
 P. 34. i. 14. And why calls he the Magiftrates. 
 
 Authority, an Earthly Power ( When it is indicated 
 
 by God, for maintaining his own Honour, for dif- 
 
 H 2 couraging 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 eouraging Sin, tad- promoting Ri^htecufnefs, Frov. 
 8. 15, .6. 
 
 Ibid. Zin. 24. He will not dare to fay, That the 
 Church of the Jew? was ere&ed upon that Covenant, 
 nude in Afa's Time: As little Reafon has he to fay 
 it,. with Refpeft to the Solemn League. Tho* I do 
 not well underftand his Phrafe of ereSting a Church u- 
 pcp the Covenant \ yet I may venture to affirm, that 
 it: is hard for one to be a Church-Member, without 
 fame Rind of Covenant, either more explicite, or 
 implicite. 2. What Harm is there, if Magiftrates 
 oblige People to profefs and own that Religion, which 
 the People themfelves knew to be of God? May not 
 Magiltrates oblige them to walk fuitably to God's Will, 
 made known to them ? Yea further, what Inj.uftice 
 were it, if a godly Magiftrate fhould oblige his Pagan 
 or idolatrous Subje&s to hear the Word of God, that 
 they may judge or it, afterwards, in their own Conf- 
 idences r 1 If this Author think that unlawful, I am 
 fure hi lean of Cole had a much better Thought of 
 Things, who obliged his Popifti Tenants to hear a 
 Protectant Mintfter, leaving it to them to judge of 
 his Do£rine ; And God ib far bleft the Gentleman's 
 honeft Endeavours, that alter fome Days, almoft all of 
 them turned Protefbnts ; being convinced of the 
 Truth by its intriniick Evidences ; and owned, it was 
 their Mercy, they were made to hear the Gofpel, 
 againft their own Inclination. 
 
 No doubt, fome will iay this is a Forcing of Mens 
 Conferences; and if it were allowed, Princes in other 
 Parts of the World, may oblige their Subjects to go to 
 AXafsy. or to Mahometan ALfjues. But I anfwer, A 
 Magiftrate may lawfully do that for Truth, which no 
 Prince can lawfully do againft it. It is lawful for the 
 Kings of the Earth to hate the Whore, and burn her 
 Flefb with Fire ; but it never was, nor will be lawful 
 for any to treat the Church of God fo. Where Force 
 H is ufed no further on the Side of Truth, but to oblige 
 People to hear and con/ider, what may be laid for it ; 
 jhere is no great Ground for complaining of Wrong* 
 
( 9? J 
 
 If our Author will read 2 car mi. 15* 13* k e Wl11 *» ni 
 this Matter carried much further byAfa n ofwhom'tis 
 laid, His Heart was perfect v>itb tbe'JLord, all bis Days 1 
 And he will find the Tribes of Judab and Bejijamin 
 joining that godly King ; even to put to Death thefe, 
 who fhould a& contrary to that Covenant. Dare this 
 Author quarrel Aja and the two Tribes for this ? Will 
 he fay,, there was nothing ot God in that Step of Re~ 
 formation i Sure I aai,.tae Spirit of God has not con- 
 demned Afa for it. I would not be for obliging any, 
 to take Covenants a^ainft their Confcience : But tho' 
 iome, in our Land, had been forced to take the Cove- 
 nants, it was, in Efrecfc, only a Making them (land to an 
 Oath antecedently binding on them. OurAnceftorshad 
 entred into Covenants many Years before that, which 
 is now called the National Covenant y was (worn ; as 
 may be leen in Knox's Hiftorj* But it is fure, there 
 were not many troubled for not taking the Covenants, 
 except luch es turned violent and bloody Enemies. 
 Excommunication, Depriving of Places of p ;blickTruft, 
 was the mofl of what was incurred by thofe, who were 
 the declared Enemies of* the Covenant and covenan- 
 ted Reformation, according to the Laws of that Time; 
 io far as I can fee. What lome Men did from Infir- 
 mity, and inherent Corruption, in Times of War and 
 Divifion, I will not anfwer for; That aflfcAs not the- 
 Caufe. 'Tis no ftrange Thing, to fee good Men mi- 
 ftake, or overa&, in carrying on good Deiigns. How- 
 ever, I believe the Inftances, that can be produced of 
 Men, being deprived of their Civil Rights, or debar- 
 red from Church-Communion, meerly for not taking 
 the Covenants, are very f=w .• And I think, there was 
 no Wrong done, when Perfons were not honoured with 
 aay Offi:e in Church or State,who gave Evidences that 
 they could not be fafely trufted. 
 
 P. 36. i. 25. I fee nothing againfl the New Te- 
 ftaaient Dilpenfation in People's engaging to obey the 
 Gofpel, and comply with the perpetually binding Rule 
 of God's Word j and engaging to fupprefs, by war- 
 rantable 
 
C 94 ) 
 
 rantable Methods, Error ,Hereff y Idolatry, Saperfiitiott, 
 Schifm, F<x#i<?», with the divifive Courfes of feltfeek- 
 ing Men, and every Thing contrary to found Do&rine 
 and Gofpel-Holinefs* Neither is it any finful Mix- 
 ture, tho' People, at the fame Time, engage to main- 
 tain their, juft Civil Liberties, Rights and Properties, 
 againft the lawlefs Oppreffion and Tyranny of Rulers: 
 Provided they takt> Care, their Manner of engaging 
 be Evangelical, fpiritual and gracious, from a right 
 Principle, and to a right End, as the Lord's Word 
 directs. We find One, who underftood the Nature of 
 the New Teftament Difpenfation, giving moll lolemn 
 Charges to a Minifter, to obferve Divine Prescriptions, 
 with the utmoil Care, in his Sphere and Station, I Tim. 
 5- 21, 22. & 6. 13, 14, i«$. & 2 Tim. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. 
 And I fee no Reafon to apprehend, that the Perfon 
 charged thought not himfelf bound to obferve and o- 
 bey, what he was fo charged to do. And our Author 
 will not be able to prove it unlawful, for Churches and 
 Church-Members to relblve, promife and vow, thro* 
 the Strength of Grace, and that in the mod folemn 
 Manner, to comply with the revealed Will of God,and 
 make Conference of the Duties injoined them by the 
 higheft Authority. This is no lets agreeable to the 
 New Teftament Difpenfation. than Paul's adjuring 
 and charging Timothy. If he fay, It is unlawful for 
 Churches to covenant to perform commanded Duties 
 under the New Teftament Difpenfation *, he may as 
 well fay, It is finful for them to engage to be the 
 Lord's, or to be holy. Our Covenanters were not 
 Strangers to a Gofpel-Spirit ; I muft be allowed to fay, 
 They (at leaft many of them) underftood the Gofpel, 
 as well as this Author : The Covenants themfelves con- 
 v tain nothing, but what is agreeable to the Gofpel and 
 the New Teftament Difpenfation. 
 
 P. 39. Z. 24. This Man can do no more than he 
 has done, to throw Dirt on the Methods, our worthy 
 Anceftors took, for promoting the Reformation. It is 
 manifeft from the Hiftories of our Church, how Angu- 
 larly 
 
( 95 ; ^->y 
 
 larly thefc Covenants contributed to the Advantage 
 of Religion in the Land : The Lord teftified hi* Ap- 
 probation thereof, by the EfFufion of his Spirit. 
 
 P. 40. X. 7. When he fays, that the New Tefla- 
 tntnt Church is fpiritual, in Opposition to the Old Tefta- 
 went Church. I would know what he means by it ; 
 and what were the Earthly Refemblances, in the Old < 
 Tefiament, that bad their Accomplifkment in theNewi> 
 'Tis true, the typical Ceremonies were fuch. But he 
 will never be able to prove, that the Covenant, in 
 Afa's Time, and others of the like Nature, were 
 Earthly Types, whofe Accompliftiment was to be ex- 
 pe&ed under the New Teftament. Pray what did 
 they typify ? And what in the New Teftament, is fihe 
 Antitype of them ? If he fay, they typified Cbrift ; 
 he mufl (how, 1 . The Inflitution of the Type. 2. The 
 Fituefsof it. 3. What in Chrift was thereby refembled 
 and reprefented to the Faith of the Saints under the 
 Old Teilament. But 'tis to no Manner of Purpofe to 
 infift on this ; for 'tis beyond all Poflibility of Denial, 
 that the Covenanting, jult now mentioned, is as truly 
 and purely Moral, as any Thing elfe whatfoever, that 
 the Old Tcflament Saints were, by the Word and Spirit 
 of God, guidedrto-do. 
 
 Ibid. L. 1 9. We have but very lame Accounts of 
 the firft Times of the Chriftian Church, after the Afts 
 °f the Apoftles ; yet it was fo notour that there were 
 Covenants among them, that Pliny the fecond intimated 
 fomething of it, in his Letter to Trajan, faying, The 
 Cbriflians ufed Sacramento fe obflr inhere adverfus See- 
 lera, $$c* i. e. to bind themfelves by an Oath againfl 
 Vice. Was there no publick Engagement to adhere 
 to the Truths they profefled ? Or to obferve the Or- 
 dinances of Divine Inflitution, to avoid Sin, to per- 
 form commanded Duties ? It would be very odd, if 
 there was nothing of this Kind among Chriftians for 
 300 Years, is he fays. 1 
 
( 9« ) 
 
 mmmmmmm 
 
 TESTIMONIES of feme of our 
 Covenanting Anceftors, for thefe Co- 
 venants, of more AUTHORITY, 
 in heir folid Scriptural Reafonings, 
 than ever Mr. Glajs, Ogilvie, M'Cla- 
 gan with all their antiTederal Aflbci- 
 ates, Adherents or Abetters, will 
 be able to invalidate ; which they 
 may, at their Peril, attempt, before 
 they proceed any further to contra- 
 dict and blalpheme. Here are Two 
 of the Independent Brethren, Mr. P. 
 N)e y and Mr. Jer. Burroughs ; the 
 reft are Presbyterians. 
 
 Mr. Philip Nye y in his Exhortation to the Honourable 
 Houfe of Commons, and Reverend Divines of the 
 Jjlembly, at their frft taking the Covenant, 25 Sep- 
 tember 1643. 
 
 A Great and folemia Work, thfc Day, is put into our 
 Hands,— we are to exalt and acknowledge Him 
 this Day. who is fearful in Praties, fwear by that Name 
 which is Holy and Rtr.verend,er.ter intoa* COVENANT 
 and LEAGUE that is nev* to be forgotten by us, nor 
 
 our Pofterity.*. fuch an OATH as for Matter, 
 
 Perfcns and other Circumftancesy the 'ike hath not been 
 in any Age, or Oath we read of in leered or humane 
 Stories, yet fufKcicrtly warranted ir. both. The Par- 
 tics 
 
.< 97 ) 
 
 iiet engaging in this League, are Three Kingdoms, 
 famous tor the Knowledge and Acknowledgment ot 
 
 CHRIST above all the Kingdoms in the "World . 
 
