w 
 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Collection of Puritan Literature. 
 
 Division 
 
 Section 
 
 Number 
 
 /o7ol 
 
 
 i 
 
 7 
 
 4 ;. ; « 
 

fcHRISTS CORONATION f 
 
 OR, # 
 
 X The Covenant, renewed with the Caufes thereof *** 
 & and Manner of GOING about it, with fome Notes of *&? 
 Jjfc the Prefaces, Lectures, and Sermons, before and *gfr 
 2£ After the Solemn Aftion, June 2.8. 1715. ztBlack- *£■ 
 
 f *> 
 
 # , / # 
 
 2£ By John Adamfon, Minijier, of the new Tefiament. ™. 
 f i f 
 
 # # 
 
 3£I/*. 24. 3. 4. 5"; The SarfJB, alfo is defiled under ^ 
 *§£ the Inhabitants thereof, becaufe they have g& 
 ^ tranfgrefled the Laws, changed the Ordinance, 2?- 
 ^*** and broken the Ever lofting Covenant* Ezelk.^^ 
 *$>* 17. i$. Shall he efcape, that doth fuch things.. ft a i 1 **£ 
 gj& he break ray Covenant and be delivered. 7\7>fc. V. 
 2ff £• .34* Neither have we our Kings, our Princes, «jS(f 
 *joJ Pn'^j or Fathers, keeped thy Law for they *gfc 
 ^ have 'not ferved thee in this Kingdom in thy great *r? 
 O?*- Goodnefs and for the good Land wkich "thou *§j* 
 ;£} gaveft to our Fathers behold we are Servants in it **fc 
 <p> And becaufe of all this we Make a fure Cave-^<£ 
 3|P nant. Can, 3. n. Go forth O ye JDaagfeterj of$& 
 3g* Zzo», and behold King Solomon, with the Crown tSk 
 wherewith his Mother, Crowned him in the Day W 
 of his Effoufals and in the Day of the GUdnefs gfe 
 of his Heart. ^ ^r 
 
 & 
 % 
 
 *fc ■ ' w 
 
 @. Printed in the Year, 1720. % 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 IF thou be Oae fenfible that thou haft brok- 
 en thy Covenant with GOD, and are 
 not amind to r«new it; I am not covet- 
 ing thy Favour, neither fears thy Feud; 
 For as thou efteemed thy Covenant with 
 GOD little worth, fodo I thy Praife or 
 Reproach ; 'tis not to pleafe but to convince 
 that I put thefe Sheets into thy Hand i ; Yea, 
 and to rebuke thee /harply, That thou may 
 come, if poffible, to be found in the Faith, 
 and to make up the breach betwixt GOD 
 and You ; and 1 give it here under my Hand, 
 if G O D and you were once agreed, your 
 Controverfy and mine is at an end, Jer. L. 
 4, 5. Secondly If thou be a Reader that art 
 for worldly Pomp and Grandour, and de- 
 fpifes to be fo meanly imployed in a Work 
 that the Country will make a Fool of thee 
 for, Hook for no Comendation at thy Hand, 
 A 2 wh$> 
 
( 4 ) 
 who am a poor Bodie weeping before a de 
 parting Ark, a departing GOD, and a de- 
 
 proud carnally 
 ; T)aroid in her 
 „_ re bicing before 
 the Ark of the G O D of Ifrae J, ^and the Glo- 
 ry, and mocking laid, How Glorious was 
 the King cf Ijrael to Day, fhamefully ac- 
 tinglike one of the vain Fellows i All that 
 I ilmll fiy to fuch h y i. If this lamenting af- 
 ter a departing Ark, a departing GOD, 
 and a departing Glory, be to be' vile, I fhall 
 be yet more vik. 3m% It is not praife that I 
 am feeking from thee,' but to convince thee 
 of thy Folly ; th~t can be content with the 
 Mantle without the GOD of Elijah, toct 
 with the Name of a Chriitian without Chriil. 
 Sdly> Not many wile Men after the Fleih, 
 not many Mighty hath GOD chofen, but 
 he hath choflu the Poor, the, Bale, and the 
 Things that are defpiledJ #Mf, li thou be a 
 Reader that hatha psrfonal Pick at me be- 
 came thoutliinlr-e^ I imSat Mscajab and ne- 
 ver Prophelks good of thee, I fhall fay this 
 to thee In tkefirft Place, thou puts thy felf in 
 ihh^ Place and he was none of the belt of 
 Men. iMy % Lea' a thou thefe G-racelcfs Ways 
 df thine, and I give it here -under my Hand I 
 fiiall ever thenceforth fpeak good of thee 
 and ^dl% 'H inch an one as tho 11 ihoiild fpeak 
 ■1 of me I would look upon it as my re- 
 proach. 
 Fourthly, If thou be a Reader that defpifes ~ 
 
( s ) 
 
 up about CHRIST^ Glorious Reigning 
 
 as King in Scotland I have this to fay to you, 
 
 1 it is not Commendations from fuch as you that 
 
 we want. 'But2dly> We would conviSyon 
 
 that he will Reign in it whether ye will or 
 
 not. idly, That it will be fad for fuch as you 
 
 that he Reigns : The je mine Enemies that would 
 
 not that I jhould Reign over them, bring them 
 
 hither and Jit y them before me. And, 4fhly, 
 
 The very ihouts of thefc at CHRIST'S 
 
 ■Coronation-Say on Earth, when his People 
 
 ; fets the Crown on his Head, as thefe Hof annas 
 
 \ to the Son of "David gives a Knel to thy 
 
 \ Heart now-,fothe more the Hofannas are 
 
 i railed, & the oftner they are repeated thy agony 
 
 fliall increafe the more, Rev- 1 9. And a- 
 
 '; gain, they faid Hallelujah , and the Smoke of 
 
 her Torment afcended up for ever. $thly. I 
 
 Vbeg of thee, fubmitt to CHRIST as King 
 
 I and alone Head of his Church in Scotland ; 
 
 j and I give it under my Hand thou and I fliall 
 
 agree better than ever we did. 
 
 Fifthly, If thou be a Reader that defpifes this 
 Woik, becaufelputnomore in it than is in 
 the Bible ; I anfwer , I am none of thefe Young 
 Men that come to CHRIST, fo puft up, I 
 J have keeped all the Ten Commands from my 
 Youth : What lack I yet i Lord I want work 
 give me fomething elfe to do ? but I advife thee 
 if there be any Thing in thy Covenant that is 
 not in the Bible, fcrape it out in Time, for 
 fear of a word that is in the Bible. Rev: 
 
f 6 ) 
 
 1 8. If any Man add, God ihalladdto him all 
 
 the Plagues in this Book, and if any Mar* 
 
 take away ought; God fhallfcrape his Name 
 
 put of the Book of Life ; it is kittle Handing 
 
 before that cannon Mouth. 3. 1 will tell you 
 
 there is as much written in the Bible as will 
 
 hold your Hand in ufe all your Days, and 
 
 ye will never get it done without better help 
 
 than your felf. I advife you as a friend fpend 
 
 the Time, ye gooke away feeking more work 
 
 In feeking more Strength, and tell me at 
 
 the day of Judgement which way the time 
 
 was beft fpent. Sixthly, Art thou a Wordly 
 
 Perfon, that thinkeft all ill fpent that is Wired 
 
 this way, I am fure, If thou be fo Careful 
 
 as to ficker the World for thy Portion to thy 
 
 felf why art thou qffended that the People 
 
 of GOD ihould be at pains to fecure the 
 
 Lord to be their Portion. 
 
 Seventhly, art thou a Reader, that is a bro- 
 ken Hearted Perfon to fee Chriit, his Ark, 
 and the Glory departing, and would fain do 
 all you can to conftrain him to abide with us, I 
 do not look for fo many Ceni ures as Tears 
 from thee, but this 1 will fay I am a Man more 
 fenfible ofmy weaknefs and lnfuficiency. for 
 going about fuch a weighty Work than * 
 thou can be ; efpecially having fo little help 
 of Man, Encouragement, or convenience. 
 
 idly* That it is not fo much great parts and 
 gifts as Hcart-honcftie and fincerite kc. 
 
 What were the Gaufes that moved us to go 
 
 about 
 
( 7 ) 
 about this Work, I referr you to the caufes of 
 the Faft,the Fa.il Days work and other places ; 
 and 1 hope the poor mourners for the depart-^ 
 ingof the Ark, will be glad of directions how^ 
 tc bring it back, and the ienfibly loft Soul will 
 be glad to fee how to go, and feek the Lord 
 their God in whom alone, lyes their happines; 
 &the Soul that is afraid that it be notable to 
 fiand out, in Time of tiyal, to be admoniihed 
 w hat are the trying Times, whatfort of tryals 
 theymay meet with? what Difcoveries will then 
 te mace, 2nd to be direct how to Hand in the 
 Day of evil, cover my infirmity with the Man- 
 tle of Charity where thou fLndeft weaknefs, 
 and prsy for me, for ] have done nctfri g a- 
 miis wilfully and when thou findeft God's 
 mind, give GOD the gloiy who out of the 
 ncoi'th of labes c?r p erfite Fiaiie and retrain 
 ihe Wrath of the Enemy; our great Deiign 
 is to get Chriil to abide with us, and a People 
 engaged to him in an everlafting Covenant, 
 xiever to be forgotten, and that it may have 
 this effed on the heart of the Reader is the 
 Prayer of. 
 
 Yours in the Work of the Gofiel 
 
 y«hn Ada?nfon> 
 
{ ' ) 
 
 THE EPISTLE 
 
 DEDICATORY" 
 
 I Dedicate this Book to all thefe into 
 whofe Hands by Divine Providence it 
 fhall come, and that with great Grief 
 and Sorrow of Heart, and that bccaufc Je- 
 fus Chriit is rcjeded in his Kingly Office* 
 Our Covenant with him, which * was our 
 Oath ot Allegiance violated, Chrift Dethron- 
 ing Oaths taken in the Room thereof, the 
 poor People oppreffed and broken in 
 Judgement, becaufe they willingly walk 
 after the Commandment, one Part ( and that 
 the greater} part too ) of the Miniftcrs be- 
 a come 
 
( ) 
 
 come Bafe and Contemptible in the Eyes of 
 all that fear God, becaufe they have vio- 
 lated the Covenant of of Lrvr, and are 
 Partial in God's Law : The other Part, 
 which the feuer Part of the Miniftcrs, 
 who make it their Study to be Honelt in 
 3& ill Time, and to be Faithfull to God, 
 and the Souls of his People, crying aloud, 
 aadnot fparing, fhewing God's People their 
 Tranfgreiiions, thefe are made the Song 
 of the T»RU1SIKART> the butt of the 
 Malice of Tirnefervers, and to thefe wo- 
 full People j,hat are at eafe in lion, when 
 thefe with Tears andbroken Spirits are cry- 
 ing for God's fake, be not Stiff-necked like 
 your Fathers, who rebelled againft the Lord, 
 and therefore his Fierce Wrath came upon 
 them, butyeild your felves to the Lord, in 
 ffead of hearkning to them they laugh them 
 to fcorn. And alfo, becaufe fome of the 
 
 :e£ hearted Godly, are guilty of failings, 
 feeing Koneit hearted Minifters in ffraits, 
 
 :-. too homely with them andnotobferving 
 the Divine Authority wherewith they are 
 cloathed, and the Power given them to edify, 
 and for taking up Contra verfies, and carrying 
 on Reconciliation betwixt God and the Peo- 
 p'e, and betwixt the People among them- 
 felves, they will be offended, if we be not at 
 Variance with all thefe i with whom they 
 are at Variance, in ftead of feeking to be re- 
 
 cealed one with another, And above all, 
 
 oppreffed 
 
*)pprefied with a Number of Pharafacal Per- 
 fons pretending to Reformation and itrict- 
 nefs oppohng Reformation j fo that as 
 Jannes and Jambres withhood Mofes, fo do 
 theie Men reiiit the Truth, fo that we that 
 are for compleat and uniform Religioi^may 
 fay with the Great Apoiile, Onr Eitjto. bath no 
 rejf, without from the Prophage arc Fight- 
 ings, and within from the Godly, the Unskil- 
 full newbeginers, the Daughters of Jerufakm. 
 are fears, left they provoke Chriit to depart, 
 and take away Faithfull Miniiters with 
 him, and what iliall we fay, who can num- 
 ber our Sins? and the Judgements lyiflg 
 on, becaufe of them GOD Pity and Pare on. 
 Therefore, I Dedicat this JBookFirh to 
 Scotland, England, and Ireland, that they 
 may have an account of our renewing our 
 Covenant with God, and that it is all their 
 Duties and Interefts, as well as ours, for 
 they all once entered into Covenant with 
 GOD, but now have perfideouily broken it, 
 that they may remember from whence they 
 arc fallen and repent, otherways if God be to 
 be believed, and his Word the very Truth, 
 there iliall either a Sword, or fome Plague 
 of GOD come upon thefe Lands, to avenge 
 the Quarrel of his Covenant: For GOD 
 hath fmotethat King that made this Cove- 
 nant with GOD, and brack it -, that he had- 
 no Heirs of his Body to fucceed him in the 
 Throne, as he did with Eli, i Sam. II. 30. 
 a 2 1 
 
( ) 
 
 J frid that tie Houfe of Eli Jhould walk he* 
 fore me for ever, but now be it far from me> 
 jor theft that Honour me I will Honour, and 
 they that defpife me, Jhall be tightly ejieemed.^ 
 For beuold the Days come, that 1 will cut off 
 thine A. m, and toe siwi of thy Father's 
 Houfe : And if you hare feen God Smite the 
 King the Head, do you think he will ftand 
 in aw to fniite the People the Bodie, no, tho > 
 the Lord bear Long with thcfe llnfull Lands, 
 yet he Laugheth at them, becaufe he feeth 
 their Dayis coming, and thishedoeth untill 
 they fiil up the Meafure of their Fathers I- 
 niquity, and then will take them away as he 
 feeth meet : And alas! how fait is the Mea- 
 fure of their Iniquities filling i^p. ift As So- 
 dom, Pride and lulnefs of Bread, abundance 
 of Idlenefs, neither minding the Poor and 
 Needie Witneffes ofChrift, with abominable 
 Adulteries, Fornications unlawful Lulls in 
 fome Places, this fays a Shower of the 
 Fire of Indignation, is coming down on the 
 People of his Curie. 2<i/y, What Perjuries 
 and Breach cf, yea Abjuring of Covenant 
 with God, Swearing and Fore-Swearing, 
 like Perjured Zedikiah, Ezek. 1 7. Surely my 
 Oath which he hath broken, and my Covenant 
 which he hath defpifed, it will Irecompence on 
 his own Head, and J will f pre ad my Net over 
 him, and he Jhall be taken in my Snare, and 
 J will bring him down. 3. Malice at Godli- 
 pefs, and Faithful Miniitcrs, ancj Profeffors 
 
 as 
 
(^ ) 
 
 a* Ahab, againftthe Faithful Prophet Mica- 
 jab, faith he, 'tis true, wc may get God's Mind 
 from him, but it's all on 1 hate himbecaufe 
 
 • he never Propheileth good of me, he pre- 
 fers God before me, and that I dow not a- 
 bide; might not the Lown Prophefic good of 
 me, whether God bad him or not, the end of 
 all this is the malitious King fell at Ramoth 
 Gzkad, and like the malitious Jox. s, of whom 
 it's faiiTzlat knew that for, envy they had 
 delivered him, and what came of it, the 
 Romans came and took away both their Place 
 and Nation, the fooliili Polititians, and Time- 
 ferving Minifies, of this Time, thinks, if 
 they were quiet of Field Miniilers and Co- 
 
 f; • Venanters, it would be well with the Nati- 
 on, but are deceived, for if thefe were away 
 the Pillars would be removed, andtheKoufe 
 clap together about their Ears : Examples of 
 this Malice are to be feenin Terth Rntler- 
 glcn and Ghfgow, Imprifoning Minifters, 
 Banitfiing the Gofpel, Hoping defences of 
 Reformation, like Edom, wherein the Lord 
 threatneth, Obed. 10. for thy Violence a- 
 gainft thy Brother Jacob's Shame ihall co- 
 ver thee-, andthouflialtbe cut off. 4 Luke- 
 warmnefs and indifference in the Matters 
 of God for which the Lord threatneth. to 
 fpew a People out of his Mouth : O proud 
 Superftitious England, except thou repent 
 and reform, God will bring thee down O 
 Scotland, partakers with them in S'mi Ldw 
 
 canft 
 
canft thou expe£l but thou ihalt be partakers 
 of their Plagues alfo, fliall Ireland efcape 
 no : We may before hand take up that La- 
 mentation, <Alas ! who can the when God doeth 
 tJxfe T^.'v/f. • 
 
 %dly i To the Noble and Religious Lady, 
 JEAN Lady Rutbven oiFreelard : Madam, 
 1 would have you to know that I am con- 
 tending fore : the Glorious Work of Re- 
 formation, I the Mercy of God, and 
 long and fore con tendings, of the new Glo- 
 rified Saints, W€ ..raised to, in the Year 
 164,9, and adhered to by your felf, and that 
 Noble Family upon the account of which, 
 they fuffered much in the Late Perfecti- 
 on, and fheltered that worthie and able 
 Preacher of the everlafting Gofpel, Mr. 
 Robert binder/on during that Time, hoping 
 that your Ladyiliip will continue ftedfaii 
 in the Work of the Lord, in this ftiaking 
 Time, having more Understanding than fome 
 pretended teachers, becaufe you meditate u- 
 pon, and delight in God's Teftimonies; 
 Madam, My Prayer to God for you is, 
 1 that a full Reward be given to you from 
 that God, under whofe Wings you are come 
 for to Truft, for your Lady mips Favours 
 towards me ever fince I was a Preacher of the 
 everlafting Gofpel, efpecially for comforting 
 me when I was in Bonds for Chrift : I beg of 
 your Lady /hip, you may continue conftantly 
 yrreifling with God for a reviving to the 
 
 dead 
 
(7 ) 
 ckad Work of Chrift, and for me weeping 
 
 fore about the Grave of his Buried Intereit, 
 and doing all I can to roll away the Stone, 
 and few to help, I could not forget your 
 Ladyfhip, having the Honour and Happinefs 
 to be brought up in your Ladyihips Bounds, 
 and having the example of that Noble and 
 Religious Family, which exampels of God- 
 ly great Perfons have great Influence upon 
 Inferiours. The Merciful Lord give us ma- 
 ny fuch good examples, and exceedingly 
 Blefs thefe that are fuch, for now alas ! 
 they are few, yea very few. 
 
 idly, To thefe that are bewitched befoted 
 Sleepers, and newtralifts in this fatal Day of 
 the removal of pure Ordinances, and over- 
 throw of the hail Work of God dancing to 
 the Pipe of thefe fwearing Apoilat guids, 
 who have a cuningArt of changing the Spring, 
 and fitting their Mnfick to the Faihons of the 
 Times, and fluggiiii, or merry Difpofitions of 
 of thePcopleJ would have yon to lay this one 
 Thing to Heart, that tho' you be takenina 
 dead Lethargy, and gratifying the Worldly 
 &£ Fleftily Appetit,yet all the People of Godin 
 the poor ruined Church of Sc are not 
 
 ileeping, little of that in force of their Minds : 
 God's poor Wariour TJrriah\axz laying, ihall 
 Ltake reft in my Houfe,andfindPkafurev^hi]e 
 jfrael, and the Ark oi God abideth in the 
 Camp, and are Tugging very hard to keep a 
 
 de- 
 
departing Chrift, and his Ark, yea arc fweaf-" 
 ing poor Things ( Lord think on them and 
 all their Aiiliaions ) that they will not come 
 into their Houfe, nor reft in their Bed, un- 
 till they find a Place of Habitation, for the 
 Mighty God of Jacob, thefe will rather be- 
 llow part of their Rayment, and neceffary 
 Food, upon the maintaining a Faithfull 
 GofpelMiniftry, then want the Ordinances 
 of Life, when many Rich having their Eyes 
 Handing out with Fat, are debouihing a- 
 \y2Lj great Treafures upon unlawful Games," 
 and Lufts, forgetting God, and poor La- 
 zarus I would have you refolve me in this, 
 do you indeed think that God will not ven-. 
 ture to take you through hand for thefe things? 
 becaufe you are great Men, and rich Men, 
 or will he not rather handle you to purpofe 
 for the abufe of your Riches, whither was 
 it to maintain Whores, and Game and De- 
 bauch, and abufe the Creature r* that GOD 
 gave you thefe Riches, or was icnot rather 
 for the Maintainance of the Purity of Gof- 
 pel Ordinances, and fay, Gentlemen what 
 will be your thoughts of this at 'Death t what way 
 will you then think your Riches, would have 
 been heft [pent ? I have yet a Word to fay to 
 you, and that is the Troubles you now fee 
 upon the People of GOD are a fad and fure 
 forer uner of great Calamity coming upon you, 
 for now the Time is come, that Judge rfient 
 muft begin at the Houfe of G Z), and if i t 
 
 Firik 
 
raj 
 
 Firft begin at us Lord, what mall the end 
 be of them that obey not the Gofpel ? yoti 
 now rejoice and are at eafe, when we weep 
 and are forrowfull, but thefe that are dnng 
 in the Afterouon will Weep as fore, as thofe 
 that arc dung in the , Forenoon I can allure 
 you. Alas! who can live when God doeth 
 thefe Things, for I think the Bulk of this 
 Generation lhall flip fecurely to Hell for 
 Company; 
 
 tfhtf) To the Presbytry iji'Perth, where I 
 began iirft, to Preach the everlafting Gof- 
 pel. O! that writting with Blood would 
 make you face about to the Work of Re- 
 formation, that you know as well as I do* 
 you have deferted, it ihould not ftick here. 
 I chalenge your Consciences, have you 
 done nothing againft God thefe Eight Years? 
 have you done nothing againft the Work 
 of Reformation t whither hath in tint or wiri 
 amongft your Hands r* whither was it for a 
 flep forward in Reformation ? or for a fieri 
 backward in Apoftafie s* that you took up 
 fuch an hatred at me, that I could not ftay a- 
 mongil you, whither have yon down right 
 or wrong in imbracing thefe Innovations ? of 
 Oaths and Prefentations, and keeping the 
 Watch Towers dumb in fuch a hubnb of 
 noife in this Kingdom ? neither telling th£ 
 People the Hazard, Sin, Duty, or Danger of 
 this Day ; if yon have done nothing wrong 
 b iii 
 
( ) 
 
 in all this, then tell me I pray, have you 
 come to change your Thoughts, for you 
 was once in a day in another Mind, when 
 you faid, yea 1 heard one of you whom I. 
 can name declare in one of the Pulpits of 
 r Pertb, that all thefe Things were Iniquity 
 eflabliihed by Law, if fo why do you de- 
 fend Iniquity ? and profefs Iniquity t odfort 
 of Work indeed for Gofpel Minilters! a- 
 gain, pray why do you not fliew the agree- 
 ment t and harmony of thefe Things 
 with the Word of God, Confeflion of Faith* 
 and Covenants ? . and why do ye return no 
 Anfwerto my Writtings publifliedi* prov- 
 ing thefe to be hainous Sins, yea Rebellion 
 agamic the Light ! Pray Anfvver all thefe 
 if you can with a clean Confcience ? and 
 if not, fliew us how it comes to pafs that ye 
 are Mailers in Ifiael, and knows not how ta 
 do thefe Things. 2clly, If thefe be Sins pray 
 why do you not Confefs and Forfake them £ 
 orelfe fliew us that God hath changed the 
 Ordinances, and given you a new Bible, quite 
 contrary Jo the Bible that we have, that 
 will not Honour us that arc defcenters, to get 
 a light of ! telling you that he will Pard I 
 your Sins, tho ? you neither confcfs nor for- 
 fake them. 'ptf7>\ If you fay they are but 
 final! fins, I Anfvver, then we have all we are 
 feeking; away with Sin as Sin, beitfmallor 
 great you are guilty. 2. I would have you 
 to inform me what are thefe little Sins fpofcen 
 
 of 
 
in the Bible, that God will forgive with- 
 out Repentance t 1 want to fee the Book, 
 Chapter and Verfc, where there is fuch a 
 Promife t and if you hope without a Promife, 
 .believe me, there will be a downcome,ioryoii 
 .are building without a Foundation, and lay- 
 ing the weight of Salvation upon a nan a>$> 
 that hath no being, but in your deluded 1- 
 m agination. 3. Let you and me Keafon a 
 little together, about tbefe Sins which you 
 call fmall lins, the firft of which is the Oath 
 if ye call that a fmall Sin, then I Anfwer 
 that you are odd fori' of Mihiftefs, Phi- 
 lofophers and Reafoiiers ! And I fliali put 
 your Argument in Figure and Mood, and 
 it runs thus, 
 
 Thefe Sins which are againft our known 
 Principals, and involves us into Perjury, 
 and Breach of Covenant with G QB are 
 fmall Sins : 
 
 But the Oath of Abjuration is againft 
 our known Principals, and involves us 
 •in Perjury, and Breach of Covenant with 
 
 GOD: 
 
 Ergo, The Oath of Abjuration is a fmall 
 Sin: 
 
 Now that this mufl be the way ]of your 
 new found out Method of arguing is write 
 as clear as it were with a Sun .beam, and is 
 proven by your Subfcribing with your Hands 
 to the Union Parliament, that in cafe the 
 \>% Union 
 
( ) 
 
 Union were concluded, this Abjuration 
 Oath, current then in England, flio aid never 
 be impofed on the Subjecls of Scotland} it 
 being contrary, to your known Principals 
 and cJie Covenant, and the fame Subfcripti- 
 on by the Moderator is to be fcen lent up 
 to the Queen, before the Impoilng of the 
 Oath, Gentlemen if you be turned fo benum, 
 by Drinking down fo many of the Billions 
 of England sQa.ths Sauced with their Intoxi- 
 cacia* JSiae, that you misken yo r own 
 Hand writs, then both you are to to b p ied, 
 and the People that are led by fucn be- 
 numb, beibred Men! but if you have fo 
 much light either of Religion or Reafon, as 
 to read yo.ur own Hand write, Subscribing 
 the Oath to be Perjury, and then in a little 
 Swearing that Oath, then fay plainly, for 
 yon and all the World cannot deny it i that 
 ye are perjured over the Belly of Light, and 
 Pcrfons proven perjured I for the chief, if not 
 the only thing, that proves Perfons per- 
 jured, is their own Hand write, when they 
 Swear one Thing, and then their own Hand 
 write is preiently brought, to prove the con- 
 trary, this is plainly your cafe, God pity 
 you and the People deluded by you ! hold 
 iip your Face «ow, if you have the impudent 
 Fore-head of the Whore ! and either tell 
 us, you are not Perjured nor proven per- 
 jured ! or that perjury is a little -Sin, and 
 
 alas! 
 
(J* ) 
 
 alas ! our Anfwcr is too ready! you are 
 Lyars I andjuit now pi oven perjured Lyars I 
 and neither God, nor Man, believeth either 
 your word or Oath I 
 
 idly, Is that a httle Sin which overthrow* 
 eth tnat great and fundamental Article of 
 Faith that Jefns Chrift is the alone King, 
 Head and Lawgiver of his Church? and 
 takes in \vith him other Heads and Lawgivers, 
 fuch as Popes and Kings of the Earth \ If 
 yon deny that ye do fo we prove it, that neither 
 your Oaths nor your Patronages are from 
 Chrift and it runs thus. 
 
 Thefe Oaths and Prefentations are either 
 from Chrift the alone Head and Lawgiver 
 of his Church, and by accepting them we fob* 
 mitto Chrilts Laws as fuch, or elfe they arc 
 from fomc Earthly Power State or King, 
 and being fo we have rejected Chrift from 
 being the alone King and Lawgiver of his 
 Church, and fo loft one of the Fundamental 
 Articles of our Faith 
 
 But not from Chrift, therefore from feme 
 earthly Power and fo a chief Article of the 
 Faith is gone. . 
 
 And this we prove, thus if thefe Oaths 
 and Patronages be the Laws of Chrift, then 
 they are infert in the Bible -the Regifter of 
 his Law, which is fa id Tfal. 19. robe perfit 
 but I defy all the World to let me fee, ei- 
 ther of thefe among all God's Laws? from 
 
 the 
 
( ) 
 
 the beginning of Gcncfis to the end of the 
 Revelation:' where theie Laws are let 
 down word by word; or yec can be gather-, 
 ed by neceffary confeequence, then ye have 
 rejected Chriit,and loft an Article of the Faith: 
 But on the other Hand they are devifedand 
 impofed by Man, and are found written m 
 the Laws of the reahn, therefore you have 
 Jaken in others to be Kings and Companions 
 with Chrift, and have loft that Article of 
 the Faith, God pitie them that have to do 
 with the. like of you! 
 
 3. Is that a fmallSin? that Subjects you 
 to the Biihops oiEegl.ind, and that Cnyrar- 
 chy abjured in both National and Solem 
 •League, who are thefe that Domineers and 
 Commands you, to Swear fuch Oaths, and 
 accept of Patrons ? is it not the Biiliops of 
 England ? and that under the highen- Penal- 
 ties ! And who is it that fubjecls and obeys, 
 is it not you for fecuring of the Engiijh 
 Abjured Chirarchy f and to fecure Stcepends 
 to your felves ! I ask then whether are 
 you extirpating Prelats, according to your 
 Oaths t or are you governed by them i Do 
 not think that all that behold you are depriv- 
 ed, both of the ufe of Religion and Reafon,. 
 and knows not your Knavery, or are you 
 like the Fooli/h Filli hiding only its Head 
 in the Mudd, thinking no Body fees it ! no 
 you may hide your own H:ads in the* Mudd 
 
 of 
 
ft:'*) 
 
 of filthy Lucer? and among fcnfeleis, and 
 Suffiilical Reafonings ! but both God and 
 his People fees your abominable Wicked- 
 nefs, and that you fliall find to your coaft 
 on Day. 
 
 Thirdly, If you fay, if ye had not yield- 
 ed, the Church of God had been ruined 5 
 I Anfwer, this may make Children and I- 
 diots Laugh at you! but neither God nor 
 
 in believeth you ! for ift by yielding, ye 
 did effei r mine the Church, it is juft as 
 
 Etc fliould have faid, the Serpent would 
 have ruined me if I had not yielded ! and 
 broken God's Commands •, and as if ye fliould 
 fay, the Fifli fhould have been killed ifilie 
 
 I hidden out of the Net, for I told fome 
 of you, that now if you were taken, ye 
 would be more Foolifh, if ye fliould ftep' 
 into thefe Impofitions then the Beafts, for in 
 vain is the Snare fpread in the fight of any 
 Bird. 2. By yielding, you declared ye be- 
 lieved no! a "Word that God hath " faid? 
 promifing that if the Righteous Man hold on 
 his Way, and keep clean Hands, he fliall 
 wax ftronger and ilronger. 3"; Horid un- 
 belief that God was not able to defend 
 his Church, when Man was again!! it, 4, 
 That God had need of your Sin to help him, 
 O horid blaiphemy ! Can any Man be 10 
 I as to think, a good end juitifies ad 
 evil Aalon ! or to do evil that good may come 
 
 Oi it. 
 
 Fourthly, 
 
E ] 
 
 Fourthly, If you fay, that you will flop 
 in Sin and not go the hail length ; I An- 
 fwer, J ft, it is as if a mad Man mould leap 
 from the top of the Steeple, and fay he was 
 not fuch a Fool as to brain himfelf ! he would 
 make a flop ere he came to the bottom, its 
 thought now, you will be at the very bottom 
 before you flop, and that there will be no 
 ho, nor hold again in this fide of the white 
 Surplice, for it is true that ye have Sworn to 
 it freely heartily, willingly, and that the ift 
 time they think fit to give you the offer of 
 it, you will imbrace it, as heartily, freely, 
 willingly, as ever you fware to it. 2d, You 
 fay. contrary to the word of God 1 who 
 faith of fuch as you, Evil Men and Seduc* 
 ers wax worfe and worfe, deceiving and be^ 
 fag deceived, we believe God better than 
 you. 
 
 Fifthly, If you obje£r, you will fuffer be^ 
 fore you proceed any further, we Anfwer, 
 by what you have fuffered, we guefs at what 
 you will fuffer! what! you Sufferers you 
 look ltcker backfliding Perfecuters, if 
 you have run with the Foot-men, and 
 they have wearied you, what will you do in 
 the fwelings of Jordan f Others are fufiering 
 in part already, but all] ill is good in firft 
 with you : I mall leave room for Soveraign 
 Grace, but if any of you flop in Sin or ful> 
 fer for Ciirifl either, ye will meet with Sid$ 
 
 Mercy 
 
07. ) 
 
 Mercy when periling from God, and over- 
 throwing his Work. 
 
 It was needful forme thus to deal free- 
 ly, and faithfully with you, feeing your 
 own Souls, and the work of God is lying 
 at the Stake, and feeing you have been a- 
 mong the firft in putting away King Jefus, 
 fo be not the laft in bringing him back, 
 and tho' ye love Darknefs rather than Light 
 becaufe your Deeds are Evil ! however ac « 
 cept of this Glimphs of Light I fend you, 
 as a futable Prefent, and friendly Comple- 
 ment, that you may fee how near the brink 
 of the Pit you are, and turn in Time, be- 
 fore you fall into it, fo? out of it there is no 
 Redemption : But there are three Things 
 to put away before ye get good of this 
 Warning, and that is Pride ? Covetoufriefs, 
 and Hatred at me for difcovering you*, 
 otherways ye will get no more good of it, 
 then "Judas did of Chrift Preaching, having 
 all the Three Reigning in his Heart, it is 
 not for naught that this hath come to 
 your Hands, and that you will know when 
 you are ftanding before Chrift's great white 
 Throne giving an account of your Stew- 
 ardfhip, for believe it there are other fort of 
 Matters before your Hands, then always to fit 
 in your warm Neils and take the other 
 fteps of Apoftafie to preferve a fat bene- 
 fice! 
 §j To you that are the jurants, whtf 
 c firft 
 
( ) 
 
 firft made the breach in the Church: I de- 
 lire you to lay to Heart, that you are the 
 more guiltie, for when you liHTthe Affembly 
 divided, the one halt for it, and the other a- 
 gainlt it, and that the Non-Jurants could 
 not take it, without manifeft Violation of 
 their Consciences, to refufe it, and fo the 
 Church of God had been keeped whole and 
 your Brethren not offended, but i had forgot 
 you had one weightier Reafon that down 
 weighted both thefe, and that was your 
 Steepends would have been Violated, and 
 this ileaibn was ay the flronger, the greater 
 that t)*e Steep-ends were, and the more of 
 tb- ] : fear of Mai-, and the lefsoithe fear of 
 GOD, and ox the care of his Church, of 
 the Souls of his People, and of the coming 
 Generation that was in your Hearts! now 
 all thefe Confiderations joined together, 
 clown weights the Ballance, andfo you laid 
 hold on the Church of God and Rent it to 
 pieces: Good were it for you that that there 
 were not a Judgment to come. 2, I would 
 have you lay your Oaths, and prefent Prac- 
 tices to the Word of GOD, and the Con- 
 feiiion of Faith Covenants, National and 
 Solemn, and the Practices of the then La- 
 borious Reformers : And then if ye be not 
 as Blind as Moles ye will fee that there is 
 .as great a difference betwixt thefe as betwixt 
 Light and Darknefs, and if thefe Righteous 
 
 Reformers 
 
(O ) 
 Reformers were fcarcely Saved, where fhall 
 fuch unrighteous Appoftats as you appear t 
 and yet you will make fuch a noife againil 
 Perfons for Renting of a Church, h you 
 fpeak of profane Perfons, and un(ound Ke- 
 riticks, they may anfwei you, what can this 
 mean that Satan is now Repioving Sin: 
 but if you fpeak this of the Goaly, who 
 are the true Church, that they are Renters 
 of the Church then we have our Anfwer 
 readie, you are like the rude Souldiers ; allur- 
 ing at the Murder of the Son of GO D, 
 when thy faw Chriit's Garment had no learn, 
 every one thinking if it were rent they 
 would get little good of a Part of it-, it 
 they got it not altogether, each an out of 
 Covetoufnefs cried, let us not rent it, each 
 one hoping to get it all to themfeives : your 
 ftriefis not for fear of the lofs of Reforma- 
 tion, but for fear you get not fpoil enough 
 at the overthrows thereof, this was not the 
 way ufed by the Reformers : but to every 
 thing there is a Time and a Seafon, then 
 was the Time to build the Houfe of 
 GOD, this is the Time to throw it down, 
 and you wofull Jurants are the Men-, that 
 iirft put to your Hands, and plucked out the 
 Foundation Stones of God's Building, and 
 fetFire under it -, to blow it up, Wo to you 
 for offences are come by you, good had it 
 been for -you that ye had never been Born ; 
 
 , c % will 
 
( ) 
 
 will your Thirty Pieces, your Steepends do 
 you any good in the other World? but I 
 tell you whether Steepends do you good in 
 another World or nor, you will not be 
 long in this, and if ye hold on I fear there 
 will be fomething a-miffing then, that will 
 fit nearer you then lofs of Steepends, when 
 all your Plagues come in one Day. 
 
 1 would alfo know, why fome of you 
 delayed longer in taking it, than others? 
 and took it at lad, *was it you were in a ftrait, 
 being brought to this that you mult either 
 lofs your Steepends or the Favour of the 
 People, and as long as you could you keep- 
 ed both, but when you law, one of the two 
 you moft lofe, then you choofed to lofe the 
 the Favour of the People. Or, 2. Wz$ it 
 only Conference and Lull by the Ears toge- 
 ther ? and like Tilat you refitted ay till 
 your intereft and Loyalty were in hazard, 
 and then yeildedthe Caufe? Or, 3. Was it 
 that the laft Oath was fome bonier than the 
 firft : lAnfwer it is fiillthe old Whore perceiv- 
 ing herfelf negleacd of her Lovers, becaufe 
 of the Rags and ugly Wrinkels in her Face, 
 hath now painted her felf, an I got on a new 
 Suit, for what difference is there betwixt the 
 Dignity of the King of England in the firft 
 Oath which takes in his being Plead both of 
 Church and State, and the Govcrment of che 
 King 'atErghtid in the fecond Qath which 
 take- in the very lame thing, and what differ- 
 ence 
 
f* ) 
 
 cnce is betwixt the Bifhops of England 
 now r* from what they were then, are they 
 now Presbyterians ? . who were then Pre- 
 lates. 
 
 6. To yon that are the Non-Jurants I 
 am afraid of yon, that yon are the great 
 lnftrumentsin Satans hand, to beguile and de- 
 ceive, as appears from your lefraining from 
 the Oath a while, many of yon, and not 
 Preaching againft the Jurants, but fubtilly 
 Preaching People into thejri^ and then when 
 yon had gained your end, took it your felves, 
 for were not you it was not Poffible for 
 the Jurants they being a loathing to- the 
 Kingdom, to have done the half of the 
 Miichief that you have done, the Jurants 
 were the lyers in wait to Kill, yon the coy 
 Dukes to flatter People in to be killed, they 
 the Thieves you the Rcfetters, they the 
 Adulterers, you the Cheaters of Perfons 
 to be defiled: If the Oath was a Duty 
 why did you not take it ? If it was a Sin 
 why did you join with the Wicked in Sin? 
 and deceive the People of God to do fo : 
 the Anfwer is eafie, you being evil Men, 
 turned Seducers and fnch as you wax worfe 
 and worfe, deceiving, and then God leaves 
 you to be deceived your felves, 'i "thn.^.i^. 
 It is no new thing for the Bulk of Minifters, 
 to turn their Backs on Chrift.at the firft fire 
 as* witnefsthefe Six Hundred,- that turned all 
 
 at 
 
jat once to " Epiicopacie, in the laft Or 
 verthrow of the Church ; when others itood 
 out, but you the Non-Ju rants bring up the 
 Rear ^6f Apoftacy : you fay this is leit you 
 fliould Rent the Church, I Anfwer, true 
 it is left you Rent the Apoltat Jurant; 
 Church j and it is as true you do it ; that 
 you may Rent the Covenanted Church and 
 if you would know who hath lyen hid in 
 Ambufli, and fet upon, broken and rent the 
 Reforming Church, in the Day of her Con- 
 flicts!* you Non-Juiants are the Men, this 
 breach be upon you. 
 
 7. To ycu that are Fooliih Contenders, 
 about the Peible in Head of the Jewel the 
 hingsofwhofe Controverfies is, who is, and 
 and who is not King of 2?ri tufa t when it 
 fliould be who is not, and who is King of 
 Zion t For when you are to receive a Per- 
 fon into your Communion, it avail eth you 
 nothing to tell you, that they hold fait by 
 the hale Word of G O D, Confeffion of 
 Faith, Covenants and the 49 Years Re- 
 formation : Nay fay ye but ye muft come up 
 to our Te Simony, to deny the prefent Ma* 
 jeftrates, you mould call it a coming down . 
 to your Defection, and quite the Second 
 Table of the Law, come ye up to our Tes- 
 timony, which is to take both the Tabels of 
 Lav/ along with you, the want of doing fo, 
 i)oth rc ills you oft from the People of God, 
 |$d rents you among your felves, and if it 
 
 be 
 
be asked who are the Perfons bemifted a- 
 bout the way of Reformation t % then you 
 Fooliih contenders are the Men. 
 - 8. To you the off-cafts of the gf^at Ju- 
 gler, ay aping the People of God with a deiign 
 to hinder the Work of God, profefTing to 
 be Reformers, and yet the moil Malitious E- 
 nemies, to it in the Nation, y ou are like Jj,n~ 
 ties and Jambres withstanding Mofes, fo do 
 you refill the Truth -, for you are Black- 
 Banders, you force Men to take on Tyes 
 upon them, tying them up both from hearing 
 the Word of Life, and entering in Covenant 
 with God, oC as Janttes and Jamb es oppofed 
 iVJ<2/h,andhindredthe deliverance of the Peo- 
 ple of God, not by Force but by Witchry, 
 and Jugling as if they had wrought thefc 
 Very Miracles which Mofes did, yet there 
 was fomething done by Mofes, which they 
 could not do, which made them confefs this 
 is the Finger of God, fo the Godly can do 
 fomething that you cannnot do, they can mew 
 both their Moral honeftie and Sincere dellre •, 
 that the Gofpel may have a free Courfe; 
 and be glorified, without Black Bonds, 
 Tefts, orEflgagements, andif it be asked who 
 are the greateft quenchers of the fmoaking 
 Flax? the Anfwer is, you Jugling Black- 
 Banders are the Men, 
 
 9- To Mr. John Gczi\ a 'Thihkel Ju- 
 raiit, and Pro veil QuftHi, Proved Rolertfon 
 
 and 
 
. ( ) 
 
 and Captain Wilpn, who by lyes Malice and t 
 Unjuiiice confpired together and caft mc in 
 Pnionto Hop the Work of God that you 
 may fee you have loft your labour, for God 
 hath honoured me to be an Inftrument to 
 bind a People to God in a perpetual Co- 
 venant, that ye may never again fet your 
 felves againft God and his Work, for you 
 fee wherein you have dealt proudly he hath 
 been above you and ever more will 
 be. 
 
 10. To John C £J 'air Brother to that Emi- 
 nent Man of God, Mr. George "Blair, late 
 Minifter in 'Perth, that you may Remember the 
 dear Love and intimat Familiarity that was 
 betwixt him and me, in this Lifetime, who 
 •upon the account of his Tender Gofpel Con- 
 vention, and Heart-melting Power, that 
 went along with his Do&rine, looked liker 
 an Converfant with the General Affembly of 
 the firft Born, and Jefus the Mediator of the 
 New Covenant, then a Man in the Body : 
 I never either converted with him or fat un- 
 der his Serious and Heavenly Sermons; but 
 my Spirit was ravi£ked with Joy and Delight, 
 he alio ftill defended my Do&rine, contend- 
 ing for Reformation, againfi the Invafions 1 
 coming in, againft Tirne-ferving Oppof- 
 ers. 
 