 As the Solemnity of an Oath is to be meafured by the 
 Perlons (wearing ; r o by the Matter alfo that is to be 
 
 fworn to. God (wears for the Salvation of Men 
 
 and of Kingdoms. And if Kingdoms fwear, what 
 Subj^ft of an Oath becometh them better, than the 
 Preiervation and Salvation of Kingdoms, by Eftablifli- 
 ing the Kingdom of a Saviour amongft them, even 
 our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who 
 is a Mediator and Saviour of Nations, as well as par-* 
 ticular Perfons ? The End alfo is great and honourable 
 
 as either of the former, Afiociation is of Divine 
 
 Offspring — Confort and Harmony amongft Men, efpe- 
 cially among Saints, is very pleafing unta the Lord : 
 If when but two or three agree upon anyThing onEarth, 
 it (hall be confirmed in Heaven; and for this, becaufe 
 they gather together in his Name, much more when 
 Two or three Kingdoms fhall meet and confent to- 
 gether in bis Name^ and for bis Name, tbat God may 
 be One, and bis Name One, amongft tbem, and bis 
 Prejence amidft them. Kingdoms willingly enga- 
 ging themielves for his Kingdom, his CHRIST, his 
 Saints, the Purity of Religion, his IVorJhip and Govern- 
 ment, in all Particulars, and in all Humility fitting 
 down at his Feet to receive the Law, and the Rule 
 from his Mouth ; what a Price doth he fet upon fuch ? 
 Etpecially, when (as we this Day) fenfible of our In* 
 iirmity, of an unfaithful Heart, not fteddy with our 
 God, but apt to ilart from the Caufe, if we feel the 
 Knife or the / Fire \ who bind ourfelves with Cords, as 
 a Sacrifice to the Horns of the Altar : We invocate 
 the Name of the great GOD, that his Vows, yea hi* 
 Curfe may be upon us, if we do not this ; yea, tho, we 
 fuffer for fo doing, that is, If we endeavour not; fo 
 far as the Lord fhall aflift us by his Grace, to advance 
 the Kingdom of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, here 
 upon Earth, and make Jsr.-tfaUm once more tha 
 N Praifr 
 
 ^/ 
 
( 9? J 
 
 Praife of the whole World, notwithrtanding all theCon- 
 traditions of Men. 
 
 What is this but the Contents, and Matter of our 
 Oath ? What do we Covenant ? What do we Vow ? 
 Is it not the Prefervation of Religion, where it is re- 
 formed, and the Reformation of Religion, where it 
 needs ? Is it not the Reformation of three Kingdoms ? 
 and a Reformation univerfal, in Dcttrine, Difciplwe, 
 in Worjhip and Government, in wh ltfoever the Word 
 fhall diicover unto us .' To pra&ifc, is a Fruit of Love; 
 to reform, a Fruit of Zeal ; but fo to Reform, will 
 be a Token of great Prudence and Circumfpe&ion in 
 each of thefe Churches. And all this to be done accor- 
 ding to God's Word, the befl Rule ; and according to 
 the befl Reformed Churches, the belt Interpreters of 
 this Rule. If England hath attained to an/ greater Per- 
 fe&ion, in fo handling the Word of Righteoufnefs, and 
 Truths, that are according to Godlinefs, as to make 
 Men more godly, more righteous: And, if in the 
 Churches of Scotland any more Light and Beauty in 
 Matters of Order and Difcipline, by which their AflTem- 
 bliesare more orderly : Or, if to any other Church, 
 or Perfon, it hath been given better to have learned 
 Chrift, in any of his Ways, than any of us, we fhall 
 humbly bow and kifs there Lips that can fpeak right 
 Words unto us, in this Matter, and help us into the 
 nearefl Uniformity with the Word andMind of CHRIST 
 in this great Work of Reformation. 
 
 — This Oath is of fuch Weight and Worth* and in 
 the Matter and Confequence of it, of fuch Concern* 
 ment 9 as I can truly fay, it is worthy of us ; yea of 
 all thgfe Kingdoms ; yea of all the Kingdoms of the 
 World : for it is fwearing Fealty and Allegiance »n» 
 to CHRIST, the King of Kings; and a giving upofall 
 thefe Kingdoms,which are in his Inheritance^ be fub« 
 dued more to his Throne, and ruled more by his 
 Sceptre, upon whofe Shoulders the Government is 
 leia,and in the Increafe of whofe Government andPeace 
 there fhall be no End, Ifa. 9. Yea, we find this very 
 Thing, in the utmoft Accoaiplilhment ot it, to have 
 
 been 
 
">K> , k ^ 
 
 been the Oath of the greateft Angel that ever was; 
 who Tetting his Feet upon Two of God's Kingdoms, 
 the one upon the Sea, the other upon the Earth, lift- 
 ing up his Hand to Heaven, as you are to do this Day, 
 and lo fwearing, Rev. 10. The Efreft of that Oath 
 you ihall find to be this, That the Kingdoms of the 
 World become the Kingdoms of the Lcrd and cf his 
 Cbrifl, and he Jhali reign for ever, Rev. n. Hi* Oath 
 was for the full and final Accomplifhment ; this or 
 yours,for a gradual,yst a great Performance towards it. 
 
 . If you fhould do no more, but lay a Founda- 
 
 tion-ftone in this great Work, and by lo doing engagr 
 Pofterity after you to finifh it,it were Honour enough; 
 'Come therefore (I fpeak in Words of the Pro- 
 phet) let as join our f elves to the Lord, and to one a- 
 nother, and ^ach to all, in a perpetual Covenant, that 
 jhall not be forgotten. 
 
 And having tworn and entered into this folemn En- 
 gagement to GOD and Man, make Conference to do 
 accordingly ; otherwile it is better thou fbouldft not 
 vow, Eccl. 5. As 'tis faid of Failing, it is not ths 
 Bowing down of the Head for a Day; fo of this fo- 
 iemn Swearing, it is not the lifting up of the Hand for 
 a. Day ; but an honeft and faithful Endeavouring after 
 the Contents of this Covenant all our Days. A Truce* 
 breaker is reckoned upamongft the vilefl of Chriftians, 
 2 Tim. 3. 3. So a Covenant-brevier is lifted amongft 
 the worft of Heathens, Rom. 1. 31. 
 
 In Mr. Alexander Henderfon's Speech, at the Taiing 
 of the Covenant by the Houfe of Commons,and Ajfem* 
 bly of Divines, 2<j September 1643. He fays, 
 It is the beft Work of Faith, to join in Covenant 
 with GOD 5 the beft Work of Love and Chriftian Com- 
 munion, to join in Covenant with the People of GOD ; 
 the beft Work of the beft Zeal, to join in Covenant 
 for Reformation, againft the Enemies of GOD and 
 Religion ; the beft Work of true Loyalty, to join in 
 Covenant for the Prefervation of our King and Superi- 
 ors j and the beft Proof of natural AnTe&icm (and to be 
 N 2 with 
 
( TOO ) 
 
 without natural Affe&ion, is one of the great Sins of 
 the Gentiles) to join in Covenant for Defence of our 
 Native Country, Liberties and Laws : Such, as from 
 thefe necefTary Ends do withdraw, and are not v/illing 
 to enter into Covenant, have JRealon to enter into their 
 own Hearts, and to look unto their Faith, Love, Zeal, 
 Loyalty, and natural Affe&ion. 
 
 As it is acceptable to God, fo have we for it the 
 Precedent and Example, not only of the People of God 
 pf Old ; of the reformed Churches ot Germany and the 
 Zovf Countries \ but ot our own Noble and Chriftian 
 Progenitors, in the Time of the Danger of Religion, 
 which is expreifed in the Covenant itlelf. The De- 
 feat was, they went not throughly to enter in a folemn 
 Covenant, an Happinefs relerved for this Time — 
 ~— -The Word of God is for it, as you have been now 
 resolved by the Confent and Teftimony of a Reverend 
 Aflembly of fo many godly, learned, and great Di- 
 vines As the Word of God, io the Prayers 
 
 of the People of God, in all the Reformed Churches, 
 are for us and on our Side. It were more terrible 
 than an Army, to hear that there were any fervent Sup- 
 plications to God againft: us : Blafphemies, Curies, and 
 horrid Imprecations there be proceeding from another 
 Spirit, and that is all. 
 
 Mr. Jsr. Burroughs in Vol. 2d. upon Hof. <$. 7. 
 Tbey have dealt Treacher oufly againft the LORD. 
 
 Obf. The Sins offuch as are engaged unto God in 
 Covenant, are Sins of Treachery ; They are Sins of a 
 ?npre deep Dye than other Mens Sins are. 
 
 Other Mens Sins are TranfgrelTions againft God, 
 they are Difobedience to the WiH of God ; yea but they 
 are not fo properly Treachery : But the Sins of thofe 
 that are engaged to God in Covenant, have another 
 Stamp put upon them than the Sins of other Men; their 
 Sins are Treachery againft God. And we know there 
 is nothing accounted more vile amongft Men than 
 Treachery : It is the higheft Expreffion of our In- 
 dignation againft Man that can -be, to Say, fuch a Maq 
 
 |^e head of him, he is a Treacherous Mar. 
 
 Cer^ 
 
( ioi ) .44* 
 
 Certainly Gcd expetls much from us after fuch a 
 Covenant^ as we have lately enrred into, the moft 
 Solemn Covenant, one of thein, that ever was taken % 
 for People to come and lift up their Hands to the moft 
 high God, as they have done \ and a National Cove- 
 nant, and therefore MORE to be regarded than a pri- 
 vate ; yea an unitiogCovenant chat uniteth two Nations, 
 if not three together ; and a Covenant:, that is MOR.E 
 for the Kingdom of CHRIST, and more directly a- 
 gainft the Kingdom of Anticbrift, againft the Anti- 
 chriitian Party, than ever yet was taken iince the World 
 began. Antichrist quickly did arife, and there hath 
 been much Oppoiition of him ; but for two Nations 
 fo folemnly to lift up their Hands to the moft high 
 God, to oppofe all Antichriftian Government, it is 
 that which, if it be kept as carefully, as it was made 
 folemnly, is the greateft Honour that ever yet CHRIST 
 had in regard of his Government here upon Earth. 
 And we had need to look to it, becaufe it is fuch a, . 
 mighty Work, as fhould take our Hearts, that ever 
 we fhould live to fee, that God fhould bring about fuch 
 a ftrange Thing in our Generation. I appeal unto 
 you, was it polfihle, Four Years fince, for any Man in 
 the World, yea for an Angel to conjecture fuch a Thing 
 as this, that two Nations fhall join together* the Re- 
 presentative Body of the Kingdom, and Aifembly of 
 Divines, in one Day, ftiould be lifting up their Hands 
 to the moft high God, to do what lies in them to ex- 
 tirpate Prelacy, that is, Government by Arcbbi(bops y 
 Bijhops, Archdeacons, &c. Now the more miraculous 
 the Work of God is, in bringing this ftrange Thing 
 about, the more Bonds ly upon us, to keep that Cove- 
 nant with God. Oh therefore, let us not now add 
 Treachery unto all our former Apcftacy : Our Sins now 
 will prove Sins of Treachery. 
 