 And when in that Fattal Year, 171 2, he 
 was appointed' to Preach a Direction Ser- 
 to the Presbytric of Perth, at their fending 
 
 their 
 
Iheir Commiflioners to the General Afenir>' 
 |y, to refolve about the Oath of Abjuratioiij 
 he fcnt forme the evening belo^e, Aiid defies 
 ed me to Preach that Sermon to the Corns 
 miiTioners : 1 anfwercd that 1 had not 1 nrie, 
 and it was too heavie a Work for me, there- 
 fore I refufei he faid no Brother 1 will 
 accept of no rcfufalfor (faid he) you know 
 that you have a Facultie of Plainnefs, and 
 Freedom /happen out for fuch a Work, at 
 fuch a Time, and it will be a Sin in ybii 
 to refufe, I anfwered; Sir, it may be be- 
 fore I have done, that you your felf wilt 
 fay, I have ufed too much freedom ; he an* 
 fwered, nay, that I will not, go and the 
 Mailer's Prefence go with you, and of all 
 that God fliall give you keep nothing back* 
 for this Wofull Oath that many will joiri 
 with, will prove a fad Lambes Flood, ancl 
 then claping his Hands together faid, Ala's t 
 *Billie all is wrong, all is wrong i therefore 
 let you and me prepare for the Mountains td* 
 getber for all is gone in Uje K.irk, all is wrong 
 Tiillfei all is wrongs we are not what Men 
 take us to he ± and then I confentcd and Preach- 
 ed in the Great Kirk on that Text, Ifa. 49* 
 25. 1 will contend with them that contend 
 with thee, and lwtll five thy Children ? wher£ 
 1 fpoke to thefe Things, r ft, That It ever 
 wa*s. and Hill will be the Lot of the Church 
 while here in a militant State^ tti be wreitt* 
 
f ) 
 
 ing and contending. 2. 1 mewed who were 
 engaged, on either fide, Chrht, good AngtJs, 
 Mininers, Saints and good Kings, and on 
 tne other lide Satan, evil AngeJs, evil Mini- 
 iters, unholy Peribns and ill Kings, Rev. 
 19. 19. Ifawthc 'Beaji and the Khgs of t,e 
 Earthy and their udrai.s gathered together to 
 make War, againfi him that fat on the Horfe, 
 wd againft his j^rmie. 3. What was the 
 Quarrel and Grounds of the War ? 4. How 
 the War was carried on,on both Sides. ,5. The 
 difference betwixt this and all other War, in 
 Three Things, ijt, In this war there is no 
 Ceffation of Arms on either Side. 2d> 
 It is never Lawfullnor fafe for God's Peo- 
 ple to yield and turn their Back, for there 
 is no Armour for the Back. 3d, Each Par- 
 tie may certainly know the upfhot of this 
 War before they flrickaitroak in the Battle, 
 Rev. 17. 14. thefe Jhall make War izith the. 
 JLa?r<b, .and the Lamb Jhall overcome them y 
 Therefore I exhorted them to ftand, and 
 earnedly oppofe this Invafion upon the King- 
 dom of Chriir, for it was good Fighting 
 when the Victory was fure j and if they 
 yeilded they ihould be counted among Chritt's 
 Enemies, and the Lamb ihould certainly o- 
 vercome them. 6. I mewed them certain 
 Signs ; whereby Chrifl's Army might be 
 known from Satan's. 7. What was t the Ban- 
 ners. 2. What the Motos* 3. What was 
 
 the 
 
c 27 3 
 
 the Word of both Armies. 8. That during 
 tne whole Conflict, Chrift's Souldiers aie 
 gaining. Rev. Hi. 5. Tuythat are oitrcom* 
 Wgt lor fo it is in tne Gieek, yea when for- 
 eit at under Kev. Xli. ir. c i,.ey p^eroam 
 byt„e Blood of tu La/nh, avdiscejiitrgjoabe 
 c lejiimony to h.t 'Death. 9. I hat the" War 
 was Shoddies the War of the uror.g G G D, 
 and to take the Word of a God, that 
 he would contend for them, and Save both 
 them and their Children, the coming Ge- 
 neration, from the Ruine that was intended* 
 by the prefent vifable affault \ to Invad the 
 Church and Kingdom of Chriit, and told 
 them, I thought none but down right A- 
 thieits, conlidermg all this, would quite 
 Chriit's Cauie ; Having ipoke largely to 
 thefe and many other Things; for along 
 Space, as I came down from the Pulpet the 
 Eminent Servant of Chriit your .brother 
 met me, and took me in his Arms before the 
 People Smiling with the Tear in his Lye, 
 Bleffed the Lord and faid, God hath been 
 isctth you to T)ay, his BleJJing he upon you y 
 for this bath been a Word in Seifon 1 ous-. Many 
 others in the Presby try took rre alio in their 
 Arms ifiewing, as appeared their great Satis- 
 faction withtnat Doctrine, who within Ten 
 Days were my great Enemies for that very 
 Doctrine, and none of them more then that 
 Gorawvobis, and great nothing Mr. 't^omoA 
 d 2 1Siack 9 
 
f ) 
 
 blacky then Colique to this Servant of Chrift, 
 and iipvv Curat J unapt in the fame City, 
 and the Reafon was they had millrulted 
 G U D, yielded His Caufe, and looked u- 
 pon me with a mixtor of Shame and 
 iinvy. 
 
 jnow John when ye Read this remember 
 its now a tar changed World, labour to 
 follow your Brother's Steps, and Pity me by 
 jSoveraign Pleafure deprived of fuch a Fa- 
 ther at fuch a Time ; when the People of 
 God are handled like Qrphants arid Father^ 
 lefs Children in the World, and I have a large 
 Score of fuch Comp]aments from fuch as 
 are ateafe : JBut above all, the Lofsofthat 
 Eminent Servant of Jefus Chrift will make 
 nie to go Mourning to the Grave. 
 
 1 1 . To Mr. John Shethmm whom I look 
 upon to be an Eminent Servant of Chrift, 
 Jionettand Ingenious Sir, I know you arc a 
 Man weighted. in Spirit, about the welfare 
 of the Church, and the Salvation of Souls, 
 and for ought 1 know, yet Miniftercf the 
 Gofpel at Gladfttoor, and not altogether gi- 
 ven over Contending for Chrift's Intereft, Sir^ 
 It is the Delire of my Soul that you may 
 do it a littfe more Publickly, and when all 
 in your Presbytry have taken an Oath againft 
 the Caufe of Chrift, take ye Elijah's Oath, 
 that as the Lord liveth ye will mew your 
 felf for the Caufc of Chrift, and let all the 
 
 World 
 
Worldfee ChriftisnoraMafterto be aftamec} 
 of, appear as Valiantly for him, as othei&clo 
 againit him : Let not your Candle low oe 
 under a Jbnfhel, but upon the Table, left the 
 Lord's Hand be heavie both on Body ana Spi- 
 rit : Dear Sir, go not off the the Stage with- 
 out leaving a Tettimony behind you, for you 
 know the TruthSir, 1 both long and deiign to 
 fee you, asfoonas Poilible toipeak oithefe 
 Things I ihall not write: Sir, its not Words, 
 not Politicks, not Pen and Ink but Chrift, 
 Reformation, the Salvation of Souls, the 
 Anfwer ot a good Confcience, and handing 
 down the Gofpel uncorrupt to Polterity, 
 and Preparation for Death, for we will be 
 before the Bar of God, and in the Grave 
 in a very ihort Time, where there is no ir end- 
 ing of what is wrong, behold now is the ac- 
 cepted Time. 
 
 12. To the Magiflratsof Glajgow and Ru» 
 therglen who labour to ftopme in Preaching, 
 and Published Prints in Defence of Refor- 
 mation, pray Gentlemen is this warranded 
 fpm Authority or not ; although it were war- 
 ranted by Authority I ihould think it ttrange 
 how it can find a warrand in your Con- 
 fcienccs butfincc we know it is dif charged, 
 under Penalty by Authority, what do you 
 mean ? have you fo foon forgot what thanks 
 you got for raifing Men in Defence of the 
 King without his allowance, that it was 
 
 taken 
 
( ) 
 
 taken as Rebellion, alid yon got a Remit, 
 what [hen will you venture a little more, 
 to try his Clemency, to oppole Reformati- 
 on, by fetting on Foot Perfection, of his 
 Subjeds, by a Law of your own, in diredt 
 Opposition to his Majelties Law, do you not 
 know that the Protection is taken from your 
 Cnurch-Men t tho' they took the Oath, and 
 that we have a Share of it, tho' we took it 
 not, is the name of Perfection, fo honourable 
 that you cover it i Gentlemen what was in 
 my Papers againft the Government f 
 that you ltop them, was there any thing but 
 my a&ing as a free Scots Man and Church 
 Member, againft the Innovation on Chriit's 
 Kingdom, and Juglings ol felriih Men, cun- 
 ning to deceive f Or did you think Mr. ^4n~ 
 derfonnot able to Anfwer that you conceal- 
 ed my Writtings, hath he not near a Thou- 
 fand Defenders of his Thefes, to join for 
 his Help, and do you not fay, I have no great 
 brain for fuch things t Surely then his Brain 
 and theirs muft be weaker, that can find no 
 way to anfwer my Writings, but by Robing 
 me of them, and hiding them, an eafie way 
 indeed to anfwer. There's not a PapiSt at 
 Rome, but can Anfwer the Sharper! Defences 
 I can Write that fame way ; Did you indeed 
 think I was too Strong for a Thoufand of 
 them l then they are too weak for the Bur- 
 then, of all the Souls. in Scotland ! 1 cana- 
 
 fure 
 
{91 J 
 fur you, you confefs that the Work of Re- 
 formation was God's* Work, in the Year 
 1649. Fray then what hath made it not 
 God's Work now, that you oppofeit, Gama- 
 liels Counfcl would do well now tho' none of 
 the bell Refrain from thefe Men and let 
 them alone, for if this Work be of the Lord, 
 we will be found Fighting even againft 
 God, he fhould have faid let us help them; 
 left we fall under the Curfe of Godfor net 
 helping the Lord againft the Mighty : But 
 if you be amind to go on in Oppofitionwe 
 are as fon'd of the name of perfecuted as you 
 are, of the name of Perfecuters 
 
 13. To the Great Profcfibrsin the Shire 
 of Perth and F//V, who once owned Pres- 
 by try and Reformation, and feemed for to 
 outrftip us, fome of you coming to me on a 
 Morning srd vptraiding me at the Time 
 of the breaking in of this FLOOD 
 of OATHS and Abominations, and 
 faid to me, what are you lying in Bed yet, and 
 the Church of God going to ruine? Then I 
 had great Hope of you, more than of my 
 felf that you would not' go to ruine with 
 the Multitude for Cornpaiiy, and that I 
 would have excellent Companions of you 
 in Times ofTryal: But- whenever you few 
 that the Overthrow was Effectually given to 
 the Work of God, and either "you muft 
 <)uiie Chtift's Intereft, or elfe according to 
 fc-word thatdropt from one of your Mouths, 
 
 not 
 
( J 
 
 i\ot keep in with the Laird and the Mini- 
 fier, then you joined in, and helped to over- 
 throw Religion, and prefently discountenanc- 
 ed thefe that itood on Chrift's fide, in Defence 
 of Reformation, 1 may fay this of fuch, they 
 are like a Servant following two Mailers, he 
 holds in with both, and walks along with 
 them, ay till either they difcord or finder 
 and then will help their own Matter, tho' he 
 be a Rober againft an hone ft Man, or leave 
 him that is not their Matter when their ways 
 part. 
 
 I know you are praying Perfons this is 
 good in its Place but mind thefe Things 
 firft Prayers, are Prayers, not Chrift, and 
 will God hear the Prayers of thefe that 
 join with his Enemies againft his People. 2. 
 God accepts firft of the Perfon before he ac- 
 cepts of the Prayers, and can you expect that 
 God will accept of the Perfons of thefe that 
 joineth with the Overthrowers of Religion, 
 againft the Contenders for it. 3. Know you 
 not that God loaths the Prayers of fuch as 
 leave his Ways, as much as the grofeft of 
 Sins, Ifa. LXVI. 3, 4. He that kiletb an Ox 
 is as if he flew a Man, He that Sacrifice!!) a 
 'Lamb as if he cut off a T>^gs Neck, He that 
 cjfereth an Oblation as if he offered Sivives 
 "Blood, He that burnetii Incenfe as if he bleffed 
 me Idol. What is the Reafon that thefe Ads 
 of WorJhip-, are as great Sins, and as loath- 
 
 fome 
 
iw ) 
 
 fdme to God; asMockry, Filthinefs, Mur- 
 der, and Idolatry, here it is they have chofen 
 their own Ways : Say now you turn backs^ 
 are thefe Oaths and Patronages God's Ways? 
 or your Ways, if they be God's Ways let 
 us fee them in his Bible, and if you cannot, 
 which I defy you to do, then they are your 
 Ways, and if your Ways, the Spirit of .God 
 fays, they are as loathforne to him as Mur- 
 der and Idolatry. 2dly, That he will 
 choice your DelufionS; becaufe ye choice 
 thefe Ways, and give you up in Jufticeto 
 be perfwaded that you are right, and you 
 fhall never be undeceived untill you be in 
 an Eternal State of Difpair, no helping of 
 your Condition. . 
 
 You will fay if there be any Sin in this^ 
 it is the Minifters Sin, not ours. 
 , An. There is in it Sin indeed, ift 9 direcl: 
 Perjury and breach of Covenant in thefe 
 Oaths : And 2dly, As for their entrance to 
 the Miniftry by Prefentation, that is f uch a 
 Sin, i/?, As with it no Presbytry, and with- 
 out it no Poprie nor Epifcopacie. , %d, It is 
 that Sin fpoken of Kev. XV. 5. That when 
 it takes not Thee the Temple of the Taber- 
 nacle of the Tefiimony of God is opened in 
 Heaven, that is thrifts Door is opened, and 
 Minifters enter .according to the Word, ■_ and 
 Teftimbriy of God, but when it fakes Place 
 the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Tef- 
 
 e timony 
 
timony is flint, and the Antichriftian Window 
 fetopen, that none of Chriit*s Ambaffadors 
 can enter in at the Door of the call of the 
 People,. bat at the Antichrittian Window 
 of the Patronages, for the Patron flints in the 
 Popes Uflier at the Window, and then all 
 the Kabbie, and Croud of Time-ierving 
 People, follow and make Havock of the 
 Church of God, thus we have prov'd it is 
 Sin* 
 
 Secondly, We fliall prove that to join with 
 fuchis your Sin, ana itappeareth thus. 
 
 If to Jultifie the Wicked, and condemn 
 the RighteoiiS be Sih, then it is Sin for you 
 to join with them, for in this you feparate 
 from Faith full Minifiers, and pure Iniiitutions 
 and thereby condemn them as Sinners, and 
 imworthie to be countenanced, and alio 
 you join with unfaithfull Miniiiers, and im- 
 pure liittitutions, which is a justifying of them 
 in all that they have done : And Solomon 
 tells us, He that juftifieth the Wicked, and con- 
 demned the Righteous, are both alike abomi- 
 nable to the Lord. 
 
 2. If Children are to be Puniflied follow- 
 ing theFootfteps of their Snfull Parents, be- 
 caufe fo to do is Sin, then this joining with 
 them is Sin : But this is clear from the Second 
 Commandment, He .-vifiteth the lniquitit s of the 
 Fathers upon the Children of them, that hate him, 
 for breaking of the Commandment is a hating 
 
 of 
 
( w ) 
 
 of God, and where che Children hate GOD, 
 as did their Parents, they are Pimiilied Loth 
 lor their own and then iaren.s Si,.z. 
 
 3. If GoL) Punnn a People for* joining 
 witiuiie Jtving 111 bin, is it not. a Sin and ae- 
 iervetii Puniihment alio to jom with the 
 Minuter in Sin, and this you may lee, 2 Chid. 
 XXXll. 24,25. Hezekiah rendered not ac- 
 cording to t,.e benefit done to bim wherefore 
 Wrath waSup^nhim, and upon ail Ju'daha#<2 
 Jcrufalem : his Sin was Pride 01 Heart in 
 dewing the Ambaifador of the king of 'Ba- 
 bylon all his JTreaiuries, and this brought 
 Wrath and Captivity on the heal Land 
 becaufe they conived at, and joined with 
 him in Sin, and now fpeak out ye joiners 
 with corupt Miniicers in Sin, whether will 
 all their Oaths and back-iteps, and diffemb- 
 lmg to hide tnem ? amount to as great a Sin, 
 as to fhew a Man of another JNation our 
 Treafurc. 
 
 4. If God be to be believed, then thefe 
 that join with corrupt Miniiters in Sin, are 
 guiltie of 1 the Minilter's Sin, and Hull 
 fiiare with him in Punishment, 
 
 But God is to be believed. 
 
 ERGO. 
 
 We prove it from Scripture, Ifa. IX. 6. 
 
 For the Leaders of this 1*eo pie caufes them to 
 
 Err, and they tint are Led of them are defiroyed, 
 
 and if you believe God, this is good plain&ro/x, 
 
 e 2 and 
 
( ) 
 
 and Lam. II. 14. ThyTrophets have not difi 
 
 foverea tejnf Iniquity to turn away thy Captivi- 
 ty, but hanefeen for the Caufes of hanijhment^ 
 Mac. XV. \^ If the Blind lead the "Blind both 
 fall into the ''Ditch: God fays all that, and 
 if you think he fays not true, then yo muft try 
 an experiment. 
 
 Objeft. i. But the\e are hut little Sins. 
 
 yii'jw. Is there any little God? oris there 
 any little Hell ? or is there any of your Souls 
 and Bodies of little Worth f or is there any 
 little ftiort Eternity? 
 
 Obje£t. 2. Tt.ey are hut guilty of that one 
 fPaulf. 
 
 ^Afifw. Will not one Rapper thmft through 
 the Heart kill ? as well as twenty, will not, 
 one lake in the Ship link it^ as well as a 
 Thqufand ? will not one Draught of Poy- 
 fon kill as well as Twentie ? doth not 
 pn dead Fly fpoil the whole Box of Oint- 
 ment? 
 
 * Object. 3. But v:e groan under tlefe Oaths 
 a nd Imp ifitio ris as an I ferny burden . 
 
 ylnfw So does the weak Thief under the 
 heavie Sheep,yethe willnotktit go: left he 
 loie a fat Supper: We are wearied with 
 your groaning, iliake off thy Thief's burden, 
 and let us have left groining, and more honef- 
 ty • if thpufpeakof groaning under fuller- 
 ing, you would fpeakSenfe: But make 
 Senfeofthat to groan under Sin, and yet re* 
 
 fufe 
 
1*7') 
 
 Me to let it go, the beft Senfe that I car* 
 
 make of it is, thou art like that young Mai) 
 that lov'd the World better than Chrift/ and 
 when he faw he could not keep Chrift and the 
 World both, he did with the World as thou 
 doeft with Sin, held it faft left Chrift, and 
 went away forrowf nil, and groaning under 
 k. Thus I have chafed you from one Thiefs 
 Hole to another, and ftill ranged you out of 
 the other alfo, and are you not bonny Com- 
 panions now, where will you fly to. next, 
 fly to Chrift, a refuge from the Wrath of 
 GOD, for ail your Refuges of Lies avail- 
 eth you nothing before the Bar of Man, 
 what then will become of you before the 
 Bar of God? 
 
 14. To you who are God's People, join*, 
 ing and aflifting to fet the Crown upon his 
 Head, in the Day of his Efpoufals, and the 
 Day of the Gladnefs of his Heart, when few 
 did it : I have this to fay to you if you pay 
 your Vows to your God, you fliall be a- 
 mongft the feweft Part, when all that ever 
 took Breath in Adam, fliall ftand in Two 
 Ranks before his great White Throne, but if 
 any Man or Woman draw back, the Lord's 
 Soul ihall abhore you : Mind ay that. 
 
 15. To you that fay you had an Heart to 
 the Work, but at that Time you was under 
 a Temptation, and would not lift up your 
 Hand to God, when God gave fuch a fair 
 
 ppportu- 
 
Opportunity, and a publick Testimony 'was 
 eipecially called for, ift> The lofs of this 
 Opportunity may make you go Mourning to 
 the Grave. 2d, You may be never fee the 
 like with your Eyes. 3d, God may in Jus- 
 tice disappear when you have greateit need. 
 4?/j, Submit to Cnritt as Kang, tho' you re- 
 fufed to fet the Crown on his Head, and be 
 faithfull to his Intereft to the Death, and 
 you fliall yet get the Crown of Life. 
 
 15. To you that fled away that Day and 
 declared you would not have Chriit to be 
 King over you, Repent and Weep bitterly 
 for it, or elfe I affure you it will come to that 
 with you in your ftrait, now am 1 in great 
 diftrefs, for God is departed from me, and an- 
 fwereth me no more, as 1 have done to him, 
 fo hath God done to me, Alas ! that ever I 
 was Born. 
 
 1 5. To all that were Friends to me when 
 I was in Bonds for the hope of Iji'ael, God 
 grant they may find Mercy in that Day: 
 As forthefe that long pretended Kindnefs to 
 me for the Gofpels fake, and forfake me in 
 my hardeft contending for the Truth, 1 pray 
 God it may not be laid to their Charge. 
 
 Read over this Book, laying aiide Preju- 
 dice and Worldly intereft, and you will 
 find the Nature of National Covenanting with 
 God, purged from thefe falfe Notions that 
 are attributed to it, which on the one Hand 
 
 ^offends 
 
offends the Magiftrate, and on the other, mif- 
 informeth the People, and that it binds to 
 the Bible and nothing but the Bible, and 
 that Religion . is not Rebelion, neither for 
 Having of the People, for Chrift's Kingdom is 
 not of this World: and the Lord give yon 
 Understanding in it, and his Bleffing with it> 
 is the Prayer of, 
 
 Tours in the Work of 
 the Gofpel, 
 
 John AdamfonJ 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 CAUSES 
 
 Of a DAY of 
 
 HUMILIATION 
 
 In order to our Renewing our 
 
 COVE WANT 
 
 with GOD. 
 