 This was revifed, approved and recommended by 
 Thomas Goodwin, Sydracb Simpfon, WiUiam Green- 
 bill, WiUiam Bridge, John Tatcs, William Ad&rlj, 
 all great Men in their Day. 
 
 Tefti- 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 Teftimony to the Truth of Jefus Chriff, and 
 to our Solemn League and Covenant, by 
 the Miniflers of Chrift, in the Provinct 
 of London, December 14. Oh;. 1647. 
 
 IN order unto Reformation and Defence of Religi- 
 on within thefe 3 Kingdoms, we fhall never forget, 
 how folemnly and cheerfully tht fac red League and 
 Covenant was (warn, with Hands lift up to the mofl 
 high God ; wherein the Three Kingdoms Hand enga- 
 ged jointly and feverally, fincerely, really and con* 
 ftantly to endeavour the Re formation of Religion, in the 
 Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doftrine, Wow* 
 Jbipy Difspline and Government, according to the 
 Word of God, and the Example of the bed Reformed 
 
 Churches. We were and are abundantly fatis- 
 
 iied, that Covenant -malting with God, orderly under- 
 taken by the previous Conduct of thofe in Authority, 
 in Church and Common wealth, is a Service acceptable 
 to God, and the ufual and fuccesful Courfe, which 
 God's People have taken, both informer and bter A- 
 ges, for the better facilitating and carrying on a tho- 
 row Reformation in Matters of Religion, againft all 
 Impediments and Oppolltions, as in the Days of J-o- 
 Jb'ua. Jof. 24.2^26,27. of Afa, 2 Ckro. 15. 12. &c. 
 of Jeboiada, 2 Cbron. 23. 16. &c. of He^ekiahy it was 
 intended. Of Jcfiab, 2 Kings 25. 3- %>c with iCbro. 
 34. 31, 32. of Nebemiab, Neb. 9. 38- and Chap. ic. 
 
 .That Covenant-keeping with GOD, is a Duty of 
 
 high Importance, fincerely to be performed, Pfal. 50. 
 5, 14. EccleJ. $, 4, 5, 6. That Covenant- breaking, 
 with GOD, or Man, is a moft hainous and dangerous 
 Offence, condemned, threatned, and feverey plagued 
 >>y God, Rom. 1.31. 2 Tim. 3. 3. ?er. 34, i8> to 
 22. fyek.jy. 12, to 22. 2 Sam. 21. 1,2. &c. with 
 Jofi. 9. i«>. And that our iblemn League and Co wr- 
 Rant of September 27th 1643, U not only warrantable 
 
 for 
 
( ioj ) 
 
 for the Matter of it, and Marnier of entring into it ; 
 
 but alfo, a? fuch Excellency and Importance that 
 
 it will be very hard in all Points to parallel it. And 
 therefore, as we did fincerelj {wear this Covenant 
 with God, roifh all our Heart, and with all our Soul, 
 much rejoicing at tht Qath, with a true Intention to 
 performit *, and notfoT promoting any politick Defign: 
 So we do believe, and profefs to the World, th3t we 
 ftill ftand as firmly engaged to the real Performance or" 
 it, with our utmoft Endeavours, as at the firil Taking 
 of it ; and that it is not in the Power of any Per (on, 
 or, Perrons on Earth, to difpenfe with it, or abfolve 
 from it : Neither is this, nor any other Oath,otherwife 
 to be interpreted, than according tothe common, plain, 
 and true grammatical Senfe of it. Yetwe Cannot but 
 ob(erve,tothe ereatGrief of ourHearts,that this Solemn 
 Covenant of our GOD, hathbeen,and is daily negle&ed, 
 flighted, vilified, reproached and oppofed, even by 
 too many that have entred into it; and that Endeavours 
 have been ufed wholly to enervate it, and render it 
 ufelefs ', and that it hath been manifeftly violated, to 
 the DiJhonour of God, the Prejudice of a real Refor- 
 mation, the Sadding of the Hearts of God's People, 
 and pulling down his dreadful Judgments and Venge- 
 ance upon us, and upon the whole Kingdom. 
 
 The Harmonious Confent of the Minifters of Lanca- 
 flerjhire, with their Brethren, the Minifters of the 
 Province of London^ in their late Teftimony to the 
 Truth of ]ESUS CHRIST, and to our Solemn 
 League and Covenant. As alfo againft the Errors, 
 Herenes, andBlafphemies of theie Times, and theTo- 
 leration ot them, 3d March 1648. Head 5. P. 24, EV. 
 
 AS for our Solemn League and Covenant,— 
 This Covenant for Extirpation of Popery, Pre- 
 lacy, Superitit ion, Herefy, Schitm and Propbanenefs ; 
 and fOrReformation of Religion in Doctrine, bifcipline, 
 Government and Worfhip, not only recommended, but 
 alf« CDmmanded, and Co flrongly prelTed by the higher 
 
 Powers 
 
 W3 
 
( i°4 ; 
 
 Powers to be taken throughout thefe Three Kingdoms^ 
 did, in the Midft of our Troubles, mightily revive 
 and cheer oar drooping Spirits, and was as Life from 
 t be Dead, Rom. n. I*. We ihall never forget, how 
 alfo the Taking of this Covenant was by ourfelves pref- 
 fed and urged on our feveralCongregations,how folcmn- 
 ly it was fworn, and what Rejoicing there was at the 
 Oath, fundry, at the Taking of it, weeping for Joy. 
 
 And when the Covenant was thus taken, we 
 
 judged the Day of entering into this Covenant, to be 
 England?* Coronation*Day, as it was the Day of the 
 Gladnefs of our Hearts; and wherein God wiped a- 
 way the Reproach caft upon us by Separatifts before* 
 
 for the Want of an exprefs Covenant. And let it 
 
 never (lip out of our Minds, how God from Heaven 
 fmiled upon our Armies, from the firft Day of entring 
 into the Covenant, until, thro* the good Hand of our 
 God upon us for Good, the whole Power of the Ene- 
 my was quite broke in Pieces ; and therefore, if fo 
 foon as we have reaped, fuch Fruit and Benefit from 
 it, we caft it away, who knows but we may be for- 
 ced to take it up again to fave our Lives ? And yet, for 
 all this, we wifh we had not Caufe to complain, that 
 this Covenant, thus ftrongly urged, thus folemnly 
 fworn, thus bleflfed with Succefs, is contemned, fligh- 
 ted, moft palpably broken, fcorned and derided. Af- 
 ter Inflances tbej fay, Which . — — as we cannot but 
 with greateft Indignation deteft and abhore, fo in that 
 they fet the Covenant (that makes the Word of God 
 the Rule of all Reformation and Uniformity that is 
 fworn to thereinj at hoftile Oppofition with the Word 
 of God ; it is very evident to what Purpofe they tend. 
 
 For thele Things we fee Caut'e to hang down 
 
 our Heads and blufh, and that ourEyes lhould run down 
 with Tears continually, as our Hearts at the Confide- 
 ration hereof may be aftonifhed, andfwallowed up with 
 Grief. O what Dilhonour is hereby brought to God ! 
 
 what Scandal given to Religion ! What an unparal- 
 
 lel'd Blot is hereby hid upon this Church and Nation, 
 never like to be waftied out in this Age, nor in the 
 
 Ags 
 
Age of four Children after us! And what Dan- 
 ger of fwifc Deftrn&ion, &c ! May it not be laid 
 of us, as in the Days of Jcjiab it was laid concer- 
 ning treacherous Judab, that had made a JcUmn Cove* 
 nant with God for Reformation) 2 Chro. 34. 31,32. 
 That lhe turned not to the Lord with htr whole Hearty 
 but f eigne dly, Jer. 3. 6, 10. And befides, Neighbour 
 Churches take Notice of our Itrange fereach of Cove- 
 nant, and are amazed at it. Our dear Brethren of 
 Scotland^ who upon their taking this Covenant were 
 induced to imbarque with us, ard run a common Ha- 
 zard in the fame Caufe, do fadly complain * of the 
 crying Sin of Breach of Covenant^ and that the Staves 
 of Beauty y and Bands, Covenant and Brotherhood, 
 are broken by many in this Kingdom \ and are much 
 caft down and grieved, fearing left they lofe the Fruit 
 of all their Sufferings and Hazards forourSakas, v/^. 
 the Eftabltfhment of Reformation andUnitormity inRe- 
 Hgion, in thefe three Kingdoms, according to the Word 
 of God, and Example of the bt(t reformed Churches: 
 « The Things that have been mentioned,in Refe- 
 
 rence to Breach of Covenant, are Matter of deepeft 
 Sorrow to our Hearts, efpecially if we do confider, 
 what Guilt of Perjury, Neh- 10. 29. Spiritual Adul- 
 tery, Jer. 50. 5. High Treafon againft the God of 
 Heaven, is thereby brought upon our Land ; and that 
 alfo Breach of Covenant is a Sin which God complains 
 of, Pfal. 78. 10, 37. 2 Kings 17. 15. Jer. 11. 10. 
 threatens feverly, Lev. 26. 25. Deut. 29. 20, to 25. 
 Jer. 22. 8 , 9. and for which he hath infli&ed fore 
 Judgments on his People in former Times, 2 Kings 6. 
 7, 15. ■ Confider i.ng that for the Matter of our 
 
 Covenant, ther« is nothing in it to be* repented of, but 
 that the Seed of Reformation, and the Foundation of 
 the Ho.ufe of the LORD is in if, ani knowing alfo how 
 foiemnly, with Hands lifted up to the moft high God, 
 O ~ it 
 
 * See the Exhortation of the General Afiembly of 
 the Church of Scotland, titbt'ir Brethren in Erigkano'? 
 Pagf 5> *, 7- 
 
it was takcnj and that it was made with the Almigh- 
 ty, who will not be mocked, and in his Prefence. yoho 
 is the Searcher of ail Hearts, with a true Intention to 
 perform the fame, as wejball anfraer at the great Day % 
 &c. We do therefore #y\ the Grace of God, refolve 
 that we will not fuffer our fdves; either diretlly or in' 
 direSly, by whatfoeyer Combination, Perfwafion or 
 Terror, to be ever Withdrawn, -"either in whole or in 
 
 Part, from this Sacred League and Covenant. 
 