 WIT 
 
 E d poor Remnant of the Church 
 of C H R I S T in Scotland, ad- 
 y y hcringto Heraslhe was reformed 
 in the Year 1649, in defence of 
 Which Glorious Reformation; many Faithful 
 Minifters and Godly ProfeiTors, now in Glo- 
 ry, have laid down their Lives; and we 
 now a poor Remnant ( becaufe of our Sins ) 
 living both in a Poor Betrayed and Sold 
 Nation, and a Betrayed and Sold Church i 
 B which 
 
( to > 
 
 Which may be com pired to Tan?* Ship falling 
 into a Place where Two Seas met, I mean 
 the Union betwixt the Two Nations where 
 the one Part Hicks faft in the Englifl* Prela- 
 tick Sands, and the other. Part dallied all in 
 pieces by the violent Waves of Tolerations* 
 Patronages, and reiteraced Reformation, and 
 Covenant abjuring Oaths, which are very in- 
 couragingtothe Perfidious and difcouraging 
 to the Faithful, having taken to our Conilder- 
 ation, that the Lord doth not A rrlici willing- 
 ly nor grieve the Children of Men : But that 
 there is a Cauie, and that the Controverfie be- 
 gins ay on our fide, we Rebel and Vex 
 his Holy Spirit, and then he turns to be our 
 Enemy, and lights againft us, /hewing himfelf 
 to be the Great and Terrible GOD, that 
 keepeth Cove nanr and Mercy , Terrible to 
 Covenant-breakers, Merciful to Covenant- 
 keepers, and turning Penitents : And that 
 we nave broken all our Solemn Engagements 
 to GOD, therefore all this evil is come u- 
 pon us; and feeing we have both GOD's 
 Call in his Word, and the example of our Fa- 
 thers in fuch fad Conditions, to return and 
 make afure Covenant with GOD never to 
 be forgotten, and of GOD's Mercy and 
 Gracious Acceptance of them upon their Re- 
 pentance. Therefore, we have fet a -part a 
 Day for Fafting, Humiliation and ConfefT- 
 ipg our Sins unto the Lord, that we may 
 with Loathing and Deteflation put them a- 
 
 iray, 
 
( II ) 
 
 way, in order to the preparing of our Hearts. 
 fo renew our Covenant with GOD, that 
 we may get our Iniquities Pardoned ; and that 
 the Lord may receive us again gracioufly into 
 his Favour, and within the Bond of the Co- 
 venant, and his fatherly Care and Protection, 
 and direct us in going about fo great a Work, 
 and in his good Time reftore again to us the 
 Liberties and Freedom both of Church and 
 Nation, which we have fo Sinfully and Un- 
 worthily loft, and that he would in his great 
 Mercy referve fome, and raife up moe Wit- 
 neffes againft the Sins of the Times, and all 
 the wrongs done to his Intereft, and that the 
 Burning Buih may be preferved until that 
 Time, and that we lifting up our Hearts with 
 our Hands to our GOD in tke Heavens, by 
 Solemn publick Covenanting and Supplicati- 
 on, That the G O D of all Confola tion may 
 think upon us in Mercy that we PeriiK not. 
 
 Amongft the innumerable Sins that wc and 
 the Land are Guilty of, that we are to con- 
 fefs and forfake, and enter into Covenant 
 with GOD to put away, which are Caufes of 
 Repentance and Humiliation,thefe are a Part. 
 
 i. The deceitfulnefs of this Land, in their 
 former Covenanting, they have flattered thee 
 Lord with their Mouth, when their Hearts 
 have not been right with GOD, neither have 
 they been Stedfaft in his Covenant, as appear- 
 eth, by many Breaches of it, fuch as by the 
 unlawful Engagers and universal Refoluti- 
 B 2 oners. 
 

 ( 12 ) 
 
 0ners, 2. By many's returning like the Dog 
 to the Vomit, licking up abjured Prelacie 
 tin and again. 3. By accepting Indulgences 
 &nd Tollerations on Sinful Terms, contrary 
 to thefe Sacred and Solemn Engagments. 4. 
 By this unhappy Union, with a Prelatick 
 Church and Nation ; the poifoncd Source of 
 our Miiery, efpecially as a Church. All 
 Church Directions for Prayers, and Oaths 
 coining from Prelatick Hands, binding under 
 an irnpoiTibility of being a Reformed Pref- 
 byterian Church, as we were Reformed from 
 Popery; and without which, our Churchy 
 pdnftituficm cannot fubfifi. 5. The prefent 
 Breach of it after it was Pvenewed at Tjo-land 
 pill. 6. The Lamentable account that we 
 have, both as to the Renewing and Keeping . 
 of it, at Zduchenfiiugh) w.hich we_ defire to 
 weep over, rather than rehearfe. 
 
 2. The flighting of the Renewing of it 
 at the Revolution, after it had been fo ma- 
 inifeftly broken, neither afTerting the Intrin- 
 
 ' lick Power of the Church, the Imart where 
 of they fadly found afterward. 
 
 3. The .crying Sin of the Saints Blood,* 
 I for adhering to CHRIST, differed 
 
 to pafs unpunillicd ; which, like the Blood of 
 ■ yibel crys for Vcvgeaxce on the Land. 
 
 4. Receiving Perjured Tefced Men to 
 Places of Truft, and many Hundreds of thefe 
 to be Minifters and Elders without Repen- 
 tance, which was rather like a Ridding up a 
 1 '■''■ ' - %zbrt 
 
( 13 ) 
 Sal el of Confufion, then a Pure Temple to 
 the Lord- 
 
 5. The horrid Blafphemons Perjury of ma^ 
 ny, efpecially Nominal Miniftcrs, renouncing 
 again and again the Work of Re formation, 
 and their Covenant with GOD, with ane 
 Oath, faying nay, Swearing we will not have 
 him to Reign over us, which is loathfbme to 
 the Souls, and makes the Hearts of the Lord's 
 People to tremble,- and both their Ears to 
 fmgie, at fuch abominable unparalelled wick- 
 edneis, committed in the Houfe of G O D, 
 to make him go far from his Sanctuary : Be 
 aitoniihed O ye Heavens at this, and be ye 
 horribly afraid ! 
 
 6. The Klindnefs and Lamentable Igno- 
 rance of many, That knows nor that Epifo> 
 pacywas received into the Houfe of GOD, 
 in the Years 171 2 and 1713, and again and 
 again, ftrongly Fortified, by the fe multiplied 
 and reiterated TreshyUrian overthrowing, 
 Church of En land Eilabliihing Oaths. 2. 
 The Deferrable abjured curied indifference, 
 ^Neutrality and Lukemarmnefs of many o- 
 thers-, that carethnot if they can keep the 
 Swine tho' C H R IS T be both befought and 
 abjured out of our Coafts. 
 
 7. The Church Renting and Betraying 
 Courfes, that many take putting on a Form 
 of Godlinefs, and denying the Power of it, 
 taking unlawful Oaths, and promifes of Peo- 
 ple, and binding them up inFa&ions to them- 
 
 felves, 
 
( 14 ) 
 felves, and Baptizing them to them felves* 
 which fome call a coming up to our Tcfti- 
 mony, and others ait imbodying, and many 
 Back-fteps and Fore-fteps they take ; by fe- 
 cret Connivencies, with one another; and 
 alfo, with the open Enemy {training at Gnats, 
 £rid fwallowing Camels, painted Hypocrites 
 fearching for Moats in their Neighbours Eye, 
 and never caft out the Beam that is in their 
 pwn Eye. 
 
 8. The Admirable unftedfaftnefs of many 
 wandering from Opinion to Opinion, grofly 
 Ignorant of what is Right or Wrong, and 
 yet f welling in Pside as if all mould be Rul- 
 ed by them, Condemning to Hell the Day 
 what they cryed up to Heaven the laft Day, 
 and the 3d Day Juftifying what the laft Day, 
 they condemned > like a Tree when Young, 
 got a wafTof the Wind of Error, that hath 
 fo lhaken it at the Root that it never thrives 
 again, wandring Stars, for whom we may 
 fear, for them is referved the Blacknefs of 
 Darknefsfor ever. 
 
 9. TheDeteftable cowardice of many Pro- 
 feffors, the Sound of a making leaf chafeth 
 them and they flee, when none purfueth, for 
 fear of Worldly Lofs; and the LOR Din 
 his Juftice, when they flee from a Bear makes 
 a Lyon to meet them, declaring they will fol- 
 low CHRIST for Loaves in a Fair Day, 
 but follow him forhimfeli in a Foul Day, that 
 they will not do, 
 
 10 The 
 
C H ) 
 
 to. The Woful wordlymindednefs of ma* 
 ny minding their own Things, and not the 
 Things of JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 ii. The horrid Pride and Lazinefs of ma- 
 ny Profeffors, their great Deilgn is to 
 appear more than others, rather than to do 
 more than others. 
 
 12. The hidden Deceit of the Heart frill 
 appearing on new Occafions, Deceiving one 
 another, fo that we can pnt no Trult in a 
 Friend, nor Confidence in a Guide or a Bro- 
 ther, for they will fupplant, and then forfake, 
 and falfly Slander when they have done. 
 
 13. That we are given more to Difpute 
 about Religion, than to pra£tice it, or know 
 it in its Heart converting, and Soul transform- 
 ing Power ; rather to fpeak to it as a piece of 
 Theory or Speculative Knowledge, which 
 our Fathers did Swear unto, and fuffered for, 
 then Sworn to, and flood by, by our felves. 
 But, as we would not be tryfted with a Specu- 
 lative Heaven, and poiTefs it only by proxies, 
 the Late practical Reforming Sufferers, let 
 us in good Earneft and Serious Sobernefs 
 Humble our felves before the LORD, Re- 
 new our Covenant with him, and fuffer for it, 
 if we be called to it, as they did, that we may 
 be Glorified as they are. 
 
 Secondly, As we are guilty of thefe, and 
 innumerable Sins, fo there are many fore 
 aud heavy Judgements lying upon us, fuch as 
 theSovcraignityofthe Nation is gone, and 
 
 alfo 
 
r is ) „ 
 
 alfo the Priviledge, of the Church, l\6w we 
 can be called ncither,but poor Servants to our 
 Neighbours ; the good Land which the Lord 
 gave to our Fathers for an Inheritance. 2. 
 The Purity in Plenty and Power of Ordinan* 
 ces are gone, becaufe we have hated Inftrtic- 
 tion, we feek the Lord but do not find him. 
 3. The Church is driven to the Wildernefs, 
 and the Initruments of unrighteoufnefs waging 
 War with them that keep the Commandments 
 Of GOD , and the Teitimony 'of J E S U S. 
 Therefore, let us prefent our Souls and Bo- 
 dies as well as our earneit Supplications, to 
 the God pf -Mercy, through the bleffed Media- 
 tor of the I\'ew Covenant, and renew our 
 Broken Covenant with him, forfaking all 
 our Iniquities, and taking the Lord alone,- 
 to be our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King, 
 and our Saviour, that ever after -we may 
 Pray in faith, Lord we are thine fave thou 
 us, who knows but the Cloud of ane Hand 
 breadth may cover the Heavens, and the 
 Lord may fend a plentiful Kainof pure Got. 
 pel Ordinances, Grace and Favour, and if 
 not fuddenly then let us wait and bear the In- 
 dignation of the Lord, becaufe we have fin- 
 ned againft him, untill he arife and Plead our 
 Caufe, and to beg of GOD that he would 
 make King and Pullers nurfing Fathers to 
 his Church, and that in this Difrnal Time of 
 the falling of the Stars, he would keep 
 fome of them- in his Right Hand, give others 
 
 of 
 
 ' 
 
( *7 ) 
 bf them repentance, and caft the obiririafe 
 bbdured Impenitent out of his Houfe, andn6t 
 leave himfelf without a Witnefs at this 1 mt 7 
 that the Lord may prepare our Hearts for Cd- 
 venanting with him, and not deny convert- 
 ing Power in Ordinances, and that you may 
 know what we are to engage to, Rad over 
 the National Covenant, and Solemn league, 
 Confeflions of Sins and Engagements to Du- 
 ties, and know that the Covenants are not 
 a thing Indifferent, nor yet different from 
 the Bible, but a Solemn Oath, to Serve and 
 WorihipGOD according to his Word, A eh. 
 X. 29, Prelacy and Popery are abjured, be- 
 caufe condemned in the Word of GOD, {6 
 of Indifference in the Matters ofGOD, and 
 we engage to give Csjar his Due, andQOJ) 
 fiis, becaufe lb the Word commandeth us, 
 andfo wepromifeinour Engagment toDtp 
 
 Let Us fetarx>ut this great Work, in the? 
 Strength of CHRIST, with all the Heart di- 
 ligent Preparation and Prayer, and firong Ex-f 
 Reflation of Mercy, this is the great Gofpel 
 encouragement, with him there is Mercy and 
 plenteous Redemption, to redeem from all I- 
 iriquity -, much Luck is going about his Hancfr, 
 and he will not diffapoint the Expectation of 
 the Poof, and if the L O R £) fee our Works, 
 that we turn from the evil of our Way he 
 will turn from the evil he hath threatned to 
 
do, and not do it ; Remove the Judgments 
 lying upon us, blot out all our Iniquities, and 
 beftow upon us all thefe faving Bleffings, 
 that our Souls* Churchy and Nation Hand in 
 need of, that we being the Bleffed that Weep 
 now, and ftiall be Comforted, and that we 
 may be helped to diligence, in the Work 
 of our Station, Generation and Salvation, 
 having made our Vows we may each Day 
 perform them. 
 
 laUdMBCta 
 
 A PRE- 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 $$$&&$&&$&&$$&$$$ 
 
 ««&««®&®#®#« 
 
 A 
 
 -PREFACE. 
 
 WE are met together this Day, to Humble 
 our felves before the LORD, for 
 all our Abominations, and efpecially 
 for perfidy and breach of Covenant with 
 GOD, andwoiildto GOD there may be 
 as happy ; yea, and more happy an account of 
 this Fait, amongft us Troteflants, as there 
 was of that Fall amongft Poor Heathens, 
 Jonah III icv jAnd G OT> faw their 
 Works that they turned from the Evil of their 
 WaySj and GOT) repented of the Evil he faid 
 he would do to them, and he did it not.. Mark 
 it Sirs, 'tis not laid when he faw their Profefik 
 on, or Three Days Falling that he repented, 
 no, but it is when he faw their Works. Friends 
 GOD cares not for your Dyver Formal 
 Fails, Ifa. LVIII. 5. Is it fuch a Faft that I 
 have chofen a T)ay for a Man to Afflict his 
 Soul, is it to bow down his Head like a 7$ml- 
 rujhy and like a Bullrulh hang down its Head 
 
 when 
 
f 20 ) 
 
 when it is preffed with Rain, to feek GOD 
 only like thete Hypocrites, Pfal LXXVIII. 
 
 34,. When he flew them, then they [ought ' him y 
 but they flattered him with their Mouth, and 
 l'yed with their Tongues to him, for tho* their 
 Words were good their Hearts was not right 
 with GOD, neithef were they ftedfaft in 
 his Covenant, to be a Temporizer like the 
 Bu]lruih, to bow its Head to all the opppfye 
 joints of tjie Compafs, according as the Wjnd 
 of Temptation blows, from contrary Airts, 
 or is it a Fait to be feen of Men, like the Pha- 
 risees' ; though it may be faid of them thefe are 
 a very Godly People, no GOD will have 
 Works and turning from Sin, when GOD 
 faw their Works he repented of the E vil that 
 he thought to do to them, and did it not : And 
 there are thefe Four Sorts of Sins I advife you 
 all to turn from. 
 
 1 . Turn from the Sin of Prophamty con- 
 fiding in grofs A'&sof Wkkednefs, fuch as 
 are recorded 1 Cor. VI. 9, 10. Know ye not 
 that the unrighteous Jhail not Inherit the fiing- 
 dom of GOT) t "Be not deceived, neither For- 
 nicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Ef- 
 feminate, nor abufers of themfehes with Man- 
 kind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor drunk- 
 ards, nor RevilerSy nor Extortioners Jhall in- 
 herit the Kingdom of GOT). It will be when 
 GOD feeth your Works, that ye turn from 
 thefe, and the like Abominations that he will 
 turn from the Evil he thought to do to us, and 
 
 not 
 
( ** ) 
 
 not do it. Another Sin of Prophanity that we 
 mu it turn from, is the Sin of felling our Birth- 
 Right, mark it People of GOD, that GOD 
 whom ye profefs to be your GOD, calls fel- 
 lers of their Birth-Rights Prophanc Perfons. 
 Hebr XII. 15,16. Looking Diligently, left any 
 of you fail of the Grace of GOD, left there be any 
 tpropbane "Per Jon Among ft you as Efau, v:bo 
 for one morftll of Meat fold bis "Birth-Right. 
 Mark now Sirs Selling of the Birth-Right is 
 the firit nepof Apoftacie, Efau played the A- 
 poftate from GOD, and failed of the Grace 
 of GOD, how did he that r Alas I Pro- 
 phane Man he fold his Birth-Right, but what 
 did Efau fell when he Sold his Birch-Right? 
 Mark Sirs, the fame that Scotland ham Sold, 
 with which Scotland began its Apoitary, as 
 Efau did. 1 . Efau Sold his Birth-Right, that 
 is the Government which belonged then to 
 the Firit Born, he Sold it to jfacob the young- 
 er Brother, fo hath Scotland the oldett Moiv- 
 archie upon Earth, that ever was, older than 
 the . Babylonians, older than the Perfians, 
 older than the Empriars, older than the 
 Monarchic oilfrael it feif, older thanEngland 
 to whom we have Sold our Birthright and 
 that fsix no lefs than the Space of One Thou* 
 fand one hundred and thirty one Years. 2dly 9 
 Efau fold his Birth-Right that is the Miniflrie 
 cr Priefthood, for then there was no Nati- 
 onal Church, but the Priefthood came by 
 Birth-Right i this he fold with the Birth-Right* 
 
 and 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 and therefore was a Prophane Perfon, fo hatft 
 Scotland fold the Miniitrie Scotland's Birth- 
 Right to the Prelats of England, by fun en- 
 dering to, and puting the Governments in 
 their Hands; iq that now they muft under 
 pain of Rebellion, Pray, and Swear, keep 
 Fail-Days and Thankfgiving-Days, devifed 
 by, and with the Authority of the Lordly Pre- 
 lats of Englandy for all thefe Oaths and Orders 
 came to the fo called "Presbyterian Church of 
 Scotland ; be it ena&ed by — —the Advice q{ 
 the Lords Spiritual and alfo by their Authork 
 ty that f uch things be done and fuch Oaths be 
 Sworn, and the Minifters obeys, and Swears, 
 and I appeal to all who have the ufe of Rea* 
 fon who Governs, and bears Rule over the 
 Kirk of Scotland, is it not the Lords Spirit* 
 ual t enforcing fuch Things by their Autho- 
 rity, and who obeys thefe 16 Bifhops, is it 
 not thefe that call themfelves "Presbyterian Mi- 
 nifters, in Scotland? Strange! "Presbyterians 
 ruled by outlandifh Bifhops. >Tis evcncontra- 
 dido in ^er minis : Yea, Perjury in the formal 
 Notion thereof, feeing the Presbyterians in 
 Scotland, Sware to GOD in the National Co-* 
 venant that the civil Places of Church Men 
 was unlawful, and in the fecond Article of the 
 Solemn League, that they would extirpate 
 Popery and Prelacy, and the Government 
 of the Church by Bifhops, Sec. 3. Efau's 
 Birth-Right that he fold was part of his Co- 
 venant with GOD, which as it took in the 
 Priefthood was like GOD's Covenant with 
 
 Levi 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 jLt'vi, Mai. II. 5. My Covenant was with 
 him of Life and Teace, So 'tis Scotland's 
 Birth-Right to have a Minifterial Covenant 
 with GOD, of Life and Peace, profainly 
 fold at this Day. 4. As Efau in felling hisBirth- 
 Right was Prophane in that he fealed and con- 
 firmed the Seal thereof with an Oath. Gen. 25. 
 34. Efau Swore to Jacob, and went to Eat and 
 T>rink, living on too dear bought Food, the 
 Price of Government both Civil and Ecclefi- 
 aftical, the Price of G CD's Covenant with 
 him, of Life and Peace, fo have the Minifters 
 of Scotland fworn- away their Birth-Right to' 
 the Biftiops o{ England, who forc'd them to 
 fwear to them. 5. Efau's Prophanity appeared 
 in this, that he fold fnch a precious Birth- 
 Right for fnch a bafe, or infignificant Equiva- 
 lent as a morfel of Meat, fo Scotland putting 
 too high aft efteem on the Equivalent, that 
 England offered them, either what England 
 had taken from them at the Africa Trade, or 
 what they gave them for their lofs of fo much 
 
 I by the change of their Coin, it was a bafe E- 
 quivalent that Scotland fhould have fold, re- 
 nounced,put away, Things both Sacred and 0* 
 vil of Soul and Bodie, for a part, and fo in- 
 fignificant a Part of what was their own, 
 CHR 1ST bought Scotland dearer than fo: 
 Turn then from thefe fins of Prophanity, O 
 Covenanters, for your Part. 
 I A 2d Sin ye would turn from,before ye enter 
 Ira Covenant with GOD, i* the fin of Hypo-- 
 
 crifie 
 
.( 24 ) 
 crifie; how long O Scotland will you belike k 
 whitted Sepulcher, fair without, but within 
 full of Extortion and Filthinefs, Mat. XXIII. 
 
 24. How long Jh all this be t by -weary Conditi- 
 on. Tit. I 16. 'Profejjjngye know G07D, but 
 in works denying him, being abominable and dis- 
 obedient, and to e-very good work Repro* 
 bate< 
 
 3 Turn from finf ul fear of Man, the Sin 
 of 'Scotland, in this degenerate Age, which it 
 was not of old fo guilty of, keep a Confci- 
 eace void of offence toward Man, but have 
 not a flavi/h Fear of Man* or elfe fee how 
 youwillanfwerthat Queitioii, If*. LI. 12. 
 Who art thou that art afraid of Man, that muft 
 T>ie, andforgetejl the LO R : D thy maker- Ifej 
 VIII. 12. Fear not their F(ar, butfantlifie 
 the LordofHojls, and let him be your, fear, and 
 bejhdll be to you a Sanctuary : If you by the 
 fear of Man be forced to Sin, then I- give you 
 fair warning by the Power of GOD, you 
 ihall not only be forced to torment, but ihall 
 be among the firft Rank and forlorn Hope to 
 Hell: Rev. XXl 8. 'But the Fearful and Un- 
 believing, and Abominable, and Murderers^ 
 and Whoremongers.- and Sorcerers, and Idola- 
 ters, and all Lyersjhall home their Tart in the 
 Lake that bnmeth with .Fire and Brimftone.' 
 Mark it Sirs, there's a Black Scroll of Hell, 
 but the uglieft of them all the forlorn Hope, 
 are the fearful, the Minifter fears the Biftiop, 
 and he Swears, the Parochincr the Miniiter' 
 
 and 
 
( *5 ) 
 and he Apoftolizeth, the Tenant, theMaflcr; 
 and give* over the Caufe of CHRIST; 
 and trie weary hinderend of all is ; the Spi- 
 rit of G O D fends them a packing as the ford- 
 lorn hope to Hell. 
 