 Butjhall all the Days of our Lives, \eahufiy and con- 
 ftantly continue therein againfl all Oppcfition, and pro- 
 mete the fame according to cur Pvwer> againfl all 
 Lets and Impediments v)hatfoever ; heing fully allured) 
 there is none on Earth that hath that Power over our 
 Confciences, as to difcharge us from the Bond of this 
 facred Oath ; and that therefore the Parties engaged 
 in It— — are (till as firmly bound, to their utmofl to 
 endeavour, according to their Places, the Performance 
 ©tall thefeveral Things therein contained and fworn, 
 
 as at the firft taking of it, CSV. 
 
 Subfcribed the 3d of Murch, 1647—8. by 84 Mini- 
 fters. 
 
 Mr. Clur. Love, in his Speech from the Scaf- 
 fold oh Tower-hill, at his Martyrdom, 
 22d AuguftS 165 1. fays, 
 I die cleaving to all thefe OATHS, VOWS and 
 Protections, and SOLEMN LEAGUE and CO- 
 VENANT, that were impofed by the two Houfes of 
 Parliament ; and fo had rather die a Covenant-Keep- 
 er, than live a Covenant-Breaker. 
 
 Mr. Zach. Crofton, in his Faftning St. PeterV 
 
 Fetters , printed Anno ifi6i. 
 
 P. 145. Prop. 6. He comes to a full Conclufiou, That 
 it is a publick Naiunal Covenant, binding all the' Per- 
 fons of this Nation (that fware, or fware not perfonaHy) 
 and our Pofterity after us, in their particular Places, 
 and all that {hall fucceed into the publick Places, and 
 politick Capacities of this Kingdom, Ufrcfitve and 
 
W7 
 
 ( *°7 y - 
 
 puffue the Things therein promifed, Co long as it re- 
 mains a Kingdom, under one King, and iri the Profef- 
 fm of one reformed Religion-, which, I pray, t and 
 hope, will be, till Jefus Chrift (hall "come to J udgment. 
 
 . . And P. 146. tojhew, That this Quality of 
 
 the Solemn League and Covenant, as publick and Nam 
 tional, is not fome private Fancy, he mentions near 
 800 Minifters, who under their Hands have teftified 
 their Approbations thereof, in the fame Notion. Such 
 as pleafe to take a View of this Cloud of Witneffes, 
 may furvey, The publick Teflimonies to the Truths of 
 Jefus Chrifl, and to the Solemn League and Covenant ; 
 
 . attefted by the Names of 52 Minifters of London^ 
 
 41 in the County Lancafter ; 59 in that of Chefier ; 
 41 in Weft-riding of Tork ; 39 in Norfolk ; 82 in Wilts', 
 36 in Stafford ; 69 in Somerjet ; 68 in Northampton ; 
 71 in Ejfex ; 43 in Warwick ; 62 in Ghucefler .; 57 in 
 County of Salop ; and 73 in that of Devon \ who give 
 their Teftimony thereto, and call it the Solemn Leagut 
 and Covenant of the Three Kingdoms ; and in theit * 
 Senfe of the National Obligation, they give this Tefti- 
 mony, and thus plead. 
 
 We find the Covenant is antiquated and banifhed, 
 as intended to be of Force, only during the Time of 
 our inteltine Wars ; Weconfefs we are amazed at'this 
 Quirk ; We pray the Wars may ceafe for ever (which 
 yet there is Fear, may too Coon be recalled by God, 
 for this treacherous Dealing in hisCovenantj but we be# 
 lieve no honeft, underftanding Heart can be perfwaded 
 that this Covenant was intended, or taken by any, as 
 a Truce made with God for tkree or four Years ; But 
 we fhatl labour to flop this Gap with fome few ftrong 
 j Stakes, cut out of the Covenant. And fo parting thro' 
 the feveral Articles of the Covenant, they advife, thofe 
 Terms may be viewed, Cvnfiantly, all the Days of oar 
 Life, our Vofterity, the Lord may dwell in the Midfi of 
 m , and Good of the Kingdoms : Whereupon they con- 
 clude, thefe are not for a few Tears-, but for ever. - 
 
 He adds this Paffage out of the TorkJJjirs Minifters 
 O 2 Tc* 
 
( io8 ) 
 
 Teftimony ; It cannot he Unknown to the Churches 
 abroad, that all the three Kingdoms (land ENGAGED 
 by Virtue of a Solemn League and Covenant, fworn 
 with Hands lifted up to the mod high God, Sincerely., 
 really and conflantly, by the Grace of God s to endeavour 
 in our feveral Places, the Reformation of Religion, in 
 the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Dotlrine, 
 Worjhip, Difcipline and Government, according to the 
 Word of God, and"Example of the heft reformed 
 Churches > He adds yet one more, out of the Teftimony 
 of the Minifters ok' London, P. 26. They profefs thus, 
 in order to the Reformation and Defence of Religion, 
 within thefe three Kingdoms, We fhall never forget, 
 how folemnly and chearfully the facred League and 
 Covenant was fworn with Hands lifted up to the mod 
 high God ; wherein the three Kingdoms ftand EN- 
 GAGED jointly and feverally, fincerely, really arid 
 conflantly, to endeavour the Reformation, C5V. Yet, 
 we cannot but obferve, to the great Grief of our Heart* 
 that this Solemn Covenant cf our God, hath been, and 
 is daily neglected, (lighted, vilified, reproached and 
 oppofed, even by too many, who have entred into it ; 
 and that Endeavours have been ufed wholly to enervate 
 it, and render it ufelefs; and that it hath been manifeft- 
 ly violated, to the Difhonour of God, the Prejudice 
 of a real Reformation,theSadning of the Hearts of God's 
 People, and pulling down his dreadful Judgments 
 arid Vengeance upon us, and upon the whole King- 
 dom, -r— — P. 148. On Prop. 7. — The Permanency 
 of Obligation, and Impofubihty of Difcharge of this 
 Covenant, doth/pring from a double Caufe. 
 
 1. The Nature of an Oath, which is a folemn Appeal 
 to, and Invocation of God, as Witnefs and Avenger of 
 the Thing fworn, and Sincerity of the Swearer, C£r. 
 
 2. From the Manner and Form of the Covenant, 
 which is abfolute, and Without a Condition, which 
 might at any Time faft, and fo caufe a Ceflation of the 
 
 Bond, and is exprefly exclusive to all Manner of 
 
 Difcharge, by any humane A& or Power whatfoever 
 by an exprefs Proteft, that this Covenant we make in 
 
 the 
 
( «* > 
 
 the Prefence of Almighty God,the Searcher of all Hearts 
 with a true Intention to perform the fame, as we fliall 
 Anfwer at that great Day,whenthe Secrets of all Hearts, 
 fliall be difclofed. 
 
 A Teftimony to the Truth of JESUS 
 CHRIST-, or, to the Doftrine, Wor- 
 fhip, Difcipline and Government of the 
 Kirk of Scotland \ and to the National Co- 
 venant, and the Solemn League and Cove- 
 nant of the Three Nations, Scotland, &c. 
 and to the Work of Uniformity in Religi- 
 on \ and againft the Errors, Herefies, To- 
 leration, &c* of the Times. By fundry 
 eminent Minifters of the Gofpel in the 
 Provinces of Perth and Fife. Subfcribed 
 Annis \6%% & 1559. 
 
 After Jbewing the Watchmen* Duty from t be Scrip- 
 ture, they fay, P. 2, Zjc. — We our felveshave once 
 and again (befide private and perfonal Engagements) 
 taken upon us that facred and folemn Tye of the publick 
 National Covenanted of the Solemn League and Co- 
 venant of the three Nations ; wherein we all fubfcribe, 
 and each one of us for himfelf, with our Hands lifted 
 up to the mod high God, do fwear, that we fhall fin- 
 cerely, really and conftantly, through the Grace of 
 God, in our fereral Places and Calling?, Endeavour the 
 Prefervation of the Reformed Religion in the Kirk of 
 Scotland, in Do&rine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Go- 
 vernment,again(l our comon Enemies ; the Reformation 
 of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland* 
 in Do&rine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, 
 according to the Word of God, and the Example of 
 the bed reformed Churches ; and fixall endeavour to 
 bring the Chmrches of God, in the Three Kingdoms, 
 
 f 
 
( "o ) 
 
 to the neareft CorjuriAion and Uniformity in Religi- 
 on, Confeffion of Faith, Form of Church Government, 
 Directory for Worfhip and Catechifing ; that we and 
 our Pofterity after us, may, as Brethren, live in Faith 
 and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the 
 Mid ft of us. 2. That we (halV in like Manner, with- 
 out Refpeei of Perfons, endeavour the Extirpation of 
 Popery, Prelacy, Superftition, Herefie, Schifm, Pro- 
 fanenefs* and whatfoever Ihall be found contrary to found 
 Do&rineand to the Power of Godlinefs ; left we par- 
 take in other Mens Sins, and thereby be in Danger to 
 receive of their Plagues ; and that the LORD may 
 be One, and his Name One, in the three Kingdoms. 
 And that in Maintaining and Purfuing this common 
 Caufe ofReligion, we ihall not fuffer ourielves, dire&ly 
 or indirectly, by whatfoever Combination, Perfuafion 
 or Terror, to be divided or withdrawn from this bleifed 
 Union and Conjunction, whether to make Defection to 
 the contrary Prrt; or to give ourfelves to a deteftable 
 Indifferency, or Neutrality in this Caufe ; but fhall all 
 the Days of our Lives, zealoufly and conftantly continue 
 therein, againft all Oppofition, and promote the fame 
 according to our Power, agaiuft all Letts and Im- 
 pediments whatfoever ; (5V. All which we fhall do 
 as in the Sight of God. Therefore, having feriouQy 
 weighed the State of Religion— — and the manifold 
 Injuries that have been and are daily offered and done 
 to .the Truth of God, and precious Ordinances of Jefus 
 Chriir, and to the National Covenant, and Solemn 
 
 League and Covenant of the three Nations, hy 
 
 which God is highly difhonoured and provoked, and 
 the Lord's Sanctuary profaned, and the Throne of his 
 Glory defaced, and the Kingdom of his Son under- 
 mined, and many Souls involved in dreadful Gui'.tioefs 
 arid deftroying Snares — - We do, for delivering of 
 our own Souls from the Guilt of thefe Things, and 
 acquitting ourfelves in the Duty we owe unto Gcd and 
 hfs Church, in the prefent and following Generations 
 
 • and that we may, if the Lord fo will, convince 
 
 thefe who are guilty, and perfwade them toRepentance ; 
 
 at 
 
( Lll ) 
 
 «t leait, that we may bear Witnefs for the Truths a- 
 gatnft the evil of their Way; hold our {elves bound 
 to bear TefKmonyj I. Unto the Way, wherz'm we 
 Worjhip the God of our Fathers, We mean, the Do&rine 
 Wormip, Difcipline «tnd Government of the Church 
 of Scot land \ believing the fame to be that which is 
 Written in the Law and Prophets, and in theTeKament 
 of jefus Chriit *, and to the National Covenant of Scot- 
 land, and to the Solemn League and Covenant of Scot- 
 land, England and Ireland, and to the Work of Uni- 
 formity in .Religion. And next, againft all the In- 
 juries done unto, and Encroachments, Violations and 
 Breaches made upon thefe: Efpecially againft that 
 vaft Toleration, inThings Religious, a Mifcbief lately 
 framed into a Law in thefe Nations ; whereby the 
 Tie and Obligation of thefe Covenants is wholly caften 
 loofe and turned into Oblivion, and Countenance, 
 Protection and Encouragmer.t is allowed, not only to 
 many Errors about the Superstructures of Religion, 
 but even anent thefe Things that deftroy the Founda- 
 tions. ■ — '■ 
 
 This Church and Nation did, in the Year 
 
 1643, upon the Parliament of England's calling for 
 their Help againft the common Enemy, propound un- 
 to them, that there might be a folemn Covenant entred. 
 into by all the Three Nations of Scotland, England 
 and Ireland ; which being agreed upon, was accor- 
 dingly profecuted and carried on in all the three Na- 
 tions. 
 