 4. Turn from the Sin of Time Serving, O 
 thou unliable A thie ft I that knows not what 
 Religion thou wilt be of, the next Year 
 becaufe the Ads of the next years Parlia- 
 ment, are known to none but GOD, on 
 which your Religion Depends, nor what 
 fort of an Oath True or Falfe, ye will 
 Swear the next Year, becaufe the Court hath 
 not told you neither knows any but GOD 
 who ihall be the Impofer, but we know, that 
 ye ftiallCurfe the Impofer, and be driven to 
 Darknefs, Ifa. VIII 21, 22; Curfe your King, 
 who Commanded as a G O D, becaufe he 
 could not Save like a GOD, fo much for 
 what ye are to turn from, and leave undone. 
 
 2. Let fee your Works what you do, to root 
 Sin out of the Heart and Conveffatiofi, what 
 ye do to hold ftill a departing Chrift, what 
 ye do to oppofe the apoiracy of theTimes,wh2t 
 youdoto get Reformation again in theLand, 
 what you do to loofe the bonds of wicked- 
 nefs, whereby every Faction are bound up 
 by themfelves and from all others, what 
 you do to get the Heart, prepared, to make 
 a Bond of Holinefs, a healing and a joyning 
 Bond joyning to GOD and pne another, in 
 Renewing the broken Covenant, that we 
 D have 
 
( 26 ) 
 have bf bken with GOD and one, Another, 
 Jeremiah. L. 4. 5. At that time the Chil- 
 dren of Ifmel JhaJl come, they and the Chil- 
 dren of Judah together faying come let us 
 Joyn our felves to the Lord in a perpetual 
 Covenant never to be forgotten. If the Lord 
 fee fuch works as thefe, he will turn from 
 the evil that he thought to do to us, and 
 will not do it.- 
 
 That you may be Directed in the Right, 
 and acceptable . Manner of going about 
 this work of fafting and Repentance, and 
 Humiliation before your, Solemn entring 
 into and Renewing your Covenant with 
 God, I ihall, i/fhowyou what fort of fafting 
 and Humiliation the Lord will rejedfc 2. 
 What fort of fafting and Humiliation he 
 will not reject, O Sirs, take heed, there is 
 Life and Death here, a Heaven and a Hell, 
 here, Depending on the Lords Rejecting 
 or accepting of your work . Abel was a 
 faved Saint when God had refpe£t to him, 
 and to his Offering, Cain was a loft wretch, 
 when to Cain, and to his Offering- the Lord 
 had no Refpetl. Therefore. 
 
 1. The Lord Rejecls all fafts kept for 
 the fafliion and after Oftenration to faft for 
 the faflion,. becaufe other Men do it, when 
 a Day doth call for feafting and rejoycing 
 and giving thanks and Praifes to God, as 
 Mark, 2. 18. 19. 20. And the DifeifJeS 
 of John and of the Thdrifes ttfed to faft and 
 
 they 
 
( 2 7 ) 
 
 7 came to Jefus and J aid to him, why do 
 the Tjifciples' of John and of the Thar: 
 jjkjt i And thy T)ifciples faft hot, J ejus faith 
 to them, can the Children, of the "Bride. Chart* 
 her faft while the "Bridgrom is with them, a: 
 Long^ as they have the bride-grome they cannot 
 faft it is Qut of Seafon, hut the 'Days will 
 come when the Bride-grome Jhall hi taken 
 from them, then Jhall they faft in thofe T)ays. 
 John's T>ifciples faded bccaufe John was 
 not Chrift, and being Neceffarly employed 
 about John's. Hand, did want the enjoy- 
 ment of the bodily preferice of God, In- 
 carnat, the Pharifees failed out of faflion, and 
 Oftcntation, a pack of Godlefs gracelefs 
 Hypocrites, and alas we faft this day be- 
 came our Covenant with the bleffed Brid- 
 grom, is Rent, Broken and Burnt, and many 
 dear Saints who had given up their Names, 
 to him fent to their Graves in a Bloody 
 winding flieet, and becaufe the Bridgrom is 
 going away, from us, and the purity of ordi- 
 nances away, he hath taken his Leave of 
 many of our Matters and Chaplands^ and 
 is now faying to us, Poor Servants, I take 
 my leave of you, and we faft to fee if we 
 can hold him, Luke XXIV. He made us as 
 if he would have gone further but they 
 conftraincd him, faying abide with us j Not 
 fpr oitentationas the Pharifes, Mat. XXIII. 
 $ AH they Did was to be feen of Men. 
 2. He rejects all meritorious fafts whereby 
 D 2 fratfj? 
 
( 28 ) 
 Proud Men thinks to merit any thing at 
 his Hand, Like Papifls for the work done, 
 wherefore have we fafted fay they, and 
 thou fecit not Ifa. LVI1L 3. Wherefore 
 hare we afflicted our Souls, and thou takeft 
 iio knowledge, they fpake as if GOD, 
 would not give them the Good they Meri- 
 ted by their fait, but all our Kighteoufneffes 
 are as filthy &aggs, 3. He rejecteth a Fail: 
 the Prayers whereof arc diredted againftthe 
 People of GOD. Ijh, L VIII. 4. Te Faftfor 
 fir if e and debate and to prate with the Fiji 
 of wickednefs fuch a Fajt was that 1. Kings 
 XXI. 9. 1 3. Jezabcl Troclaimed a Baft ago,- 
 injl Go dly Nabqth, jet Nahoth on High among 
 tU Teofle and Raife falfe wrtneffes • againft 
 him, faying this Man hlafphamed GOT) and 
 the King, and ft one him tyitb Stones thxt he 
 23y, fuch Falls are kept by fome Here-ticks 
 m Scotland especially at Aflcmblies and 
 pqmmtiHons where they begin withFafting, 
 and end with Supplicating the King a- 
 gairift the People of GOD, Lying upon us, 
 and faying we are not fo loyal to him, 
 wiien we are more Loyal than themfelves, 
 4,: He rejefteth a Fail only for a day, on 
 which no amendement followeth, Ija. LVIII. 
 5- fi h fitch Q> Faft that I haw chofen a day 
 jor a Man to affliti his Soul fuch a Fa ft wai 
 Ahabs, 1. Kings XXL 29. Sceft thou how 
 Ahab humbleth hi [mfe If and yetnofooner is the 
 pafl: day qver, in the very next Chapter 1. 
 
 King. 
 
( 2 9 ) 
 Kivg. XXII. 29. B»t he is at the old pradc-of 
 Perfecution again, and lays, of Micajah take 
 this fellow and caft him in Prifon, for he 
 fays that I will fall at Ratnotb Gzkad, be- 
 caufe I Killed Naboth and will not reftore 
 his Vineyard and Rebuke Jczakel the 
 Queen, 5. He rejedeth all Fafts and duties 
 but of Chrift, Epb. I. 6. We are only accep- 
 ted in the helmed, our Perfons, muft be ac- 
 cepted in Chrift before our Prayers be taken 
 of our Hand. 
 
 2. The Fa ft that the Lord accepeth is, ijff, 
 ToloofetheHandsof wickednefs, and let the 
 oppreffed go free to break the Covenant 
 with Death, and Hell, break the Oaths that 
 bind to fuperftition againft the word of GOD 
 and our Covenant Engagements, to him If a. 
 LV11I. 6. Break thefe Oaths and Promifes, that 
 Societes witlefly, Graceleily, wickedly, & Ma- 
 iicioitfly have made in contempt of GOD> 
 a nd hisWoid, and againft the Doftrine pf 
 Reformed, Churches, wherein fome fwe a r to 
 caft of Duty to the Magiftrat in things Lawful 
 and Civel, 8t Ignorantly fay they wonld obey 
 Lawful Magistrates, whereas the Confeflion 
 of Faith which they oun, faith a Magiftrate 
 may be Lawful; tho' differing, from them 
 in "Religion, Chapter, XXIII. DifTernce 
 in Religion does not make void, the Magi- 
 strates Juft and Legal Title ; nor loufe the 
 fubjcfls from their due Obedience to him, and 
 others make Men to promife not to hear the 
 Pure Goifel Preached, becaufeof perfonal 
 
 Pick, 
 
 4 
 
( 30 ) 
 Pick, to fay no worfe, or otherwife they mult 
 have no Church Benefite. 2. To undo ilea* 
 vy "Burdens, Ifa. LVI1L 6. So that Mailers 
 of Grounds and Families mult not opprefs 
 their Tennants, or Servants; nor Magiftrates 
 ppprefs Minifiers with Dark and Dubious 
 Oaths ; nor Minifiers by perfwading and com- 
 pelling People to comply with them, in fuch' 
 linfull Courier, under pain of Excomunicati- 
 ons leffer or greater. 3. To get a Heart 
 broken of from Sin and for Sin. Joel II. 
 j 2, 13. Turn to me with Fatting, and rent thy 
 Heart, and not thy Garment, Ifa. LVIII. 8. 
 Then Jbatl thy light fpring upfuddenly, and thy 
 Righteoufnejs /ball go before tbte \ and the Glo- 
 ry of the Lordjhalibe thy R.ere-ward, and we 
 (hall have a fweet Day of Covenanting with 
 GOD. 
 
 Let us put up, Joynt Supplications to 
 GOD, that we may be helped to a Failing 
 Repenting Frame. 
 
 Jl— iX-4V->™ 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 LECTURE. 
 
 ,Ifa. XXII. 4 } 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, n, 12, 13, 14. 
 
 And therefore j aid I, look away from me, I 
 will weep bitterly j labour not to comfort me ; 
 lecaufe of the f polling of the "Daughter of my 
 T? eo pie. For it is a Day of "Trouble, and of 
 trading down, and of 'Perplexity by the 
 LORD GOD oj 'bofts in the Valley of 
 Vijion, breaking down the Walls, and of 
 crying to the Mountains, &c. 
 
 I8RA.EL.w3ls averyimful People and 
 therefore often a Very Diltreffed People, 
 Men are no better of hearing theGofpel, 
 unlcfs their . Converfation be as becometh the 
 Gofpel: Becaufe Sentence is not fpeedily 
 Execute againft ane evil Work .* therefore 
 the Hearts of the Children 01 Men ceafe not 
 to do continually evil, but as Men have their; 
 ' Time of Sinning •, fo GOD hath his Time of 
 Punifhing. 'Tis vain for Abjurers of their Co- 
 venant With GOD, to think becaufe GOD 
 hath not yet Puniflied them ; therefore he will 
 never do it. Wait but a Tittle till his Time 
 come. A Murderer, or Malafa£tor is riot 
 prefently Hanged, but wait a little till he be 
 
Apprehended, caft in Prifon, the Judge fit on 
 him, and the Crime proven, and the Sentence 
 pad, and put in Execution, fo the Lord muft 
 apprehend by Death, and a guilty Confcience, 
 they mult be call in Prifon of a Death-Bed, 
 and the Grave Panneled, the Crime Proven, 
 and the Sentence pa ft, and put in Execution 
 for the Judgment Day is then come, GOD 
 hath his Time fet to puniih. 
 
 In thefe Words Read, we have the Holy 
 Prophets doleful Lamentation, becaufe the 
 Time was come when the Lord had inflifled 
 the Puniihment due to Jfrael for their Sin 
 upon them, therefore faid I, look away from 
 me, I will Weep bitterly ; obferve from it, 
 that Shame and Puni/hment go Hand in Hand, 
 Oh faith the Prophet ! I think /hame to fet my 
 Head out of Doors, you have lived in a Land 
 that hath la viihed away fo many mercies and 
 brought on much Mifery on themfelves, the 
 Church of Scotland as long as GODforbears to 
 puniih, may wipe her Mouth with the Whor- 
 iili Woman, and fay, I am Innocent, but Hay 
 till the LORD bring on the Puniihment, 
 and then they will think /hame to befeen, 
 turn away from me, fy ihame on us^ how 
 would we have Reformed t and brought a 
 Church out of "Babylon, you Blind Guids 
 have fo deformed it, that we are next Door 
 to the Gates of Rome with it. 
 
 uQbf. 2. It is very Heart-breaking to the 
 Godly efpecialiy Godly Minifters, when 
 
 they 
 
( 33 ) 
 they fee the Judgments come on a finfu] Peo- 
 ple that they often told them their Sins would 
 bring on: Oh Sirs ! ye miftake us, as if we 
 Jiad ill Will at you, when we tell ybtt 
 there is fad Days coming on you for all 
 your Sins, and the abounding Perjury, and 
 Apoftacy of this Day, no; we will not only 
 Mourn, and have fore Hearts, as Tfdi'nh when 
 we fee the Judgments come, of which we 
 have forwarned you, but with Jeremiah our 
 Heart is broken for your difobedient Obftt- 
 nacie, and Impenitency, even before, the 
 Judgment come, Jer . XIII. 1 5, 1 6yi 7. Hear 
 ye Troud, giue Glory to the Lord your God be- 
 fore he cauje Darknefs, before your Feet flumbie 
 'on the dark Mountains, and while ye look for 
 Light ye find none, but he turn it unto the Sha- 
 dow of "Death, and make it grefs Darkntjf 
 And if ye will nothea v , mySoulfholi Weep in 
 fecretTlacesforyourTride. JerilX; t.tythdp 
 my Head were Waters, and wine Eyes a Foun- 
 tain of "Tears, that 1 might weep T>ay and 
 Night for the Slain of the TJai/ghters of myTeo- 
 ■fle : This was the Caufe of our L OR D J s 
 Weeping over Jerufalem, Luke XIX. 41, 42. 
 She minded not in her Day the Things that be- 
 longs to her Teace, but killed the Trophets Re- 
 jefted and Crucified the Son of G 07>, till her 
 Knemies laid her low even with the T)v.fi, our 
 mifguiding of pure Ordinances and privi- 
 ledges, makes us this Day Mourn over the 
 Graves of thefe buried Priviledges. 
 
 E Becaufe 
 
< 34 ) 
 
 Becauic of the fpoilingof my people. Obs: 
 3d that when the LORD'S People turns 
 Incorrigible in fin 5 and will not take war- 
 ning, the LORD delivers them up for a 
 fpoil, and a prey to Enemies, Ifa. 42. 24 25. 
 fabo gave Jacob for a fpoil and Jfrael to the 
 Robbers, did not the LORD, HE againjl 
 ipbowe we had finned, for they -mould not walk 
 in his ways, therefore he hath pound on them the 
 'Bury of his Anger, and the ftre?igih of "Battle 
 md it hath Jit him on fire round about yet he 
 knew it not, and it burred him, yet he laid it 
 mi to heart, Jen 5. 3. Thou cor, fmtd them, yet 
 they received no CorreCxion never amends 
 till Judgement come. And when it is come 
 do as Antichriftians, gnawed their Tongues 
 for Pain, and repented not, but blaiphemed 
 him that had Power, over thefe Plagues, 
 we are this Day fpoiled of our Priviledges- 
 both civil Sr facrecl, this fays, we have been 
 an obftinate People, and we do not amend 
 Nor lay it to Heart, we may take up that 
 Lamentation, Sam. V. \6. The Crown is 
 fallen from our Head, wo to us for we have fitfr 
 
 In verfe 5. He further enlargeth on the 
 growls of weeping, for it is a day of Trouble 
 i the Lord of Hofis, in the valley of 
 Villon, of breaking down the Walls, U crying 
 to the Mountains; by Valley of Vifion un- 
 derhand the Church, became there the Lord j 
 Reveals himlelf to his People; By Trouble I 
 
 XJnderfland 
 
( 35 ) 
 Uunderfland all Sorts, of Judgments, and 
 Calamities on the Sinfull Nation and the 
 great trouble and difficulty a few faithful! 
 Miniiters have, to get the Gofpel and 
 a Teftimony Keeped up againft the abo- 
 minations and Innovations, of the times by 
 breaking down the walJs, we underitand 
 the taking away of the Hedge of Gover- 
 nment from the Church or protection of GOD 
 from Church or Nation, and by crying to 
 Mountains crying in vain to great men, not 
 to break the hedge of Goverment, Obs. i. 
 That tho, by fin we procure trouble, yet we 
 are to take it out of the hand of GOD as a 
 RfeKJK>us Judge, its perplexity from the 
 LORD of holts, we need not fay it is men 
 that have wronged us, as to our civill and 
 facred priviledges, It is the Juft doing of 
 the Lord, of Holts, Amos III. 6. Can there, 
 be a»y rvill in the City, and the Lord hath 
 not done it, of the evillof Sin there is, but 
 not of the evill of punifhment, Lam. I. $. 
 Her Enemies are the Chief her Aduerjarks 
 prof per, for the Lord hath afflitted her, for ' 
 the Multitude of her Tranfgrejjions, Lam. II. 2. 
 'The LORD hath overthrown in his wrath 
 thejfrong holds oft he T)augoter of yudah, he ' 
 hath brought them down to the Ground, he hath 
 polluted the Kingdom and the "Princes thereof. 
 Obs. 2. The Lord will not keep up a hedge I 
 abjut a Vineyard, nor protection about a<\ 
 Caurch 01 Nation, which anfwers not the 
 
 Pains' 
 
C 3* ). 
 
 'fains that is taken upon it, Scotland may 
 read this day their Sin, in their puniihment 
 in this. Ila. V. 4, The. Lord homing Ticnt- 
 td an Hedge about his Vineyard in fie ad of. 
 Grapes it brought forth Wild Graf es, in Head 
 of Reformation Deformation, m ftead of' 
 tlplinefs Sin, fays I will take away the 
 Hedge thereof, and it fliall be eaten up and 
 troclendown, iYead a Le&nre of Scotlandsiin, 
 in Scotlands pnniiliment, the hedge of civil 
 Protection taken from the Church in the 
 Toleration A£i, the Words are, hereby, all 
 Magistrates are. ftrickly Prohibit and Dii- 
 eharged, to help this Church in piirfuing 
 any Crime whatsoever, againft any Perfon 
 tho/ the Crime Deferve Excomunication, 
 and from forcing, any Perfon, to obey the 
 £etenceof the Kirk, when palled, and this is 
 a fad Evidence that for Sin GOD hath 
 taken, his Protection from them, and every 
 one at home, and abroad, eating up thofe 
 in whom any Sign of Koneily, appears, and 
 1 will command the Clouds thai they Kain 
 ftp more B..ain upon, it, I will not allow 
 faithitill Mitufters, who are called Cjov.ds, 
 and their Doctrine dew, to fpend their f;re: gth 
 in Watering them with iv/eet, Gofpel 
 ihowres, ,who_are a Vineyard that Calls up 
 
 ling but Poyibn. Deut. XXXII 33 
 For ti.cir ^yint is of the Vine, of $ochmi 
 
 e jielilofGc . . 
 
 of (i$U, ihik i art "* litter, their 
 
 Wine. 
 
 
( 37 ) 
 Wine is the poyfon of Dragons, and the 
 cruel venom of Alps, then faith the LOBlD to 
 me belongeth Vengeance, and their Feet ihall 
 Slide in due time, for the day of their cala- 
 mity is at Hand. 
 
 And then there is a crying to the Moun- 
 tains, when the wall of Go verment is break- 
 ing down-, to great Men called Mountains in 
 •Scripture, Micah. 6. i. contend ye before the 
 Mountains, and let the Hills hear thy voice, 
 that is the great Men, fo was it with the 
 Church, of Scotland, when they fent down 
 orders for Patronages, and for taking the 
 Protedion , from the Church, then many 
 Cry : O Madam •, O Sir O Mountains, and 
 Powers of Brittain, let our Church G&i'ctw 
 ment (land, take not away the Hedge of 
 civil Government from our Vineyard, but 
 all in, vain, for GOD will have it away, 
 I will take away the Hedge from the 
 Poyfonous, Vineyard, for their Wine is the 
 Poyfon of .Dragons, and the Cruel Vencm 
 of Alps, and if not the next Cry is, O 
 Mountains ! O Madam ! O Sir ! If you 
 take away the Hedge, be not fo ill as you 
 may be, Do not make us Perjure our felves, 
 to Swear to pluck the Hed^e with 
 
 our Hand, tofwearto Maintain the prelaiick 
 Government:, which we have Sworn again & 
 again to extirpat to the uttermoil of our 
 Bpwer, but all in vain, for there Vii.e 
 if the Poyfon of Dragons and cruel venom of 
 
 Afps, 
 
( 38 ) 
 Afps, the Third Cry, is O Momntains ! O 
 Madain ! O Sir ! If you will take away the 
 Hedge of the Church, let us keep the Stipends, 
 no quoth they, except ye fwear to us quickly 
 to break down your Hedge with your Hands. 
 The fourth Cry is O Mountains ! O Madam! 
 OSir! we hope if your iiiihops make us fwear 
 as they pleafe ; yet we hope that the Lords 
 Spiritual will be moderate in the exercife 
 of their Authority, and fuffer us to pray 
 as we pleafe for compelled Prayers are ill 
 for the Soul, but in Vain for be it enaded, 
 by the Lords Spiritual] if ye mifs a Jot of 
 the ipring of the Prayer that they have 
 thought fit to impofe on you, it ihall coft 
 twenty Pounds fterJing for the firft Fault, 
 and three Years Stipends fof the fecoud; io 
 the walls are down the Flowres do fade 
 arid Poyfonfpringing up & in verfe 6. 7. 8. 
 The Hedge being taken away all goes to 
 Ruin, and Sword together on all iides, fy 
 then ~Elam and Kin to the Quiver, with 
 Chariots Horicmen and Shields, id your 
 felves in Array, at the Gate of this rejected 
 iinfull People ; and then the forlorn fpoiled 
 Hypocrites, to Arms calling of Ditches and 
 fortifying the WalJ m vain, feing they 
 
 look not 10, trie Lo- J, nor repent of and 
 turn from their Sins, and Apoftacies to the 
 Lord by Repentance and Reformation. 
 And therefore the Lord wiping toReeeire 
 them under his gracious Protection again 
 
 calls 7 
 
( 39 ( . 
 calls for amendment, In* that Day did the. 
 Lord GOD of Hofts call to Weeping and 
 Mourning and Failing, Let us do fo at this 
 time, when all is to Ruin, as they did 
 Jonah 3. ro:' Wbt* G07) fatv their Works, 
 that they turned from their evil! Ways the Lord 
 repented af the Evill he [aid he would do to 
 them, and he did it not. " But if there be Toy 
 and Gladnefs, and Feafting at fuch a Time, 
 we may fear that Threatning, that our well 
 Days are done, and that this Iniquity iliall 
 not be taken away tiH we die, that is fiiall 
 never be forgiven. 
 
 SERMON! 
 
 i. Sam. 4. 21- And Jhe named the Child 
 Ichabod faying the Glory is departed from If- 
 rael/br the Ark of G&D is taken. 
 
 As Canaan was the Glory of all Lands, fo 
 the prefence of the Lord in Canaan, whereof 
 the Ark, was a Sign, was the Glory, 
 of Canaan, and therefore, it is that when 
 the Ark of GOD y which was the token 
 of his Pretence, was taken, that this Godly 
 Woman Lamented with fo heavy a La- 
 mentation, the Ark of GOD is taken, there- 
 fore the Glory is Departed from IpaeJ in 
 Chap. II. and 11. we have an account of 
 the great Wickcdnefs and Covetoufnefs of 
 the Priefts, for which the Lord threatned 
 
 to 
 
( 40 ) 
 to cut tliem off, and that they mould fee 
 
 an Enemy in the Lords Habitation. And in 
 the firft and iecond verfes of this Chap, 
 they loic a Battle with the PhiliiUnes, and 
 then they fend for the Ark of GOD, to' 
 the Camp expoling it to Danger* and bring- 
 ing it out of the Tabernacle, where it ought 
 to nave been, to the Army where it ought 
 not to have been, as now the Minifters of 
 "Scotlond corning in danger, expofed the 
 Ark of GOD taking it out of the Church, 
 and Surrendering it to the Civil Power think- 
 ing if there be any hazard let the Ark of 
 GOD rtand in the Stowr for all. Upon 
 this they lois the Ark, as we have done 
 theCaufeof CHRIST,- and when thefe 
 heavy Tydings come to the Godly Woman, 
 ihe is fo funk with Sorrow, that her 
 Pangs come upon her, and ihe giveth up 
 the Ghoft, breathing out her la it Breathy 
 in that doleful Lamentarion, the Glory is 
 departed kom Ifrael, for the Ark of GOD 
 is taken, there is no Glory, or, where is the 
 Glory, no Beauty, no Freedom or Majefty 
 in all the Coaits of Ifrael ; all is gone with 
 GOD, and his Ark. The Glory is De- 
 parted from Ifrael, for the Ark is taken. 
 
 In thefe words are Three things. i.Such 
 a lofsasmade the Woman forrow to Death 
 becaufe the Ark of GOD was taken, for 
 the Ark of GOD is taken. 2. The greatnefs 
 of the lofs held out in the Name given to 
 
 the 
 
( 4* ) 
 the Ark, flie calls it the Glory, the Beauty^ 
 Ma jefty and excellency of Ifrael the Glory is 
 Departed* 2. In the.Univerfality of the 
 Lois, it is not a Jtofs to this or that particu- 
 lar Peribn, family* Rank,, or .Degre of 
 People, but an Univerfal Iqfs to all the 
 Kingdom of Ifrael, . Church, and Siate r 
 high and low Man, and Woman in Every 
 Place let a Perfon go through all the 
 Nooks of Ifrael, and ask wherever the y 
 go, where is the Ark - 7 of GOD ? where 
 is the Glory f Every Place and every 
 Perfori anfwereth with Lamentation^ 
 it is net with me, it is not with me, No. 
 GOD, No Ark, No GLOB.Y here, no no* 
 in ill Ifrael 0\ Doleful 1 iln, the caufe of {3 
 fad and univerfal a Lois, and Doleful! 
 .Lamentation, The Glory is departed from 
 Ifrael, for the Ark of God is taken, and this 
 is the Sad efec* of having fo many Gods: a$ 
 Ifrael often had, Nov/ it is come to this they. 
 have not a GOD at all let us beware wc 
 make not Men, our GOD, the World our 
 GOD, our Belly, our GOD, Left it come to 
 that we have not a GOD, at all," all loft and' 
 Lament with Saul now I am in fore Diftrefs^ 
 for the T?M?ftians make war againft me, and 
 GOD, is departed from me, or like Ifrael 
 the Pricfts prefeted their gain to their GOD,' 
 and were jail fee on great Steepends, as 
 many in Scotland* are per fas aut ncfos, 
 Bight or wrong, and the upiliot ii>" GOD 
 F is 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 is a Miffing, the Glory is departed from Ifrail 
 3. This was fuch a lofs that no Mercy 
 bcflde could make up the Lofs thereof* ihe 
 had got a Mercy, and a great one too de- 
 livered of a Man Child, of which Mercy 
 our Lord fays John, XVI. 21 . A. Woman 
 in Tra-veli hath Sorrow, hut when floe is de~ 
 Ihered forgetteth her angui/h, for Joy that a 
 Man Child is "Born into the World, hut this 
 Mercy could not make up the Lofs of the 
 Ark "of GOD, call the Child, I~chabod, the 
 Glory is "Departed from Ifrael, for the Ark 
 of GOD is taken. 
 
 And now Sirs, this is the heavy Work* 
 6f this day of Fatting, to Lament and be- 
 wail our Lois, which is like Ifrael, our 
 Ark the Sign of the Prefence of GOD it 
 taken from us, for the Right Doftrine, 
 Difcipline, Worlhip, and Government of 
 the Ho trie, of GOD, according to the pat- 
 tern ihe wed in the Mount is away, I-chabod 
 flow the Glory is departed from Scotland^ 
 for the Ark of GOD, is taken, for as the 
 Ark of GOD to Ifrael when they had . it 
 was a Sign of his Gracious Prefence with 
 them, and a Sign of his departure when it 
 was away,, even fo the Doclrine Wor/hip,- 
 Difcipline ,and Government of the the Houfe 
 b'f GOD, when Right is a Sign of his 
 Gracious prefence with us, and when wrong 
 a Sign of his departure from us.- 
 
 Do£trinc. That when a People Provoke 
 the Lord by their Sin, to take away the 
 
 Right 
 
( 43 ) 
 Hight Doctrine, Worftiip, Difcipline, and 
 Government of his Houfe, which are the 
 Tokens of his Gracious Prefence; and the 
 Glory of the Land, then there is Ground to 
 Lament I-chabod the Glory is departed from 
 Ifrael, and let us look this day, totheHaufe 
 of GOD, and the Abufes there committed, 
 and we may apply that fad Word, Ezekiel 
 VIII 6. What Abominations are thefe that 
 are committed here faith the Lord % to make- 
 me go far away from my Sanctuary. 
 
 That you may be ftirred up to a penk 
 tent and Mourning frame, on this day oi 
 Fairing, that you may be the better Prer 
 pared for entering in Covenant with GOD, 
 to bring back his Ark, lihall, i. prove that 
 the Glory is departed from Scotland, and 
 the Ark of God is taken for the Right 
 Doctrine Difcipline Worfliip and Govern-* 
 ment of the Houfe of GOD is gone, 2. 
 What Refemblance there is betwixt the 
 Ark, of GOD, and the Right Do&rme, 
 Worfliip Difcipline, and Govenment of his 
 Houfe. 3. what Some of the Chief provok- 
 ing Sins are, that hath provoked the Lord 
 to ftripe this Poor Church and Nation of 
 the Glory- 4* Improve itihortly: Firftthat 
 our Ark, our Glory is away, viz. the Right 
 Government, Doctrine, Difcipline and Wor-^ 
 fliip of the Houfe of GOD, I fhall prove 
 it by Scripture, and our own fad Experi- 
 ence. 
 
 F 2 Ana 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 Anifirftas to the Government, that it is a- 
 way, I prove thus, whatever Church hatft 
 another King to give Laws to them, be- 
 fides, or contrary to King JESUS, and 
 that Church fubmit to that King, and theie 
 Laws in Things Sacred, and belonging to 
 Confidence, the Glory of that Church is away, 
 as ; to her Government : But fuch is the Con- 
 dition of the Church of Scotland ; Therefore, 
 the Glory of the Church of Scotlmd\ Go- 
 vernment is away, here I have to mew. ij% 
 That JESUS, is only King, Head and 
 Lawgiver of his Church, id, That the 
 Churchof Scotland have another King befides 
 C HR 1ST, whoirnpofeth Laws, and they 
 obey thefe Laws, befide and contrary to the 
 Laws of King JESUS. 3 d, That when 
 it is fo, the Glory of the Church of Scotland 
 is away. 
 
 i. I prove, that the LORD JESUS 
 CHRIST is only King and Head of His 
 Church, and neither, Pope, King, Parlia- 
 ment, or Biiliop, can arrogar this Privi- 
 ledge to thcrrifelves, without Invading the 
 Ku.glom and Royal Prerogative? of Chrift, 
 ipA I ped^e k thus; r$ From the Fathers 
 Inaugurating him .in his Kingly Office, Pfal. 
 II. 6. I ■: Holy Hill 
 
 Zion. -Am j esing ^t Kkigs would he 
 ftill maljieg l \ inroads on the 
 
 Church Dominion of CH R I S T 5 he adds, 
 1\qvj the) ifore be Wife^ Q ye KJngs, and juh- 
 
 mitt 
 
jf 45 ) 
 
 mH to the Son left ye Teri/b. Eph. I. 22, 
 "The Lord hath pit all Things under his Feet, 
 end ghen him to he Head ouer all "Things to 
 the Church, id* From his retaining Power 
 in his own Hand, to fend his Ambaffadors to 
 Preach the Gofpel without being qualified by 
 Oaths from Men, or Prefentations from Pa- 
 trons, Mat. XXVIII 19. Go ye therefore and 
 Teach all Nations I fend you for all 'Power is 
 ghen me in Heoroen and Earth, 3. From his £. 
 renting a Throne of Judgment in his Church, 
 his Spiritual Jerufalem Pf. 122. The tribes 
 go up to the Name of the Lord, for there are 
 fit Thrones of Judgement^ euen the thrones of 
 Chrift the Antitype of King T)aryid y where 
 his Spiritual Kingdom is as in Dependant, 
 and free to meet, and Bifolve, and Ad, in 
 his Name, as any of the Subjects of any 
 Earthly Monarch, to meet in the Name of 
 their Lawfull King, and therefore, are faid 
 to meet together and Aft, in the Name 
 and Power of our Lord Jefus Chriil. 1 
 Cor. V. 4> And to defolve in the fame 
 Name in which they meet, except they meet 
 to make of his Authority, and chufe a new 
 King, 4„ From the Saints accepting him 
 to be alone King and Head of his Church 
 Ifa. XXXIII. 22: The; Lord, is our Judge, 
 the Lord is our Laugher, the Lord is our 
 King, he •iwllfo.re us. 5 . From the very light, 
 of Natutue that fhewes every one mould 
 tule his own Houff, and his own Kingdom, 
 
 Ahafuerus.' 
 
( 46 ) 
 Ahafiem, made a Decree that every Man, 
 Jhould bear Rule in his own Houfe, and a- 
 iiother Heathen King, Commanded fezra. 
 VII. 23. That every thing be done in the 
 fioufe of the GOD, of Heaven, according 
 to the mind of the GOD of Heaven, as 
 long a* it is fo, then the People of GOD 
 rejoyce when it is faid, go up to the Houfe 
 of GOD for there sre ict the Thrones of 
 Judgement even the, Thrones of the Houfe 
 of TJavid, for then is the Ark, the Glory 
 with them, but when Minifters yeild the 
 Goverment to Man, and take ■ Laws from 
 them befide, and Contrary to Chrifts Law, 
 and Goverment, then comes in the weary 
 I-chabod the Glory is Departed, for the 
 Goverment is out of the Hands pf Chrift£ 
 Church which leads me to. 
 
 The 2. Thing that the Glory pf the Go- 
 verment of the Kirk, of Scotland is gone 
 and the Minifters of it Submit to, and take 
 Laws, from another airthe even from the 
 Parliament and Bilhops of England, in thing, 
 of Conscience, and purely Spiritual: I prove 
 thus whatsoever Church Submits to Spiritual 
 Lords, and takes Laws from them which 
 Chrift never gave to his Church in the 
 Bible y which is the Laws and Ads, of the 
 Court, of Heaven, and a Curfe pronounced 
 on thefc that add to, or take from thefe 
 Laws, the Glory of Goverment accord- 
 ing tp the Patern flicwed in the Mount, is 
 
 departed 
 
( 47 5 
 departed from that Church, and an l->chabod; 
 may be Written upon the. Doors thereof 
 the Glory is Departed: But fo hath the 
 Church o£ Scotland done, and: Therefore the 
 Glory of the Church of Scotland $, Gover- 
 ment is gone, and an I-cbabod, may be Write 
 one the Kirk Doors of it 
 
 To clear this, Confider fir ft, that fpiritual 
 Lords, or Lord Biihops, is contrary to the Law 
 of Chillis Houle, which Law is recorded Mar. 
 XX . 25. The Trinces or Triejls of the Heathens 
 exercife dominion over them, but itjhall not be fo 
 among you. 2. That thefe 26 Spiritual domini- 
 ring Lords exercife Authority over the Church 
 of Scotland^ is evident from their own Acts, 
 fd that when they fend down their A'fts to the 
 Church of Scotland, to enter Miniilers^pray or. 
 fwear as they pleafe, which aire all matters of 
 Conference, belonging to the Hou fe of God, 
 they give it this Front-piece, "Be it enacted— ~ly 
 the Authority of 'the Lords fpiritual 3. Confider 
 that as they impofe, fothe Lavvs that ourMi-i 
 xufters obey coming from them, are befide and 
 contrary to the Laws of King Jefus : They 
 command Mifiifters to enter in, and climb up 
 to the Sheepfold, not as Chrift 'doth by himfelf, 
 and the Call of the People, but as Antichrifls 
 Cannon Law commands, by 2 prefentation 
 from a Patron, they command Minifters to be 
 qualified, by {landing before Juftices of Peace 
 and fwears fo many Oaths of their inventing, 
 when there is neither Command nor Example 
 
 the 
 
( 48 ) , ., 
 
 In all the Book of God or the Law of King 
 JESUS, for doing fo, where did CHRIST or 
 nis Apoitles go for Prefentatidns to Patrons, 
 or (Und arid fwear fd many Oaths to the Ma- 
 gi [hat before they went to Preach the Gof- 
 pel. Yea, fuch Miniilers as do : fo, arid come 
 noc in at CHRISTS Door, CHRIST the ' 
 King writes them down in the Book of his 
 Remembrance ; fuch a Man by Name and 
 Surname, entered to fuch a Paroch not by 
 the Door, and he points him out by the Fin- 
 ger, that Man is a Thief come in to Murder 
 my Sheep,, hold the Teief, hold the Thief, 
 confldering all this, Is hot the Glory of 
 C HKIS T's Kingly Government, Depart- 
 ed from the Church of Scotland? thus the 
 Government is from another King, than 
 King JESUS, other Laws impofed, under 
 other forts of Penalties, fuch as Fines, ImV 
 prifonment, Sec. Spiritual Government Spi- 
 ritual Punifliment, Temporal Government, 
 Temporal Puniiliment. 
 
 2. lam to prove, that the Glory of Right 
 Difcipline, is departed from the Church of 
 Scotland, which appeareth thus, Whatfoe- 
 ver Church, by their Difcipline encouraged! 
 Falfe Religion, and Dif courages the True 
 Pveligion; It may be written on the Doors of 
 that Kirk I~chabod, the Glory of that Church is 
 away: But fo doth the Church of Scotland, 
 therefore the Glory of the Right Difcipline 
 is away from her, which is Mkriifefl from 
 
( 49 ) , r 
 
 her own Practice, ihe doth net Profecute, hut 
 protect thefe of that Corrupt Religion, who 
 ule Human Inventions, and Popi/h, Effglifh. 
 Ceremonies in Wor&ip -, for Example, the 
 Elders of GUfgolsoy fejfit and protected, that 
 VileProphanc Ceremony-Mo tfgtr, who was 
 Tx)th an Ignoramus, a Drunkard ahtl Swear- 
 er, at his Worship, but have again and again 
 contrary to the prefent. Law of the King- 
 dom, Profecuted, Purfaed, and Imprifcncdy 
 thefe of the Reformed Religion; and tho J 
 Minifters never Preach againft, Suiiimondi, 
 norExecmunicat fuchas are for Deformatiofi. 
 Yet, let but any Miniiter, or privat Chrifiianj 
 appear for Reformation, theri prefently they 
 Sumrhondthem, Excomunicat them bellow-! 
 ing out Curies lifce fd many Blathrie Fbpiili 
 Bulls againft them. . 
 
 3. The Right Doctrine of the Church c-f 
 Scotland isalfo away, there is an uncouth 
 Sound heard, now in Pulpits, contrary to 
 what was heard at the Reformation, and 
 that they are wrorig in their Doctrine I prove 
 this, Whatfocvcr Church is Partial In their; 
 Doctrine, and alfo applys the thrcatnings of 
 the Word againft the Godly , and the pro- 
 mifes thereof to Time-fervers, that Church 
 may hare Ichabod write upon it, the Glory 
 of Right Doctrine is departed from it • But 
 fodoth the Church of Scotland: Therefore, 
 :hc Glory of Right Doctrine is departed from 
 it, and this is evident to their oun Con- 
 iciitt and to ahy that have the Ear of Chrift's 
 
 G Sheep, 
 
( 5° ) 
 
 Sheep, how partial they are in their Doclrine, 
 fparing tofpeak againft the Sins of Patrons,and 
 great Ones, or the Sins oftheprefent Times, | 
 thcyordinarly Preach againft the Sms of oldl 
 Falfe Teachers, and Church Defrayers, and 
 dead Ifradites, applying over the Water to! 
 yerufaleM, but fpare to Preach againft their 
 own Sins, making Ac/rs of Affemblies not to 
 Preach or Writ againft themfelves, or one: 
 another. Their way of Preaching in invigh- 
 ing againft old Sins and not prefent Sins, 
 minds me of Satan's Preaching to Saul, he 
 reaped up his old Sins, for not rooting out 
 of Amoltck, and concealed his prefent Sin,- 
 never a word againft his confuting a Witch 
 to raife Samuely which indeed was the Devil, 
 not Samuel i Never a Word againft Patron- 
 ages, Oaths, and concealing of the Truth in 
 Time of Danger, yea they Preach on ! y fuch 
 Doctrine as will gain their Steepends, and 
 not any Thing that will endanger them •, and 
 wkt fad Wrath doth the LOKlD denounce 
 againft them that are partial in the Law,-», 
 Mai. 2. — and what Heart-break is it to the'. 
 People of God, to hear them make theHearts 
 c"f the godly Sad, and rejoicing the Heart of, 
 Apoicatizers, falling under the Cuffe denounce 
 fed againft Falfe Teachers, who : promifej 
 Life to the Wicked, and keep them from Re- i 
 pentance ; and weakning the Hands of the'; 
 G-odly, by threatning Death and Damnation! 
 a&ainiu them ;■ All this fays Irchebod is write 
 
 upoi> ' 
 
( 51 ) 
 Upon the Kirk Doors of Scotland the Glo* 
 ry of pure Dodrine is departed from her. 
 
 4. That the Glory of pure Worftiip or 
 Prayers dited by the Spirit of GOD is de^ 
 parted from the Church of Scotland may be 
 proven thus. 
 
 If the Church of Scotland be convinced 
 that Biihops are not Officers in the Houfe of 
 GOD, and have abjured them, and that 
 we mull Pray as we are affiftcd by the Spirit, 
 and not by a fet Form of Words prefenbed by 
 Biihops, and yet, contrary to the Word of 
 GOD, Pray overthefe exprefs Words that 
 the Biihops prefcribes, and contrary to their 
 Profeffion and Solemn Vows to the contrary; 
 then the Glory is departed from the Church of 
 Scotland : But the one is true : Therefore fo is 
 the other, it is not the Thing that we con- 
 demn, but the Manner of doing it , for we 
 as well as they, pray for King GEORGE, 
 and all in Authority, becaufefo commanded 
 by the Spirit of God, but to be bound to do 
 it like fo many Godlcfs Slaves and Idiots that 
 knows not their Duty, and that under Penak 
 ty, at the Command of Englifk? Prelats with* 
 put Power to alter a Word, more than a Boy 
 at the School for fear of the Taws, this gives 
 the Offence : Yea, we will Pray for the King 
 and all in Authority, tho' the Biihops of 
 Erghnd fliould impofe as much Penalty 
 for io doing, as they do now for negled of 
 doing io \ ' Yea v how many Prayers do they 
 G 2 dayly- 
 
I 
 
 dayly put up, for maintaining the Ttelatick 
 abjured Government. And for the over- 
 throw of thefe of the Reformed Religion a* 
 "Scotland, every Body knows that has under- 
 handing to difcern this, fays the Glory of 
 pure Woriliip is departed from the Kirk of 
 Scotland : The coniideration whereof, might 
 make this Place a Bochim, a Place of Weeper?, 
 and we to lift up that dolefull Cry, Pfal. 
 780 61 . He hath delivered his Strength his Ark,in~ 
 to Captivity, and left hi s Glory in the Hand of 
 }he Enemy, zvAlchahod the Glory is departed 
 from Scotland, for the Ark of God is gone, 
 Right; Government, Difcipline, Doctrine, 
 Worfliip, and the fwtQt Prefence of Chrift 
 and all is gone together. 
 ; Thirdly, I am to prove, that fincetheArk^. 
 the Right, Government, Difcipline, Doct- 
 rine, and Worihip of the Church of Scotland 
 is away, that the Glory is away, and it will 
 appear if we confider. 1. That it was once 
 the Glory of the Church ' of Scotland to be 
 In Covenant with GOD, as ' Ifrael, "Ezec. 
 XVL 8, »— 14. 1 talked into Covenant with' 
 the}, and thou he cam eft -mine, then thy Renoun 
 ^ent forth aikomff the Heathen for thy "Beauty, 
 for it was perfect ihrough the ccmlinefs that'I 
 pa vponj-het, then we were like thkt Church, 
 GatLt. VI. xo: Looking forth as the Morning, 
 Fair as the Moon, Clraras the Sun, Terrible 
 as an Army with "Banners.' In thefe' Days 
 -rein GOD and ' Scotland entree! into Co- 
 venant 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 Tenant, and they promifed to keep the Right 
 Doclrine^ Difcipline, Worfliip and Govern- 
 ment, of his Houfe, then we were the Head, 
 and not the Tail •, and a Glory and Terrour 
 to the Nations round about us, as every one 
 knows that have read the Hiftory of the 
 Majeftick Ads of the Church of Scotland, 
 in thefe Glorious Days of Covenanting, and 
 Reformation, nothing was able to ftarid be- 
 fore her, but alas! it is with her now 
 as Ezekiel XVI. 15. "Bat thou trujled in 
 thy iSe'tuty and went and played the Harlot : 
 Hath not our Church broken her Covenant 
 with GOD, wherein flic abjured "Popery and 
 Trelacy, &c and played the Harlot with 
 Trelacy, and given apromife with an Oath, 
 for the Defence of that Government, which 
 is a fign there is a Purpofe of Marriage be- 
 twixc her and them, and is fhe not now be- 
 come the 1 ail and not the Head; Handing 
 before civil Courts, fwearing Oaths, like a 
 fufpected Malefactor, fo that Scripture is 
 fulfilled of her, the Prophet that Teacheth 
 • Lies, he is the Tail, I—chabod the Glory is 
 departed from Scotland. 
 