 Therefore, as we do from our Souls, blefs the Lord, 
 who did put fuch a Thing into the Hearts of his 
 People, to engage themfelves in a Covenant to his holy 
 and bleiTed Majefty, and one to another, in Subordinar 
 txon to him, in— Things that concernTrutb, and Hc- 
 Hnefsand Righteoufnefs; fo we do hold our felves bound 
 tc**eftify our cordial Approbation of, and real Adhe- 
 rence unto that memorable, and never to be forgotten 
 Solemn League and Covenant of Senltnd, England 
 to&Irclsnd; being n*rfwaded in cur Minds, and con- 
 vinced 
 
( " 2 ) 
 
 Vtnced in our Confciences, that it is a Duty for People 
 and Nations, who profefs the Name of the Lord, to 
 enter irilCovenant with him : This being indeed the 
 firft and great Commandment of the Law, that we 
 Jbould have no other Gods before him, and that 
 we Ihould avouch the Lord to be our God, and to walk 
 in bisWais', and to keep bis Statutes, and hit Command* 
 ments and his Judgments, and to hearken to bis Voice, 
 Exod. 20. 2, 3. Deut. 26. 16,— 19. And that 
 whereof we have many memorable and Praife-wortby 
 Precedents in the Book of God ; efpecially when a 
 People were called to repent and turn unto God, after 
 publick Backflidings and Defe&ion ; Or were feek'ing a 
 right Way for eftablifhing of themfelves in the Mid ft 
 of Snares ; Or of engaging the Lord to help them in 
 Straits, and ftrengthtn' them unto great and eminent 
 Undertakings; Or to exprefs their Thankfulnefs for 
 great and wonderful Mercies and Deliverances, Deut* 
 29. 1, 2. iCbron. 15. 12, — 15. and 29. 10. and 
 34. 31, 32.JVeo. 9. 38. & 10. 29. &c, 
 
 And being no lefs periwaded in our Minds, and con 
 vinced in «ur Consciences, that our Solemn League 
 and Covenant in the Year 1643, is, for the Matter^ 
 juft and warrantable \ for the Ends, neceflfary and com- 
 mendable ; for the Time . finfonable *, and for the Par- 
 ties, honourable : The Matter and Ends, are all thefe 
 precious Things, that are involved in pure Religion, 
 true Liberty ', and a well- grounded Uniformity in the 
 Former, ard Union and Peace in the Latter: Or, 
 (to fpeak in the Words of a Reverend Divine) Ibis 
 Oath is fuch, and in the Matter and Ccnfeauence of 
 it, ofjuchCcncemment, as vie can truly fay, it is wor- 
 thy of us % yea, of all thefe Kingdoms, yea of all the 
 Kingdoms of the World\ for it is Swearing Fealty and 
 AUegiance unto Cbrift the Ring of Kings, and a Giving 
 up of all thefe Kingdoms, which are his Inheritance, 
 to be lubdued more to hts Throne, and ruled more by 
 his Sceptre, upon whofe Shoulders the Government is 
 laid^and in the Exerciie of whofe Government and Peace 
 there fhali be n«End. The Parties are the true GOD, 
 
 
 
( II? ) «*i 
 
 (he living GQD, the Everlafting King, glorious iri 
 Rolinefs, fearful in Praifes, and doing Wonders; and 
 the three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Inland ; 
 who tho 1 as all the Nations, in Comparifon of him, 
 are but as the Drop of a Bucket, and Vanity, and 
 lefs than Vanity and Nothing ; yet, fuch as tbro* his 
 Grace were amongft the firjf Fruits of the Gentiles ; 
 and are for the Knowledge and Acknowledgment of 
 JESUS CHRIST, in Name and Fame parallel unto, 
 if not beyond any Kingdoms of the World. The Sea- 
 fin was, the deplorable Eftate of the Church and King- 
 dom of Ireland, and the diftrelfed Eftate of the Church 
 and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous Eftate 
 of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland ; that we 
 may truly fay (with the Reverend Divine already 
 mentioned) Such an Oath for Matter, Perfons and 
 ether Circumftances, the like hath not been in any Age t 
 or Oath roe read of in Sacred or Humane Stories, jet 
 Sufficiently warranted in both* . \* 
 
 This Solemn League and Covenant, as it was actual- 
 ly fworn, and taken by the, Whole Body of Scotland^ 
 from the higheft to the loweft, fo alfo by the honou- 
 rable Houfes of the Parliament of England, the AL 
 iembly of Divines, the renowned City of London, and 
 Multitudes not only of the People, but of Perfons of 
 eminent Rank and Quality throughout that Nation,and 
 the Nation qt Ireland ; and all this by the Authority 
 and Perfwafion of the Powers Civil and Ecclefiaftick. 
 Who can.have forgotten, how deliberately it was refol- 
 ved ? how unanimoufly it was concluded ? how joyful- 
 ly it was received, and entertained ? The refpe&ive 
 Authorities of Church and State in Scotland, did all 
 with one Voice (in their feveral Judicatories) approve 
 and embrace the fame, as the moft powerful Mean, 
 by the Blefling of God, for fettling and preferring the 
 true Proteftant Religion, with perfect Peace, in thefe 
 Nations; and propagating the fame to other Nati-? 
 ons ; And, after taking the fame themfelves, diet 
 ordain it alfo to be with publick Humiliation, afld all 
 Q^ Kelt-' 
 
religious Solemnities, received, fworn and fubfcribed 
 by all Minifters and Profeffors within this Kirk, and 
 Subje&s within this Kingdom ; Which was according- 
 ly done by the whole Body of the Land, and in many 
 Perfonsand Congregations attended with the Feelings 
 of that Joy, and comfortable Influences of the Spirit 
 of God, in the Inlargements and Meltings of Hearts, 
 which they did find in (o great Meafure upon the Re^ 
 novation of the National Covenant, in the Year 1638. 
 
 •— ■ They proceed (hewing, how the honourable 
 
 Houfes of the Parliament of England, having, with 
 tbe City of London, and Affembly of Divines, taken 
 this Solemn Oath, did order and ordain, that the fame 
 Covenant be folemnly taken throughout the Kingdom 
 of England, and Dominion of Wales ; and did give 
 Directions for the more orderly taking thereof by all 
 the Officers and Soldiers, by the Counties and Com- 
 mitties, by the Univerflties, by the Minifters and 
 
 Parochines ■ ■ and recommended to the 
 
 Affembly of Divines to make an Exhortation to 
 all Sorts of Perfons to take it » - ■ - 1 which they 
 
 did. (See ConfeJJion of Faith, printed 1725.) 
 
 ■ As we do profefs the Sorrow of our 
 
 Heart, io do we teftify the Abhorrence of our Souls, a- 
 gainft all the Injuries and Affronts that have been, or 
 are offered and done to the National Covenant of Scot- 
 land, and to the Solemn League and Covenant of Scot- 
 }and y England and Ireland: It is too much Sin upon 
 thefe Nations, that they have not attended the Duties, 
 to which they are refpe&ivtly engaged therein, with 
 that Sincerity y Reality and Conftancy y that befeems fo fa- 
 cred and folemn Vows, made unto God ; but have, 
 thro' the Power of an unfound and lukewarm Heart, 
 and an unliable Spirit, comefhort exceedingly there- 
 in ; yea, have fallen into many Breaches of all the Ar- 
 ticles thereof: But what a dreadful and aftonifhing 
 Thing is it, «— — that th«fe Solemn Vows and Co- 
 venants, — — (hould not only fce fcorned and deri- 
 ded by open Adverfaries, but vilified, reproached, 
 ©ppofcd and trodden under Foot by many who have 
 
 open'd 
 
open'd their Mouths unto God ; » yea, fought 
 
 to be buried in Oblivion, that the Name thereof, as to 
 the Obligation of them, may be no more mentioned 
 
 nor remembred ? — — And, whicli doth more — 
 
 afflift us, as being a more publick Sin upon thefe Na- 
 tions, not only is there no Law, nor Declaration, iince , 
 the Year 165 1, declaring the landing Obligation 
 thereof, and former Laws and Declarations relating 
 thereto to be ftill in Force ; but the very formal Tye 
 and Obligation is forgotten and laid afide, and all 
 Laws,Statutes and OrdinanceSjand Claufes in any Law, 
 tfc. relating to the Tye and Eftablifhment thereof, 
 repealed fo far as they are contrary to the Liberty and 
 Toleration, in Things religious, holden forth in the 
 
 Petition of Advice. — — 
 
 If Covenant- Breaking be a mod hainous and dan- 
 gerous Offence, complained of, condemned, threatned 
 and feverely plagued of GOD, Pfal. 78. 34, — 37. 
 jfer* 11. 10. 2 Kings 17. 15. £ev.26. 2$. Deut, 
 29. 20,-24. Jer. 22. 8, 9. £\ek* 17. 15. Amos 
 1. 9. fof. 7. 11, 12. 2 Sam. 21. 1, 2. If it be 
 true, which was delivered from the Word of the Lord, 
 by a Reverend Divine, at London, before he read the 
 Covenant, That a Truce-breaker is reckoned among 
 the vileft of Cbriflians, 2 Tim. 3. 3. So, a Covenant- 
 breaker is lifted among the worft of Heathens, Rom« 
 1. 31. And which was from the fame Word of Truth 
 delivered, by another Reverend Divine, at the Taking 
 of the Covenant by the Honourable Committee of 
 of Eftates, and Reverend Commiflloners of the Gen« 
 AfFembly, in Scotland, That GOD will (bake out eve- "< * 
 ry Man from bit Woufe, and from bis Labour, that 
 per for met}} not the Words cf this Promife, Neh. 5. 13. 
 If (we fay) thefe be the true Sayings of God, as no 
 Doubt they are ; becaufe delivered by the God of 
 Truth, in the Seriptures of Truth ; have we not Rea- 
 fon, upon the Hearing thereof, to be afraid, that great is 
 the -Vy rath of the Lord, that is kindled againft the In- 
 habitants of thefe Nations, becaufe of forfaking and de- 
 
 fpiilng of hjs Covenant ? -"*> Subfcribcd bv Mr* 
 
 P 2 4 
 
< tt6 ) 
 
 S. Rutberfurd P. D. atSr. Andrews, Ja-.Wedderburn 
 at Moonfie, Jo. Murray at Metbven, Jo. Crookjbank at 
 Regorton y Ja. Guthrie and Ro. Rule at Stirling, AU 
 Mcncrief at Scoony, Ro. Campbel at Multon, Fran. 
 Peirfon at Kirkmicbael, Tbo, Lundie at Ratry, Ja, 
 Simpfcnzt Airtb, Geo. Murray at Fouls, Tbo. Hog ac 
 Zerbor, Tbo. Glafs (another than his Grandfon) at 
 * DunVeld, ]a. Strachan there, Gilb. Menkes at Forten- 
 gel, Patr. Campbell at Killin\ Minivers. 
 
 ^nd Mr. Rutberfurd, in his Teflitnony to the 
 
 Work of Reformation, (when dying, February 
 
 1 66 1.) fays, 
 
 I do acknowledge the Sam of the Chriftian Religion 
 
 exhibited in the Confeffions andCatechifms — and in the 
 
 National Covenant, diverfe Times lvvorn by the King* 
 
 State and Church of Scotland, Sealed by the Tcftimony 
 
 and Subfcriptioris— of all Ranks : As alio in the Solemn 
 
 League and' Covenant of the three Kingdoms — And I 
 
 do fudge, and in Conscience believe, that no Power 
 
 on Earth can abfolve, and liberate the People of God 
 
 from the Bonds and Tye of the Oath of GOD. lam 
 
 perfwaded that A/a acled warrantably, in making a 
 
 Law, that the People ftiovAdftand to the Covenant', 
 
 and in receiving in to Covenant iuch, as were not of his 
 
 Kingdom, 2 Cbrcn. i<>. 9, 10. As did atfo Be^ekiab, 
 
 2 Chron. 30. 6, 7. tbo' their own Princes did not go 
 
 along with them. Yea, it is Nature's Law, warranted 
 
 by the Word, that Nations Ihould'encourage^ and 
 
 ftir up one another to feek the fue GOD. It is alio 
 
 propheiied, that diverfe Nations fliould- excite' one a- 
 
 nother this Way, Ifa. 2. 3, 22. Jer. 50. 4. $• It is alfo 
 
 foretold, that different Nations ihall Confederate with 
 
 the LORD, and with one another, Ija. 19. 23, 24, 
 
 - *5 ; 
 
 True Non-con formft,ipTinted 1671. P. 34. 
 ObjeQ. That the Way is evil, becaufe rf its Cruelty 
 end Rigour^ in forcing Men to take the Covenant, and 
 
 funijbing 
 
( .,7 > ** 
 
 punijhing fucb as refufed Tis Anfwered That 
 
 which you call Cruelty , if counterbalanced with the 
 Guilt of the Recufancy, will quickly be alleviat to 
 Moderation. If the Covenants (tor I fhall touch both) 
 preffed, had been new Oaths arbitrarily impofed ; 
 there were fome Ground for this Challenge: But as 
 to the Firft, was it not the lame wherein the Nation 
 (lood ingaged from the firft Beginning almoftor the 
 Reformation? And if,aftera greatand viiible Defection, 
 it was, upon our Returning, renewed, and with a more 
 exprefs Application againft thefe Corruptions, where- 
 unto we had backflidden, required to be taken by all, 
 who could not decline without a manifeft Declaration 
 of both their Unfoundnefs and Inlincerity in the Oath 
 of God ; call you this Rigor ? And as tQ the Second, the 
 Zeague,ifthe Communion of Saints,ana that Sympathy, 
 we ought to have with all Chrifl's fuffering Members, 
 did perfwadeit as a Duty ; and if thefe then eje&ed 
 Prelates did, by their reftlefs Inftigations, and the 
 Breaches of Faith, and hoftile Invafion from England 
 thereby procured, render it convincingly a moft ne- 
 ceffary Mean, for the preferving and profecuting the 
 ■ Ends of the Firft, was it not both rational and righteous 
 that they, who flood thus obliged, by Virtue of the 
 firft Covenant to take the Second, upon their Recufance 
 ihould be proceeded againfl as Deferters ? And the 
 Truth is, as they were not many that were troubled, 
 fimply for not taking the Covenants ; lb there were 
 but few, if any, who refufed the Second, who either 
 before were not, or thereafter became not, dire&ly 
 oppofite to the Firft : Nor did thefe few Refufers fubfift 
 in a quiet Diifatisfa&ion •, but for the mod Part, turned 
 violent and bloody Enemies, or at leaft Partakers with 
 fuch Adverfaries. Notwithstanding of all which Perjury 
 and Wickednefs, the Procedure againfl thefe Recufants* 
 or rather Apoftates, was lb little adequate, either to 
 there Guilt, or Number, that upon a confederate and 
 impartial Review, I am allured, all the Excefs.fthat can 
 be charged, will not fuffice to purge your Objection, 
 
( tx% ) 
 
 o f Cruelty againft the publick Courfes of thefe Times* 
 
 of plain Calumny i &-.— — , 
 
 You accufe our Times of Cruelty, for forcing 
 
 Men to take the Covenant ; tho' in EfFe& it was only to 
 make them (land to an Qatb, whereby al] were antece- 
 dently obliged: But have not you, and many of you, 
 —now, without either Reafon given, or Repentance lo 
 much as pretended, been moil violent to have all Men 
 
 to renounce it? And in Ccnfut. of Dial, 4. 
 
 from Pag. 20$, to 230. the Obligation of the National 
 Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant is afferted 
 ancl proven from Scripture and Reafon, SV. 
 
 Great Mr. M l ward y in NaphthaU^ written Anno 
 1667. Edit, 1721. P. 6o 9 61. fays. 
 
 By thefe mod warrantable and unqueflionable Means 
 of petitioning, remonftrating, protefting and renewing 
 their Covenant with GOD, and arnongft themfelves, 
 before the End of 1638, the Work of GOD was revived 
 with more Glory and Splendor, than ever formerly it 
 had attained. We know that the Renewing of the 
 Covenant, CSV . have been condemned, as Seditious and 
 Rebellious : But feeing the fame, both from the clear 
 "Word of GOD, the pure Li?,ht of Nature, the zea- 
 lous valiant Pra&ices of our firft Reformers, and the 
 Laws and Conftitutions of this Realm, are clearly 
 warranted; and by the Power and Prefence of God, 
 were fignally approved $ and by the fupervenient A&s 
 of the King, Parliament and General Aifembly, ^o ful- 
 ly eflablifhed and confirmed : And feeing that they 
 only were, and are condemned by luch, as either, be- 
 ing the Children of the Devil, filled with all Subtil ty 
 and Milchief, and Enemies to all Righttoufnefs, ceafe 
 not to pervert the right Ways of the LOUD; Or 
 by fuch, who for Advancement qf their own Interefts, 
 have facrificed all Confcience and Reafon to Ambition 
 and Covetoufnefs ; Or by fuch, who in bate and open 
 Flattery of the King and of the Powers, and neither 
 knowing, nor regarding any other Intereft^ or Con- 
 cern 
 
( " 9 ; 
 
 cernment, than tl at which dependeth on their Pleafur^ 
 do fet and ferve the fan? e in Place ot the mcft High ; 
 Or, Lafily, by fuch,' who never did, nor do concern 
 themfelvcs in iuch Enquiries, but affett a pretended 
 Gallantry, in Gallio's indirFerency. — --— - — Let our 
 late (pretende~dEvznge\ica\) Antic oven ant ers confider 
 to which of thefe Ciafies they to ill be affociate ; Since 
 they have claffd thsmfelves, and fome of them Jo 
 cpaily ranked among the boldefl Adverfaries that ever 
 made Oppofition to thefe Covenants by Tongue or Ten, 
 Let them aljo fender that follow s*-^P. 64, 65. 
 
 This Kingdom, ihjthe Year 1643, Entred into that 
 
 Sacred Bond ot the Solemn League and Covenant, never 
 
 to be forgotten, containing no other Articles, than, 
 
 Every One's fincere and conjlant Endeavours, in their 
 
 feveral Places and Callings , for the Ptefervaticncfthe 
 
 Reformed Religion in this Church, in Dctlrine, Wcrfhip, 
 
 Difcipline and Government \ the Reformation of the 
 
 fame in England and Ireland, according to the Word of 
 
 God, and the Example of the beji reformed Churches ; 
 
 and the nearefl Ccnjuntlion and Uniformity of all the 
 
 Three, in Truth, Faith and Love ; the Extirpation of 
 
 Ptpery^ Prelacy, Error and Prophanity ; the Prefervati- 
 
 on of the Rights and Liberties cfthe People, and of the 
 
 King's Perfon and Authority, in Defence of the true 
 
 Religion, and the Kingdoms Liberties ; the Difccvery 
 
 and Punifbment of Incendiaries , the Retaining of the 
 
 Peace and Unicn of the Kingdoms \ the mutual Ajji- 
 
 ftance and Defence of all entring into this League ; 
 
 and the Performing of all Duties we owe to God, in 
 
 the Amendment of our Lives, and in walking exemplar- 
 
 ly one before another ? And all thefe in Order to no ether 
 
 End, than s The Glory of Godjbe Advancement of the 
 
 Kingdom of ]ejus Chrift, the Honour and Happinefs 
 
 of the King and his Poflerity^ and the true Liberty, 
 
 Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms. 
 