 2. It was once the Glory, of the Church 
 of Scotland, to have GOD's Powerful pro- 
 tection with her evidenced by the Protecti- 
 on of the civel Magiflrqts, Z$c. II. 5. For 1 
 jaith the Lord will be a Wall of Fire, Round 
 about the and the Glory in the Midft of thee. 
 and Kings ihall be thy Nurfing Fathers : 
 But now the Lord hath taken away the 
 
 Wall 
 
( 54 ) 
 Wall of Divine Prote&ion, as is evident by 
 the civell Magiftrats Difcharging any to 
 compel 1, any Criminal to obey this Church, 
 this fays the Glory is, Departed from the 
 Church of Scotland. 
 
 3. It was once the Glory of the Church 
 of Scotland, that the Mimjlers thereof were 
 Men of truth ; and Credit, that both Mar z 
 gtftrats and People, would have belived 
 their Word and, Doctrine but now it is 
 come to that with it that the Magiftrats will 
 not belivc tkere word, the*' they add to it 
 Prayers for Rulers, but they moft have their 
 Oath, and yet will not credit them, but every 
 other turn, moft impofe three Oaths upon 
 them at once, Sc as for many of their own 
 hearers they neither belive whatthey fay either 
 in the Pulpit or out of the Pulpit and Menof 
 other Principals admires at, and Loathes them 
 as a pack of Juglars, Mountabanks, any 
 things, or nothings, untrue to their Prin- 
 cipals, fad experience evidenceth this, which 
 Says the Glory is Departed from the Church 
 of. Scotland, the Glory of Truth and Faith- 
 fulnefs, 
 
 4. It was once the Glory, of the Church 
 of Scotland, without fead or favour to De- I 
 clare the Whole Counfel of GOD, before 
 Kings and Rulers and to have the Tongues . 
 and Pens of the Godly, and Suffering Rem- 
 nant imployedin their defence,and Commen- 
 dation, but now the Watch Towers fmg all 
 
 D uml^ 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 Dumb, no Man of Diitinftion muft be offen- 
 ded, and how are now the Tongues and Pens 
 of the Godly Suffering Partie let loofe upon 
 them, and hath fet them on Fire round about, 
 yet they lay it not to Heart, that Word js 
 
 verified of them, Mai. 2. lOt haw "violated 
 
 the Covenant of Levi, and been partial in my 
 Law, therefore I have made you *Bafe and Con- 
 temptible, in the ILyes of all the "People •, and it 
 will avail them nothfiing tho' they ihould 
 get the Mouths and Pens of the honefi Parry- 
 in Scotland ftoped, for if thefe fiioukl hold 
 their Peace the very Stones ihould cry agkmft 
 them,- before the Lord leave himfelf with- 
 out a Witnefs, it were endlefs to enumerat 
 in how many particulars the Glory is TJepdj U 
 ed from the Church of Scotland, O that what 
 hath been, not only f aid, but found to fad 
 Experiencc ? may make them enquir what have 
 we done, is there not a Caufe that the Glo- 
 ry is "Departed from the Church of Scoth-d 7 
 and an I-cbabod write on Kirk-Doors, Pu] pi isl- 
 and Fore-Heads of Minifters; the Ark of 
 GOD is taken, the Right Government, 
 Doctrine, Difcipline and Wbrfliip is gone, 
 and the Glorious Converting and Comfort^ 
 ing Prefence of GOD and altogether. * 
 
 SERMON, 
 
SERMON. II. ' 
 
 Tv II H Second Thing is to flicw what 
 Refemblance there is betwixt the Ark 
 of GOD, and the Right, Doctrine, 
 Difcipline, Wormip and Government, of 
 the Houic of G O D, which being difcovcr- 
 ed, will make it evident even to a D*mori- 
 ilration, that fince ( aswe proved alreadiej that 
 the Bright, Doctrine, Difcipline, Worihip and 
 Government of the Houfe of GOD being 
 away, we have as great Reafon to lament 
 ■ih^ Loft of thefe, as Ifrael had to lament 
 the Lois of the Ark with an I-cbabod, the 
 Glory is Tkpttrted from Scotland, the Ark 
 of GOD is taken, and the Refemblance 
 holds in thefe Things, i. As the Ark was 
 no Humane Invention, but of the LORD'S, 
 own Devifing and Appointment, Exod. 
 XXV. 9. fo all the Ordinances and Inftituti- 
 6ns of the Houfe of G O D, none miift be - 
 of Man's Devifing or Impofing, Mat. XXV. 
 9 For this would be to Worjbip GOT) in 
 Vain, teaching for T)oftrine the Commandments 
 efMen, and a' bringing aCurfe on thefe In- 
 
 . venters 
 
( & ) ..■.:■. : 
 
 renters and Impofers, Receivers and Practi- 
 zers. i^i;. XXII. 17, 18. but allmuftbe ac« 
 cording to the will and command of the great 
 Lord of the Houfe, it was excellent Divi- 
 nity of that Heathen King,' Ezra VII. 23.' 
 J can command Enemies not to trouble or 
 hinder the Building of the Houfe of God- 
 I can alfo command that the Houfeof God be 
 Built in his Place,but one thing I dare not do, I 
 dare not impofe, what fcrt of Doctrine, Di- 
 scipline, Woriliip, or Government fliall be 
 there, but whatever is of Divine Appointment,^ 
 I back it with the civil Power, let all things' 
 be done in the Houfe of the GOD o£j 
 Heaven, according to the Mind of the GOD 
 of Heaven ; fo our Lord himfelf Matthew. 
 XX VIII Ult. Sending forth his Apoftles to fet 
 ■op a ftabliflied Order, through all the World,' 
 anent* the Dodrine, Difcipline, Worfhip,, 
 and Government of his Houfe, gives this 
 Direction, teaching them to obferve all things' 
 whatfoe ver I command you, and lo I am with', 
 you, but if you make ekings or parings, or 
 bring in Humane Invention in my Houfe, yoif 
 foave no promiie of my Prefente, but ihall 
 find the Glory fliall depart from you/ and I 
 will caft the Difng of your Sacrifices in your 
 polluted Faces, with a who hath required 
 thefe things at your Hands, the Ark was of 
 G O D's own appointment fo are all his In- 
 ftitutiosis, 
 
 2. At 
 
( 5» ) 
 
 5. A% the Ark was align of God's Pretence 
 
 among his People fo long as it was with them* 
 Ex, XXV. 22. twill wet them from the Mercy 
 Seat, and ^Commune with them from between 
 the 'Cherubim that covereth the Ark, for he 
 Swelleth between the Cherubim si So the Pre- 
 fence of CHRIST, and the pure Inftituti- 
 ons, have as infeperable Connection betwixt 
 them, as betwixt it and the Ark, or betwixt 
 the Wheels and the living Creatures. Ezek. 
 I. io. 1/1 fe went the Wheels went, and 
 
 when thefe flood the Wheels food by them* and 
 
 \n the thing Creatures were lifted up from 
 the Earth, the Wheels were lifted uy with 
 them, bm when the Doctrine, Difcipline, 
 i o vernment of G H R I S> r Ps 
 Jjoftitutiongoes the Pretence of CHRIST 
 gaes with them, and whe n Inftituti- 
 
 cnio comes in ihci^ Room, then the Lord fays, 
 Ezek. Till. 6. What Abominations are thefe 
 ■that are } tted here, to make me go far away 
 
 fiom my Si , and then the godly La- 
 
 ment With this bitter Lamentation Lchabod 
 the Glory of the Church is departed. 
 
 3. As where the Ark was, there it was 
 iawfull to Sacrifice to G O D, and no where 
 
 • 9 TteuE-.XKV. I5> 14. take heed that thoui 
 offer riot Burnt-Offerings in every Place thou 
 feci^ but in ihQ Place which I ihall choife, 
 %Mt is the Place where I ihall place mine 
 
 1, 10 it is lawfull to woriliip GOD no 
 
 .re, bat where the 1 right Dodriiie, Di- 
 
 fcipline, 
 
C 59 ) 
 
 fcipline, Worihip, ana Government, of his 
 own Inftitutions are, we mull not joyn with 
 every one in Worihip, but with th^fe that 
 keep clofs to CHRIST'S Kftitiutibns, for 
 Union in Sinful Worihip is confpiracyagairift 
 CHK.IST, Jrchabod the Glory is away, 
 for now we have many Humane in- 
 ventions and Impoiitions, in ftead of Divine 
 Inftitutions. 
 
 4. As where the Ark was, there and no 
 where clfe was the Pot witk the Matin*, 
 the food on which Ifrael lived all the Time of 
 their Travels in the Wlldernefs, fo where 
 the pure Inftitutions of CHRIST are, 
 and no where elfe, is CHRIST the Spi- 
 ritual Manna to be enjoyed, whois the Life, 
 Nourilhment, Support, and Comfort of his 
 People, all the Time of their Pilgrimage in 
 the Wildernefs, on the Strength whereof 
 they go to theHeavenly Cancan, and therefore 
 it is faid, he fatisfieth the Longing Soul, and 
 filleth the Hungry with good Things, and 
 Pfal. 36. 8. They /hall be abundantly Satisfied 
 isoith the Fatnefs of thy Houfe. But alas! when 
 his Holy Inftitutions, are away & Human 
 Impofitions Dimonitions are " Additions 
 come in, then Perfons feed upon Poy- 
 fon, fwell in Pride, and grows mad with Ma-* 
 lice, and burning heat of envy, no grouth in 
 Grace, but a Soul-leannefs, and pining a- 
 way in Iniquity, ripining for a death in Sin, 
 and a Burial in Tojpbet, I-chahod then theGlo- 
 sy is departed. 5. As, 
 
( 6o ) 
 5. As where the Ark, of GOD was, 
 there was the Two Tables of the Law, 
 keeped piire without addition, or diminition, 
 ib where CH&lST's Inftitutions are Hitman 
 Inventions or Impofitiqn? gets 110 Place 
 ■Deut. IV. 2. Thou ftiali not add to 
 the word that I Command thee, neither dir 
 miniili ought from it, where hjs Inftitutions 
 are ib kept pure CHRIST typified by 
 fhe Ark, well f uliill for us the Law, and 
 free us from the Curfe of it but where his 
 Inftitutions are corrupt by Mens Impofitions, 
 there CHRIST Will neither fulfill the 
 Law for them, nor have any thing to do 
 with them, but bring all the Curfes of a 
 violated Covenant on the Head of the vi- 
 plater? ; thereof. Rev. XXlh 18, 19. For 
 I Teitifv, to every Man, that ihall add to 
 this Word, GOD fliall add to him all the 
 Plagues that arc Written in this Book, and 
 if any Man ihall take away from the Words 
 of this Book, GOD ihall take away his 
 part out of the Bock of Life, and out of 
 the Holy City, and from the things t 
 are Written in this Book, when we fee al- 
 terations made or* G;OD%, Inftitutions by 
 Human "Impoiitions we may Lament, the 
 Glory js Departedl, for the LORD'S In- 
 feitutiqns are altered, 
 
 : 6. As where the Ark, was there was a 
 Crown of GcJi round about it. Ex. XXV 
 jr. Thou ilia]! make upon it a Crown of 
 Gold, found about, to {hcvf the Majefiy 
 
i 61 ) 
 
 and Dominion of King JESUS, in hi* 
 Church, fo where the ordinances of Chrift'i 
 Inftitutions^ are kept pure, there Reigns the 
 LORD JiiSUS with an awfiiU Majefty in 
 the Church : There are the Thrones of 
 Judgement, the greatcft Peer in the Land, 
 moftKifs, and Submit to the Son, Tf 2. who 
 then dare medle with his Miniflers, when 
 thisan awfull Majefiick Prohibition, touch 
 not' mine Anointed, and do my Prophets 
 no harm ; then Kings tremble and ftand in 
 aw to meddle with the Church of GOD, 
 Tf 48 % 3. Beatiitful for Situation, the 
 joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion, 
 GOD is known in her Palaces for a re- 
 fuge, the Kings that were gathered togeth- 
 er faw it, they Marvelled, Sc were troubled 
 and haftned away : Then there is great 
 Joy in the Church of GOD, Tf 149. 2. 
 all the Children of Zion are Joyfull in their 
 King? Hofis, & Gloreth in him, Ifa. XXXIII 
 22, The LORD is our Judge the Lord is 
 our King he will fave us, but when thefe Invi- 
 tations are away, CHRIST with his Glo- 
 rious Kingly Power, departeth, and then the 
 PoorShcp wanting the Sheepherd are Deflroy- 
 ed, and now Zion fpreadeth forth her Hands, 
 and there is none to Comfort her, Lamen- 
 ting I-chabod . the Glory is departed, the 
 pure Inftitutions of CHRIST "our King 
 himfeif, and all are gone and we are a pack 
 of Hearties Handle* Slaves now that can- 
 no 
 
C 62 ) 
 
 Act our own Part. 
 7. Aj> where the Ark of GOD was, there 
 was a Sign of GOD in Covenant with 
 fhat People, and therefore it is called, in 
 j\ m. X- 33. The Ark of the Covenant, 
 of the Teftimony, fo where the pure 
 ordinances of CHRIST are, and are keept 
 puie$ there a People may warrantably claim 
 a Covenant intereitin GOD, and expect Co- 
 venant Bleflmg from .him, hut where his In- 
 stitutions are corrupt by Mens impositions 
 that is a Sure evidence the People have 
 broke their Covenant with GOD, and he 
 faying he will break with us, and having 
 to the Covenant, the Lord takes away 
 thctoKensof his Covenant which may make us 
 lent, with a bitter Lamentation the Glory 
 is departed, for the Ark of GOD is taken 
 8. As wherever the Ark came, then down 
 comes Z)agon, 1 Sam. V. 1. 2. 3. 4. They 
 let the Ark of GOD in the Hcufe of Dagon 
 &t Dagon fell, & Limbs and Head and Arms 
 all are broken off and nothing is left to 
 ©agon but his flumps and when the Ark 
 of GOTj went out of the Houfc of Z)agon 
 then Z)aG:on is fet up again, fo wherever 
 CHFvISTS pure Institutions, OodrineZ)if- 
 cipline, Worihip, and Government comes 
 the Z)agon trafh of Popery and Prelacy 
 fall down, then up goes Popery and Prela- 
 cy and all Human inventions in the' Houfe 
 or GOZ) : But when the pure Inftitutions 
 
 of 
 
( <$3 5 
 rf CHRIST gees away, the Tirfi thir^g 
 then to be done is up with Old 2)ago$ 
 Popery and Prelacy again, and all the 
 Country is deafned ; and wearyed even to 
 Loathing with the Noiie, and running tor 
 and fro of the. bucklers up of T)agon, one 
 Comes Running with the .A-itichiiitian-like 
 face of him, week me failh he, i have id 
 my Pocket a preientatien, I was at the 
 Gentle-Man and Received it juft iibw, and 
 I am like to bruit with Heat leafr, I had 
 not win in Time with it to the Reverend pro 
 bytry ! make me a Work-Man in 
 oiT)agw&t this Popifh plailer will u:l 
 one ofDtgons broken Limbs ': Then comes in 
 another in great hail, Saying I have two 
 or three Oaths hot and Reekifig for I was 
 Juii now at may LordSherif, at Mr. W 
 Jon, my Lord's Chamberland, for he was 
 an Old Sojourner, but now he is grown a 
 Jufiice of Peace, make me a Work- Man 
 in the Houfe of 2) agon, and thefe three 
 Oaths will be a brave Plaifter to herd - 
 broken guordids oiT)agon, and what furthet 
 coaft is to be wared on T)agon, the Pal: 
 will give us Money to bear the Charges] 
 tho we ihould travel for a cure to h 
 even up to Rome, to the Holy Father 
 'Pope, for he is a perfect Phyfician for heal 
 ing the T)agon Z/efeafe, for the Patron 
 is able now, he hath got all the Church 
 Patrimony, & Chrifl's Crown rent among hi3 
 Hands, and he fays he will ipend it on 
 
( H ) 
 
 t Ehgpn y ev*ry plack,beforc he be not as heal 
 of Limb and Lith as eycr he was, before 
 he plaid claih before the Ark of God, 
 then comes forth a Ghoftly black Regiment 
 of them crying good news ! we a company 
 of Phylicians have becnconfulting, Sciitten 8. 
 Days, and we have taken, up 'Dagon's dif- 
 eafe, and knows what will Cure him Effectu- 
 ally, and that is ; i. Let moe Phyficians 
 than one be improved at once, about his 
 Cure, and let the Meetings to Cure Uagon 
 get another Name, left the Oountrey People 
 ihould bogle at them, call them not meet- 
 ings of T^agon's Phyficians, . but call them 
 Sacraments, arid let both.Jurant and Non- 
 Jura nt be there, and that Union will cfc&u^ 
 ally heal the broken Craig of TJxgon^ and 
 Souder his Head to his Craig again, for it 
 would cliftrefsa whole hoft of Philifti&ns to 
 fee TDagon dung all in pieces, like ane old 
 broken Pig j and nothing left to T>agon but 
 his Stumps; And let none Preach or .Write 
 againtt anothers Skill, for that would be when 
 our Brother had foudered a broken Limb or 
 Lith to T>agon, another Bee-headed Brother 
 to come and ding it of! with a pelt again, 
 even when T>agon y s Joints are feeble, green 
 and but beginning to knit, and a defpifirjg of 
 the mo ft aged, grave, and learned Brethren, 
 that have better Skill in curing the T>agon 
 difeafc then raih unconfiderat, unlearned, 
 young- Green-horns, thus all come running, 
 
 he 
 
C 65 1 
 lie with the Head, he with the Stumps, others 
 with the broken Legs arid Lunibs of T)agoti\ 
 others with Twenty Evgtijlo Romijh Plaiiters; 
 heat and reaking and Soudering all up again: 
 Another Committee of T>agon Phyfickns,' 
 rejoicing to fee him up again, are inted 
 
 to ilt and propefe Overtures to the Reverend 
 Affembly of Dagon Phyflcians* how to keep 
 T>iigon up when he is clatched together and 
 the firft Overture they have fallen upon is, as 
 foonas they can have away the Ark of God 
 out of the Honfe, and let Tjagon have all 
 the Room alone, he dow rot abide that, one 
 waff of the Ark of GOD in the Hoiiie," 
 will make T)agon come down with a elafll 
 and fall all in Shells Again, away witli 
 CHRIST'S Invitations. The Second 01 
 verlure they give in, is hold l Uagon's Doer 
 fair, that none of the Minifters that carry 1 - 
 Ark win in to TJagon-i Honfe, iknt them out, 
 and when they are our bolt_the_ Door after 
 them, with the great Draw -.Bar of Excbm 
 nication, A 'Third Overture^ thrs Commit* 
 tee of TJagon Phyficians bring in, is devife 
 Devices, fpread Lyes and Reproaches, 011 
 the Minifters that carry the Ark ot GO D," 
 call them as our Predeceffors did, Devils, 
 Drunkards, Church-Renters, Intruders oh; 
 the Miniftry, and this will raife fo ith. a loath- 
 ing at theni amongft well meaning- People, 
 that they dare not Travel through the Count/ 
 ry, none will give them a Nights Quarter- 
 
end they will foon be Starved out of the \ 
 Nation. 4. A Fourth Overture, they bring | 
 in is, make the Country People believe, that 
 .$11 the Platters ye made for Dagon.&st all 
 for. the good of the Ark, and trie Detrac- 
 tion of Dagon* for were not that we took- 
 theie Oaths, and behaved fo Wifely. *Pre* 
 ibytry had been quit gone, but thefe Oaths 
 arc Hedges about the Church, and now they 
 think they are fure buckled 5 but too fall 
 too loofe. Is there any Counfel or Device 
 agamic the Lord, c D?,gon will down when ye 
 are Sleeping, if ye fivould hold ail your 
 Hands about him, Ifa. 8. o.- 10. Gird your 
 gives and you (hail he . broken to pieces, tike 
 Counjei together aftd it Jhali come to nought; 
 ('peak the 'Word and it Jhali not he done, for 
 GOT) is pith us'r For the LORD hath W 
 .(hudedus, not to fay a Confederacy with 
 you, nor to fear your Fear, but alas ! wheir 
 we fee fuch Work in the Houfe of Dagon, 
 we may Lament 1-chabod the Glory is 'De- 
 parted from the Chmcb of Scdth&d, {or Da-. 
 i/o,! isrickled up again, and the Ark of God 
 is taken. 
 
 o. As where the Ark was, there was' the 
 Glory, and when it- was away, there was 
 Jjj] grace &pd Infamy; fo where the pure 
 Dodrine, Difnpline, WorAip and Govern- 
 ment of Divine Institutions are, there the 
 £ls.ce of G O Ds Reft is Glorious, 
 irnd that Prom lie is fulfilled; X wlP 
 
 make 
 
J 6 J ) 
 
 make the Tlace pf my Reft, Glorious, but when 
 
 thefe are away, then Ignominy and Difgracfe 
 
 folic we th; What difgraceis it to the ^ut, 
 
 to the Seven Churches of <Afia r to the Church 
 
 of Rome and of Scotland? who were a]l 
 
 once Glorious Churches, we may add the 
 
 Churches of France, Ireland, and others, 
 
 when the pure Divine Inftitntic is are in a 
 
 Land, Glory dwells in that Land, but wjien 
 
 away, nothing but Sorrow Ignominy and 
 
 Difgrace, the Glory is "Departed from Ifrael 
 
 for the Ark of God is taken : Thus I have 
 
 ihewed you in thefe Nine Particulars, that 
 
 what the Aik was to Ifrael, the fame the 
 
 uncorrupt Institutions of CHRIST are to 
 
 us, fo when thefe are away we have as great 
 
 Caufe to lament, as Ifrael when the Ark was 
 
 away, the Glory is Departed. 
 