 This is that Covenant, which in all the Controvefies 
 it hath occafioned, did never receive a greater Cor* 
 firmation, than from the Malice and Oppofition of 
 it* Adrferfaries, who in the fame Spirit, and with the 
 
 fame 
 
( *2° ) 
 
 fame Spite, have always perfecuted and reproached it 
 with the fame Calumnies of Rebellion, Sedition and 
 Blocd, which from the Beginning, the Devil hath ever 
 been moil a&ive to raile and ftir up againft theLord Je- 
 fus,his Gofpel 3 Kingdom andFollowers: But feeing fuch 
 only as are blefled, do evite the Offence of theTruth ; 
 and all who truly feek God's Glory, or love the Lord 
 Jefus, did, and dill do heartily approve and embrace 
 this Covenant. Tho' it had brought the Sword not 
 only to Br it ain^bnt with the Truth into all the World,; 
 Tho* it were reproached, as unfriendly not only to 
 our King, but with our Lord Jefus to Cefar, and all 
 the Kings of the Earth ; Tho' it had divided and di- 
 fturbed not only Realms and States, but with the Gof- 
 pel, Families and reareft Relations; and bad,with Paul, 
 moved Sedition throughout the whole World,we ought 
 not thereby to be either fhaken or offended* 
 
 We know, that aH the Subtilty and Malice of Hell 
 have been fet on Work, and fpared no Calumny or 
 Cavillation, by which either its Wards, Matter, or 
 Manner might be impugned .• But thefe are fo often 
 and fully anlwered ; and, without the Afliftance of any 
 Man's Patrociny, by the obvious Plainnefs of its 
 Pbarfe, the Holinefs and Importance of its Purpofe y 
 and the Juftice and Necefiity of its Way and Manner, 
 fo clearly conrated ; that nothing can be added- 
 
 Mr. Forrefter late Principal of the Colkge at 
 St. Andrews, in his ReBius Inftruendum 
 printed 1684. thus proves the Obligation 
 of our Covenants, Confutation of 2d, DU- 
 ioguc. Fag. 1 1, &c. 
 
 Their obliging Force will be clear, if we confide r 
 :hefe Oath's, 1. In their Perm, or Nature and Ejfence* 
 2. In Relation to their Subje&, vobcm they affeft. 3. In 
 their Matter and Object. 4. Their End and Defign. 
 
 Firft, In their FORM, and that either in Relation 
 to feveral Sbifs of Tjes included in them* Or, 2. The 
 
( *« ) 
 
 Qualifications of thefe T>e*. For the Firft, i. They are 
 Gtef7?y, wherein God is invoked as a Witnefs of our 
 Sincerity, and a fwift Witnefs againft us if we break* 
 The Scripture is full in pointing at the facred Nature 
 
 of Oaths. The Third Command is, Thou [bait 
 
 not tale the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, with 
 this fevere Certificate, that He roiU not bold them 
 guiltlefs, who thus profane his Name. He threatens 
 to be a fwift Witnefs againft the falfe Swearcr-~~See 
 Lev. 6. 3. & 19. 12. Numb. 30. 2« Pfal. 15. 4. In 
 this Engagement the Debt accrews to God, and con- 
 fequently the Abfolution muft have his fpecial Warrant. 
 guia religio Juramenti pertinet ad forum divinum* 
 Hence the Scripture is full oflnftances or the Lord's 
 
 I dreadful Punifhing the Sin of Perjury, as that of Saul 
 
 and Zedekiab Now in both thefe Engagements, 
 
 there is exprefs Mention made of Svt earing by, and 
 unto GOD. 2. Thefe Engagements are Promljes, ot 
 JPromiffory Oaths, wherein we exprefs our Purpofe and 
 Kefolution, as to important Duties both to God and 
 Man ; invoking him as a Witnefs of oitr Sincerity : We 
 have opened our Mouths to GOD, and to one another, 
 in Reference to great and weighty Duties, of the firflb 
 and fecond Table. O what ftrong Bonds are Promifes, 
 efpecially of tliis Nature ! What Conciencc did even 
 Heathens make of them ? whereof abundant Inftances 
 are adduced in the dpclogie (P. 334, &c.) 3. Thefe 
 Engagements are Vows unto God, that is, Promifet 
 made to GOD, in the Things of GOD : Such as Publick 
 and Perfonal Reformation ; GOD here is not only 
 
 • invoked as a Witnejs, but is the proper Correlate and 
 Party in this Engagement ; and O but it is a fearful 
 Thing to fall into his Hands, to be punifhed for the 
 Breach hereof. The Scripture is full of Commands 
 and Precedents to pay and perform our Vpws. See 
 Numb. 30. 2. 1 Sam. 1. 21. Pfal^-j6* n. Eccl. 5. 
 4, 5. 4. They are Covenants, and that both voith 
 GOD and Man, viz. Engagements, to GOP for Per- 
 formance of Duties revealed in his Word ; Such as the 
 People made, vvb«n, upon Promulgation of the Law, 
 
 Q, tfey 
 
( i?2 ; 
 
 they faid, Whatfocvsr the Lord commands, roe will do, 
 Exod. 19. 8. &24. 3, 7. Deut. 5. 27. & 26. 17. and 
 therefore are fo often charged with Breach of Covenant 
 in their after Difobedience. We have engaged to 
 GOD (in thefe Vows) fpeaking to us in his Word from 
 Heaven, touching National and lierfona! Reformation. 
 Here is alio a mutual Stipulation betwixt the Nations, 
 and with one another, touching important Duties of 
 the id Table, in Relation to their mutual Rights. 
 Now, the Scripture is full, in pointing out the Weight 
 and Importance of fuch Engagements. See Etek* 17. 
 $ofb. 9. 1 8, 19. Neb. 9. 3 % fer. 34. 18. So that, in 
 theie facred Bonds, there is the Type of an Oatb, from 
 the Reverence we owe to GOD, whofe Name we muft 
 not take in Vain : The Obligation of a Vow, from the 
 Homage and Fealty we owe to him : The Strength of 
 a Prcmife, both to GOD and Man, from the Influence 
 of Truth and Rigbtecufnefs, all concurring to render 
 the fame facred and inviolable. 
 
 2. The Binding Force of chefs Engagements doth 
 further appear in their Qualities \ As 1. They were 
 folemnly taken on : It is a Maxim, That the Obli- 
 gation grows with the Solemnity of an Engagement ; 
 and the Scripture aggregeth the Breach from the Solem- 
 nity ; fuch as, the Cutting the Calf in twain, and 
 Zedekiah\r giving of the Hand, 6cc. For this imports 
 Deliberation and Refolution in the Engagers, and 
 renders the Breach more fcandalous and infamous. 
 Thefe Oaths were taken by folemn AflTemblies and 
 Parliaments, after Conference, Prayer, Fading, $5c* 
 2. Thefe are Holy and mofl weighty Engagements, in 
 the great Concerns of God's Glory, and our own Sal- 
 vation, the Crown and Kingdom of Jems Chrift, a- 
 gainft Antichrifi. 3. They are large and extenfive, 
 including Duties of the whole Word of GOD ; all 
 Duties we are tyed to in his holy Law. 4. They are 
 univerfal Engagements : All were given up to GOD in 
 them, Reprefentives and Members of Church and 
 State. 5. Perpetual and real; as that betwixt Da vid 
 and Jonathan, 2 S*m* 9. 7. & 21* 7. that betwixt 
 
( ri, ) ?* 
 
 Jcjbu<tan& the Gibeonites, Jofli. 9. 18, 19. and that Co- 
 venant, Dtut, 29. i4> J 5« 
 
 Secondly The binding Force of thefe Engagements 
 appears in the Subject they affect ; As, I. Our Church, 
 in her Reprefentatives, and in their moft publick Ca- 
 pacity, the Solemn Afjemblies in both Nations. 2. 
 State Reprefentatives, and Parliaments ' Thus all Af- 
 furances are given, that either Civil, or Ecclefiaftick 
 Laws can afford ; and the publick Faith of Church 
 and State is plighted with inviolable Tyes : So, that 
 they mud (land, while we have a Church, or State, 
 in Scotland ; both as Men, and as Chriftians ; as Mem- 
 bers of Church and State, under either a Religious, . or 
 Civil Confideration, we ftand hereby inviolably en- 
 gaged : And not only Reprefentatives, but alfo the 
 ^Incorporation of Church and State, are under the 
 fame. 
 
 Thirdly,' Their binding Force appears in the Matter 
 and Objeft. i. The immediate formal Object, is the 
 Word of GOD, and the Truths and Duties therein 
 contained ; 2nd whatever is contrary to found Doctrine 
 and the Power of Gcdl'mefs^ under that for malls Ratio^ 
 is here abjured. The eternal Truth of the Gofpei, 
 as holden out in the Word, and received in this and 
 .other Reformed Kirks, being the grand Rule in this 
 Engagement ; whatever is approved by it, is im- 
 braced ; and what is condemned by it, is rejected, 
 under that Notion. 2. The more remote, or material 
 Object y are the publick, r.e :eftary, great and important 
 Truths and Duties, therein enumerate, both ot the 
 Firft and Second Table } and the Errorsand Sins therein 
 abjured .• To the Cbiervation, Faith and Obedience 
 of the One, and Abhorrence of the other, under the 
 fore inert bred Confideration, as either confonant unto t 
 or dillonant from God's eternal Word and Truth, we 
 #and perpetually and inviolably obliged. So that^ tbk 
 C^r/j hath, an Objective, as well us Subjective Neceffity 
 contained therein ; a Neceflity of the Matter in its own 
 Nature, prior to the Engagement, as well as a NecefTu v, 
 
 • 0^2 ' of 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 of Performance flowing from the Engagement it felf; 
 $;bich may take Place in Things indifferent. 
 
 4. Finally, The constantly obliging Ends and Scope 
 of rheic Engagements, joined with the Importance of 
 the Matter^ fubfervient to thele Ends, further difcover 
 t'.fir inviolable Obligations. There is here both Ne* 
 cejjiias Praceftl, Nccefjitas Medii, (5* pints. The 
 Matter fworn to be performed, falls under Divine Pre- 
 cepts ; the Sins and Evils abjured, fall under Divine 
 Prohibitions; and thefe Engagements are, both in re- 
 (t)e& of the Matter itielf, and as to the profefled Scope 
 of the Shearers and Engagers, levelled at continually 
 obliging Ends ; fuch as, G O D's Glory, the Advan- 
 cing of thrift's Kingdom, the publick Good of Church 
 and State, the Prefervation and Propagation of pu- 
 blick and perional Reformation, Truth, Unity, %>c. 
 Now both thele Oaths and Covenants are profeffedly 
 entred into, as perpetual Engagements, and in order 
 to thefe great Ends, for ever to be promoted, as their 
 Tenor clearly holds out. 
 
 P. 18. Ob\. That itobligeth not Pofterity ; an Oath, 
 being Vinculum Perfonale, binds thofe only that took 
 it, as the Covenant fa>s, [V* every one for our J elves, 
 &c. Anf. 1. That there are Covenants and Oaths 
 real and hereditary, as well as perfonal, is evident in 
 
 Scripture. as that Oath and Covenant, Deut. 29. 
 
 made with them, robo were not there, and belonging 
 unto (and by Confequence engaging) their Seed for 
 ever. Deut. 5.2, 3. Mofes tells the People emphati- 
 cally, that God made the Covenant, even that Cove- 
 nant at Horeb, with them who were then alive, tho' 
 they were all near dead with whom it was fir ft made. 
 I&eb 9. 38. All entred irro Covenant, but only fome 
 fealed it. Was not that Oath of Jofeph y s Brethren, 
 anent carrying up of his Bones from Egypt, and the 
 Oath to the Cibeonites, men as did reach and oblige 
 their Poilerity? So that Oath betwixt David and 
 Jonathan, 1 Sam. 9. 7. Now that the Nature of this 
 Oath is fuch, cannot be doubted ; it being about Mat- 
 ters of perpetual and everiafking Importance, which 
 
 no 
 
no Time can alter, evacuate or limit ; and having th« 
 publick Faith of Church and State interpofed therein, 
 by a Vow and Covenant with God and Man over and 
 above the Oath : And likewife being in its Nature pro* 
 Piifcrj) in Relation to Duties Midfes and Ends per- 
 petually ntceffary and obliging, it is palpably evident 
 that it is real, and not perform! only. 2. For that Ex- 
 predion, every one for our Jelves, it is very imperti- 
 nently here alledged to exclude the Posterity : For the 
 End and Motive of the Oath, before this, is expreffed 
 to be the Glory of God, and the Advancement of 
 Cbrift's Kingdom, the Happinefs of the King and bis 
 Poflerity, the true publick Liberty, Safety of the King" ? 
 doms, &c. Wherein every One's private State is in- 
 cluded; which of Necefllty, includes the Poflerity, 
 and defigns the Obligation for them. Next, In the 
 Clofe of* the firft Article, the Pofterity is exprefly 
 taken in, when the End and Defign of the Matters 
 therein contained, is faid to be, That we and our Po- 
 fterity after us may live in Faith and Love, &c. and 
 in the Clofe of the ^thArtic!e,vfe engage to endeavour, 
 That the Kingdoms may remain conjoined in a firm 
 Peace and Union to all Voflerity : And therefore this 
 Negative Inference, vi%. for our fe Ives, and not for 
 our Poflerity, is oppofite unto the very Senfe, Scope & 
 Words of this Oath: So that this Claufe is clearly re- 
 ferable unto the various Capacities, Conditions, and 
 Relations, wherein, in order to the Work of God, 
 
 the then Engagers Good. — But what 
 
 needs more f the Matters here engaged unto, are im- 
 portant Truths and Duties; not disputable Points, as 
 the Adiaphorifl Latitudinarian Party would make 
 them : And therefore we are under perpetual Obli- 
 gations to own and maintain the fame. 
 
 The TESTIMONY of foroe perfected Pref- 
 byterian Minifters of the Gofpel, unto the 
 Covenanted Reformation, &c* given in by 
 Mr. Jttmis Kenmck, to Minitfers at Edin- 
 burgh, Jmuarji 17. i$8§. Page 68, &c. 
 
 Con« 
 
C 1*6 ) 
 
 Confjdering how our Covenants are (lighted, the 
 Obligation of them forgotten, and they likely to be 
 buried in Oblivion, we judge we are neceffarily called 
 to fpeak a Word of our Covenants National andSolemn 
 
 League We do teftify our cordial Approbation of, 
 
 and real Adherence unto thefe memorable Engage- 
 ments ; for we are perfuaded in our Minds, that it is 
 the Duty of People and Nations, who'profefs the 
 Name of the Lord, to enter into Covenant with him. 
 It is the firft and great Commandment, ffiat we Ihould 
 have no ether Gods before him, txod. 20. 3. and that 
 we do his Statutes and Judgments, and to avouch the 
 Lord to be our God^ and to -walk in his Ways and to 
 beep bis Statutes and Commandment s, and his Judg- 
 ntentsy and to hearken unto his Viice> Deut. 26. 16, 
 17. And whereof we have many notable Precedents in 
 the Book of God, of entring into, and renewing the 
 Covenant of lfrael> by Mcfes, Deut. 29. by Jojhua, 
 Chap. 24. by Afa y 2Ch.r0. 15. by He^ekiab, 2 Chro. 
 29. by jofiab, 2 Chro. 34. by E\ra, Chap, ic- by Ne- 
 hemiahy Chap. 9. 38. & io- 29. And we are alfo no 
 lefs convinced in our Confciences, that the Obligation 
 of our Covenants is perpetual, and binding upon Po- 
 sterity : To confirm this, we add thefe few Confide- 
 rations. 1. Thefe Engagements are Nations! Promi- 
 fts, laying in Pledge the publick Faith. Certainly 
 that Prormfe of the r }eroifi Nobles and Rulers, not to 
 exact Ufury of their Brethren, would have brought 
 their Pofteriry under the Curfe, if thev fhould have 
 done it, Neb. <;. 1?, 13. 2. They are Nati:na\ Vows, 
 whereby they devoted themfelves, and their Pofterity, 
 to he the Lord's People. Jacob's Vow at Bethel, That 
 the Lord Jhould be his G^d, Gen. 2*. 21. did oblfge 
 all his Pofterity, virtually comprehended in him, He 
 found hhn at Bethel, and there he [pake roiih us y faith 
 Jiofea, many Hundred Years after, Chap. 12:4. So 
 the Recbabites were bound to observe the Vow of their 
 Pore-father Jcnadab. 3- They are National Oaths ; 
 and thefe do oblige Pofterity : Jofepb took an Oath of 
 the Chii4ren oi Jfrael^to carry up b> Bones to Canaan, 
 
 Gen. 
 
Gen. «Jo. a$. which thePofterity, going forth of i^/rf, 
 in after Ages, found therofelves ftraitly fworn to ob- 
 ferve, Exod- 13. 19. and accordingly buried him in 
 Scbehem. 4. They are National Covenants, wherein - r ^ 
 King, Parliament and People do Conven«nt with each 
 other, to perform tbeir feveral and refpe&ive Duties, 
 as to Pveligion and Liberty : Thefe oblige the Pofteri- 
 ty, as Jfraefs Covenant with the Gibcotntes, JcJ. 9. 15, 
 19. For the Breach whereof, many Ages after the Po* 
 fterity was plagued, 2 Sam, 21. I- 5. They are Na- 
 tioral Attentions of jGOD, as Witnefs 3 for the Per- 
 petuity, as well as Fidelity thereof. Such as thefe 
 Covenants, wherein the Name of GOD is invocated, 
 as Witnefs : and fo they are called the LG&D's Cove- 
 rants ; as that which Zedekiab brake, and wherefore 
 the Lord puniihed him, E^ek> 17. 6. They are Na» 
 ticnal Covenants mads with God, as Party contracting, 
 which none can difperfe with : Such were the Nati- 
 onal Covenants of the Lord's People, renewed by 
 Jcjhua, Afd y Jebcfiaphat, Ke\ekiab, $cfiah E^ra, 
 Nehemiab. 7. They are, for the Matter, National 
 Covenants about Things Mtral objectively obliging $ 
 and (o perpetual, Jer. 50. 5. They are fo, for their 
 Ends, which may be all fummed up in this, Preferva- 
 tion of Religion and Liberty inviolably, becaufe thefe 
 Ends are conftantly to be purfued. 8. They are Natio- 
 nal Adjurations, under the Pain of a National Curfr, 
 which doth make the Posterity that break them obnoxi- 
 ous. 9. They are, for their Legality, National Law? ; 
 becaufe folemnly ratified by Parliament, and by the 
 King, and made the Foundation of their Compact with 
 him, at his Inauguration, whereby they became among 
 the Leges Regnandi. 10. They are National Cove* 
 nants of an hereditary Nature, like that of Ifrael t 
 Deut. 29. 14, i«>. which did oblige, not only the Pre- 
 fent, but the Abfent ; and conlequentrt the Pofterity. 
 
 ■ We find thsporgetting 
 
 and Breaking of the Covenant of the Lord, lieth under 
 
 , mod/ heavy ThreatningSj and hath been punifhed with 
 
 mod (ore Judgments, Lev, 26. 15, 26, 17, 25. 
 
: 
 
 ( *2S ) 
 
 X>eut. 29. 14, i<j, 19, 21. 1 Kings 9. 8, 9. Jcr» 
 
 22. 8, 9. Z<?r/&. 5. 3, 4. A£*/. 3. 5. 
 
 The famous Mr. Al. Shields, in Hind let loofe, P. 
 ^00 to 508. improves and unanfwerably confirms, by- 
 Scripture, &c. the above Con ft derations, adding Tome, 
 to the fame Purpofe. And in his ANALYSIS on Deut, 
 29. Anno 1689. propones and found! y anfwers many 
 gueflicns anent the Lawfulnefs, Neceffity, &c. of 
 National Covenants, and Covenanting. See alfo how 
 the Learned Mr. Jo. Brown in the Apologetical Ref- 
 lation {Anno 1665) aggravates the Hainous Sin of 
 Breaking thele Covenants from the fame Considerations 
 Sett. 20. P. 327, &c. 
 
 The Reader may fee the following Afts of Affembl 
 concerning thefc Covenants; AJf April 1581. Ap- 
 proving theConfeflion of Faith, or National Covenant, 
 which they in one Voice acknowledge to be a True, 
 Chriftian and Faithful Confefllon, to be agreed to by 
 fuch as truly profefs Chrift and his true Religion. 
 And AJf. Otlober i«$8i. enjoin all Perfons to take and 
 fubfcribe that ConfeJJicn of Faith. Of the fame Cove- 
 nant Renewed, SssAtt of Aff. Augufl 30. 1639. andAjf. 
 l Augufl 1640. For the SolemnLeague andCovenant>$ee 
 Att of AJJ. 17. Augufl' 1643. and Aff* 3. June 1644. 
 Afi* I Augufl 1648. Seff. 21* and Declaration of the 
 fame General AJJ. Sejf. 21. Alfo Aff- 1644. Sejf. 6. 
 AS: againft Vijaffetters of the Covenant. And 1648. 
 Sejf. 26, Aft for Cenfuring Minifiersfcr Silence, and 
 not [pealing againft tht Corruptions of thcTime \ — De- 
 fection from the League and Covenant, &c. See Ex° 
 bcrtation (by the Aftembly at Weflminfler, who were 
 Sworn to maintain nothing in point of Doctrine, but 
 what they believ'd to be rncft agreeable to the Word 
 of God J to the taking the SolemnLeague and Covenant, 
 for Reformation and Defence of Religion, &c. Colleftion 
 fef Confefficns f/F«ir^,Edinburgh.iprinted 1725. P. »02* 
 &j. In which Cclleclion may be feen feveral other Afts 
 and Ordinances of AfFembly and Parliament or Scot* 
 land and England, in favours of the fame Covenant. 
 
 Were we to infert ALL, we ihould come to b» 
 E N D,