 'thirdly, I am to ihew you, what are thefe 
 Sins we are this Day to Mourn for, as fo ma- 
 ny crafts of the Ark of God's being takes, 
 and the Removal of the right Doctrine, 
 Discipline, Worfhip and. Government of the 
 Houfe of GOD; and befides, what thefe 
 Sins are, which we read as Caufes of this 
 Days Repentance, and Humiliation, lihall 
 now name fome Sins of all Ranks, for from 
 the Throne to the Dung hill, none of us can 
 caft a Stone at another, and fay, we are free.. 
 from Sinning away the Ark of GOT), we may 
 fey with Nebewiah, Neb.JX. 34. We our 
 tvings, our Princes, ourPrieAt?, our Esther. 
 1 2 anc? 
 
( 68 ) 
 and all have Sinned, and have a facj 
 Hand in if. 
 
 i\ The Sins of Rulers are found in Scrip 
 ture to have a deep Hand in a Departing 
 Glory, and i/?, the Sin of tolerating Wick- 
 edneis, and not retraining Sin in their Sub- 
 jects, winch' was the very Caufe the Ark 
 of GOD was loft at this Time, i Sam. III. 
 ig. I mil J-udge the Hnufe of Eli for cver y 
 faith the Lard, becaufe his Sons made them- 
 J clues Tile, and he being the Chief Magiftrate 
 •re (trained them not, there fore'ln the follow- 
 ing Chapter lime I fails before the Enemy, 
 Eli's Sons are Slam, himfelf ' breaks his 
 Neck, thz Ark of GOD is taken, the Wife 
 of 'VrAneas Dies, Lamenting the Glory is 
 departed from Jf'cA. for the Ark of GOD is 
 taken, and this hath been the Sin of many 
 jBritiJh, as well as Ifraditijh Kings. 2. Their 
 Sin of Breach of Covenant, this was the Sin 
 of 'KXwgZedekiah an IfraeUt/fh, and of many 
 Britijh Kings, as well as he, Ezec. XVII. 1 3, 
 ..««.— -24. 25. him that hath Sworn Oaths, it 
 faMl be Vain Divination and Faiie Doc- 
 trine, to Matter him with Impunity, Thou 
 Frophane -and Wicked Prince of Ifwe% 
 whofe end is come, and whole Iniqnitie, 
 mull have an End, thus faith the Lord, Re- 
 move the Diadem, take away the Crown, 
 &nd I will Overturn, Overturn, Overturn. 
 5. Their ftrengthningthe Hands of Evildo- 
 er to ihed the" Blood of the People of God, 
 1 ■■' ■ ' ' s ' as 
 
 ! 
 
(• 6 9 ) 
 as many Ttrityb as well as Ifmelitijh Kings 
 .-.have done, 2 Kings XXI. 14, 15, 16. Iui/2 
 forjake the Remnant of mine ' Inheritance he- 
 caufe King .Manaffeh hathfbed innocent "Blood 
 'very tnuch, and the "Blood of Ifaiah among 
 the reft-, much Saints Blood and Blood of 
 Faithfull Minifters of CHRIST hath been 
 flied by the Britijh Kings. 4. Their thruit- 
 ing in their own Inventions, and Idol a 
 trous, Sugerftitions, in the Houfe of GOD, 
 the Sin of many Britijh as well as TjrdeU 
 iiijh Kings. 2 Kings XVI. 10. A.nd King 
 Ahas \fent to Urijah the Triefi y theTatron of the 
 Heathen AitaY of Damafcus, to Jet it up in the 
 Houfe of the Lord, befides the Lord's Altar, 
 and let them Worfliip God, becaufe the Lord 
 bids them, and alfo Heathen Idols, becanfe 
 the King bids them, what Humane Inventi- 
 ons have been fet up> and Sworn to, by Britijh 
 Kings, that may make ns cry with a bitter 
 cry, the Glory is "Departed from Scotland for 
 the Ark of God is taken, and thefe Abomi- 
 nations makes the Lord depart far away from 
 his Sanctuary, 
 
 2. The Sin of Minifters, and thus as well 
 Bati/hzs Ifaelitrjh, what Tajifi or Trela- 
 tick King i* ever fentusthe Patron of their 
 Altars : But it was readily received by ma- 
 ny Minifters, and fet up in the Houfe of God, 
 as Al^x, 2 Kings. XVIII. 10, it. no foon- 
 erfent the Patron of the Heathen Altar, but 
 Vrijah the Prieft, made it readv, and let it 
 
 up 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 w coking befide the Altar of God in his own 
 Temple, and then he was fure the King 
 would not be angry at him, he was a brave 
 loyal Subjecl, doing his Duty, obeying the 
 Stream Majorat, an Aha'z "King never yet 
 wanted an Urijah Prieft. 2. Breach of the 
 jMinifterial Covenant, which is to be faith- 
 full to God and Man, to cry aloud and not 
 {pare, and fiiew People their Sin, fo that it 
 maybefaid of them, Mai. II. 8, 9. You are 
 'Partial in my Law, and have corrupted the 
 Covenant of Levi, therefore the Lord hath made 
 : bkfi .-; and contemptible in the Eyes of 
 their c\-:h Hearer?, who wiih to have a change 
 of them. 3. Their handling the Word of 
 the Lord Deceitfully, applying the Promifcs 
 to the Wicked, and the Threatning againft 
 the Godly, Ezech. XlIL 22. Hecaufe mib 
 your lyes you hare made the Hearts of the 
 RtgJjteous fad, whom I have not made fad, 
 flrengfhned the Hands of the Wicked 
 that they jhould not turn from their -racked way, 
 therefore I will deliver my Flock out of your 
 Rands, Lam. II. 13. Thy breach is. wide like 
 the Sea, who c&n heal i\ 'what's the. Keafon ( 
 thy Prophets have feen vain and F00M1 
 things for thee, they have not discovered 
 thine Iniquity to turn away thy Captivity, 
 they have leen for thee, vain burdens and 
 Caiifes of Banifliment. 4. Endeavpuring 
 to ftirr up the Magistrate againft their God, 
 John XIX. 12. Jf tJm let thil Man go thej 
 
 art 
 
{ 71 } 
 
 pre ndt Ccfdfs friend \ the Sin of Brifiih as 
 Well as liraclitifli Minifters, fcr which we 
 may take "up this Lametation the Giorv is 
 departed from Scotland for the Ark of God 
 is taken. 
 ' Thirdly, the Sins- of the People ifu In 
 their Joynirg with Magiitrats, aAdMinifters 
 in their Sin and Corruption,' of GOD's 
 Wor/hip, and this. is the Sin of the Jbritifli 
 as well as the Ifraelitifli People, Mic. VI 
 16. For the Statutes qfOmrie are kejt^and 
 the Judgements of the llovfe oj Achah, flat 
 1 Jhould make you a defolaUon^ and aribt/Jing, 
 therefore ye Jrnll bear the Refroch of my 
 T'eople, That have Sinned away the Giory,^ 
 Hof. V 11. Ephraimis tifprtficd and i 
 en in 'Judgement \ hecasfe he toitlwgty *voalh- 
 cd after toe commands of Jeroboam, who 
 reside Jjh.el to Sin, and "it "is told us by 
 our Lord, Mar, XV 14 If the "Blind lead 
 ilk Hind both fall in the Tji.e$, If the 
 ignorant Prophet put Foyfonous £ cards 
 of a wild Vine in the pot, all" that eat or the 
 Pottage are Poyfoned as well as himielf. 2.- 
 The Prophonity, Hypocriiy, and Indifer- 
 ancy among them' in GOD's Matters. 3. 
 Their Refilling inflru&ion frofti tfekhfu] 
 Minifters/ Pro. V if. 12. They /hall Mcttn 
 at lafr y when their Flefh and Tjody is coi 
 ed, faying how haie I dif fifed Rei;oof] a,.d 
 not inclined mine Ear to the %oke of them? 
 that hftrucled me. 4. Abufmg. faithful Mini-" 
 
 fiers" 
 
r ¥ ) 
 
 ftefs, 2 Chro. XXXVI 15. 16. "But they 
 mocked his Mefenger s defpifed his Words & 
 mifufed his Trophets y until the Wrath of the 
 JL RT> arofe againft them y and th'er't -was 
 no Remedy. 5. Making Religion life the 
 Schools of jdrifiot'te XSX&BX or Carthefius where 
 all things are difputed, and Univerfal du ro- 
 tations held to be right, that Men difput every 
 thing, and are fare of nothing, what a Num- 
 bet of Quibbles, and heart Irritating de De- 
 ars Rather then fcudying the love 01 Chrift 
 and frieridlhip among our felves, and con- 
 verting power of Godlinefs, thinking it en- 
 ought to debeat about it, that our Fathers 
 Covenanted with GOD, and fullered the 
 lofsof ail rather then break it, thinking this 
 will take them to Heaven, tho' they do not 
 fo themfelves. and without the power of 
 practical Godlinefs, others, quibling whether 
 thefe new Innovations from England be 
 right or nc", that is needieis fince our Old 
 Reformers knew nothing of them, and fince 
 there is neither command nor Example -for 
 them,, in the heal Word of GOD, what 
 have we to do with them ? Or thefe that 
 rents the Church of God either,a]l Ranks itand 
 ing guilty before God of thefe &C many other 
 Sins, is the ground of Lamentation, our Ark, 
 the- pure dodrin, diiciplme,woriliipand gover- 
 nment of our Church is away, and there will 
 be news of k, many fad days and many in 
 
 their 
 
( 73 ) 
 iheir Graves and the young Generation! 
 Poyfoned, with p at holines, & brougb* 
 
 up in ignorance ere the Ark of GOD come 
 back again. . 
 
 >£.ppL feeing it ii fo that it is the Sins 
 of R-ulers Minifter arid People, that have 
 provoked the LORD to, takeaway theAik 
 then let all repent and turn from their Ini- 
 quity, that the Lord may fend back 
 his Ark, the Glory of "Bnttain, that Glory 
 may yet dwell in our Land, alas ! many 
 ftupied Creatures are Glad that the Ark 
 bf God is away, especially thefe that have 
 the Chief provoking Hand in its departure." 
 The ftupied yews was Glad when they got" 
 Chrift in the Grave, the Idolatrous antichri- 
 ftans were Glad when they got the two' 
 witneffefs killed, becaufe there Preaching 
 Was a Torment to them, and the debauch- 
 ed Covenant abjuers Jblafpmers of the. 
 Holy name of God, adulterers and Forni- 
 cators Stc. Arc Glad now that Church 
 jpower is away, and that right Doctrine,, 
 Difcipline and Goverment is away, they. 
 think they may live as they lift, now, but 
 they may rejoice at Leifure for the remov- 
 al of the Ark is the fuliiling of one of the 
 moft dreadful threatnings in all the Book 
 of God ; Hof . IV 14. I will not punifh your 
 ^Daughters when they commilt Fornication^. 
 'nor your Spoufes when they commit .Adtdtory 
 Let Hell pay the fair of all, for I dif-_ 
 ¥L om 
 
( 74 ) 
 Dun yen for Children, and therefore will not 
 ton eel, but take away the Rod of Church. 
 Goverment ana Difcipluie, Jet all that 
 Love Chrifl and the Salvation of Souls turn 
 their joy into heavinefs, and ery fo* the 
 fulfilling of that promife Zech, XII ir. 
 there Jbail he a great -Mourning in 4ht Land 
 like the M&urnitig of Hadad rimmon in the 
 
 of Ltii } of the MinifterS i and the Common* 
 
 jor the loft of the Ark, the pure ordinances 
 and inftitutions of the Houfe of GOT). As 
 thefe Mourned lor the lofs of holy " Refor- 
 ming King Jollah, much more canfe have 
 we to mourn for the lofs of Glorious faving 
 King JESUS, and his Ark the Glory, and 
 curled"' be that Man that mocketh God, con- 
 ing thefe Sins, and does not foriake N 
 them, and bleffed is that Man that dortfeffefh 
 and loriaketh his' Sins he iliall find mercy, 
 let us all do as theie that confeifed their Sin, in 
 -Marrying ftrang Wives, Ez. X. 3. They 
 made a Covenant to put them away Ezcfc 
 XVIII.' 30. He that repenietb and tv.rneth' . 
 from all his abominations. Iniquity Jhdl not 
 -he his ruin. 
 
 2 Is the Ark our Glory, the pure infti- 
 tntions of thc^ Ho.iic of God gone, 1 ; 'e 
 that exhortation Joel I 8. Lament like 
 a xirgin. girded ixith Sach:loatl\for the Hus- 
 ■ hand of her Touth, 1. Over the Nation, 2. 
 over the Church 01 Scotland, 1. Lament 
 
 ove 
 
over Scotland* why? There is an I-chabod 
 written upon it as it is a Nation, aud 
 here we may ufe the words of the lam 
 ting Prophet, Lam. I i. Hot*) doth the. 
 City fit jblitary that was, full of Teople hoiti 
 is/be become as a ztidow, Jhe that -was 
 great among the Nations and her princes a-* 
 piong rue provinces, O Edinburgh the Royal 
 City, at the gates of which entered our 
 noble Kings Sitting on Thrones, the Prirv» 
 ces Sitting in Parliaments, maintaining the 
 Liberties and Priviledgcs, of this Ancient 
 and Indcpendant Kingdom, O Scotland which 
 in ancient Ke forming Covenanting clays, 
 was a praife in the whole Earth, a Glory 
 in all Lands making the Nations about t.Le 
 to trembler, how art thou now Sitting like 
 a Widow Girded in Sackcloath, bewailing 
 thy felf, or Sitting like a Silly Slave, 
 waiting with trembling what new cedes, 
 new Prefies, new coined Conference waft- 
 ing, heart confounding Oaths fiiall come 
 down to thee next from England, that thou 
 may fpeedily do bidding, left it be worfe 
 for the, Read Jer.ll 17. And fee the canfe 
 of all this, its not we need to repine againft 
 England, or fo much againft the Surrender- 
 ee of our Noble ancient Priviledges/ as a- 
 gainft our felves, its for our Iniquities we 
 have fold our felves, thy own wickednefs 
 hath corre/ted thee thy own badciliding 
 ha-h reproved thee, know therefore and 
 K 2 fee 
 
( 7^ ) 
 fee that it is an evill thing, and bitter that 
 thou haft forfaken the Lord they God, and 
 that his fear hath not been in thee, for as 
 we would not maintain Chrifts Royal Pre- 
 rogatives, as only King and Head of his 
 Church, therefore he hath not maintained 
 pur foveraignity, as a free Nation, I thought 
 nothing of it faith the Lord that the Epif- 
 copal party of the Nation, fought to un- 
 king me from Age to age, {or that is 
 their known Principle, and as long as the 
 contending party held me their king, I 
 ftood by them, and maintained their Privi- 
 leges and Soveraignity of the Nation, but 
 when once the contenders for me former- 
 ly, begain to unking me alio, that's it I 
 cannot Endure, I fliall urination them that 
 unking me, and that defervedly we are 
 puniihed, lefs than our Iniquities deferve. 
 
 2. Lament like a Virgin Girded with 
 Sacixloath, for the Husband of her youth, 
 as thou art a Church, it is not with thee 
 new Poor Church of Scotland, as it was 
 with the once, in thy Longfyn bonnie Re-' 
 uing Covenanting days, when able pow- 
 erful Minifters brake through Holts of 
 rftiliflines, and plucked the Ark of God 
 put from among tfa Hands of the Mighty, 
 and fer it on its own baffes and when it 
 , .us there, they would have let their neck 
 jjo before rhey had J^t the Ark of God go, 
 
 mid tney have becked and beinged and 
 
 furrendered 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 furrendered the Ark of God to a Number 
 of outlandifh Prelates, they would have 
 been hanged firft. In thefe brave days of 
 faithful valient Minifters it was not," is 
 the Steepends in hazard, but is the Arkof God, 
 the Doctrine, Difcipline Worfliip and Go- 
 verment of God's Houfe, and the Souls of 
 his People in hazard, in thefe days the 
 Church of Scotland Looked forth as the 
 Morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the 
 Sun, terrible as an Army with Banners, alas 
 now how is the cafe altered with! a pack 
 ofSotiih covetous, unfaithful Infamous ipry, 
 have expofed the Ark of God to the Camp, 
 and it is fet up yonder in the Dagon Kouie 
 of Englifh Prelats, and Sixand Twenty Prc- 
 lats, have got the Goverment of the Church 
 of Scotland, who in reforming days promifed 
 to extirpat Prelacy, and is this the way this; 
 Covenanted Church is Ruled then all fear- 
 ers of God take up that Lamentation over 
 her, Lam. I 8. Scotland hath Greivoufty 
 Sinned, therefore is flie removed, all that 
 honoured her defpife her, becaufe they have 
 feen her nakednefs, yea flic Sigheth and 
 turneth backward, her jSlthisefs is in her 
 Skirts, therefore fee came down wonder- 
 fully, Our Bonny Jcrufalan is removed to 
 England for her Sin, O weary Days as 
 long as flie is there thefe that honoured 
 her, Defpife her, becaufe they have feen her 
 aaakednefs, her knavery and hypocrify, 
 
 * whicfc 
 
f 73 ) 
 which hath made her naked, to the Wrath 
 pi God, and the Eyes of the World, and the 
 Power of her Adverfaries, and therefore we 
 may Cry with a Lamentable and Bitter Cry, 
 1-cDabod the Ark is taken, the Glono-s 
 Doctrine, Diiciplinc, Worihip and Govern- 
 ment, of the Church is away. 
 
 3. h the Ark of GOD gone, then take 
 not Satisfaction in any thing elfe, while the 
 Ark the pure Inuitittions of CHRIST are 
 away, out of his Honfe, Jet not the Minifter 
 be fatisfied with his Stipends, nor the great 
 Men with their Rents,nor the Labourous Man 
 v/ixh his Mealing, nor the Merchant with 
 their Gain, tjiefe empty infigniiicant nnfatif- 
 ig Triffies wten the Ark of God the Glo- 
 ry is away, may we not now fay, it we were 
 Swine we ihouid fee fatisfied with the Mire, 
 and uveal of the World, if we were Oxen 
 we fliouldbe fatisfied with the i^odaer, if we 
 were Ravenous Beafts we fhould be fatisfied 
 with Carbn-, bpt iince we are Rational Men, 
 capable of the Enjoyment of God, nothing 
 canfatisne us, while we want an Ark, a God 
 & a Glory, the Curfe of God go down with the 
 ill win Riches, and Stipends, for which ma- 
 ny miferable Wretch, have fold the Ark, 
 GOD, Glory, and Altogether, and can be 
 fatisfied with thefc, and rever Lamenting af- 
 ter a departing Glory, this hone ft Woman had 
 gotOne : of the greareit Temporal Mercies,not 
 only a Child but a Man-Child, not only "a 
 Man-Child, bat one who bv his Birch was to, 
 
 be. 
 V \ 
 
(75 J 
 be a jyfeffenger of the Lord of I lofts, and 
 yet wonderfully difiatisrled with inch a Mer- 
 cy iiifted of the Ark, the Woman laid fear 
 not, thou haft Born a Man-Child, but 
 fhe anfwered not, neither regarded it; but nam- 
 ed the Child I-cbabod the Glory is departed 
 from Ijrael, for the Ark of GOD is taken, 
 aMan.Child ! O fad and weary Man-Child ! 
 bearing the doleful marks, that JJraelonce had 
 a God, an Ark and a Glory, and now all 
 gone, and a Son in the room of all the Threes 
 O ! ill fill'd room ! what Creature is that ? 
 that can fill up the room of the Creator! 
 what Son is that? that can fill up the room of 
 a Saviour? what Man-Child is that, that 
 can fill up the room of the Divine Doctrine, 
 Difcipline, Woriliip and Government, of 
 the Houfe of God, and fupply the want 
 of a departed Glory, here is the" Man-Child, 
 but where is the God? and where is the Sa- 
 viour? and where is the Ark the Synit o] of his 
 Pretence t not to te found in all t\ e Coafts 
 6f Jfraell O weary Scotland \ what good 
 ; can Relations. Riches, otf Peri firing Fkafures 
 do to thee, that haft loft a Nation, aChurch, 
 an Ark, a God, and a Glory ; I-cbabod this 
 may be written on all fuch Enjoyments, once 
 we had an Ark, a Nation, a Church a God, 
 and a Glory, which fweerned all other Loffes, 
 • Croffes and "Calamities to us, like the flick caft 
 in the bitter Waters, of Mar ah that rendrcd 
 them all iwcet, but now the loft of thefc 
 
 leaves 
 
( 8o ) - : 
 
 leaves a bitter tange,on our fweeteft Enjoy- 
 ments, we cannot drihk of the S'an&uary- 
 Watersnow, they run Rank with Litter Gall, 
 and it's a fad fill a fill of Cinjickis Preach- 
 ings, fromGodlefs, Giorilefs, Arkkft Mini* 
 £{£{% who have finned away the Ark and tire 
 Glory, I-chabod the Glory is departed, the 
 Ark of God is takeii, and nothing cUc can 
 compence that lofs, or fill up the room 
 thereof, tho' thc:Prx>phane Godlefs Pricfts, 
 Hcpbni and Thzneha-S had furvived the Ark, 
 they would have been an heartlefs bargain 
 with all their Preaching, who had fent the 
 Ark, the Glory out of Ijrad, apply this 
 to our fad Day, go to Edinburgh, and there 
 fend oil" the Nation the Ark the Glory, and 
 then come home and Preach, O Infatuat 
 Preacher ! O bewitched Hearers ! 
 
 4. Is the Ark, God, and the Glory gone, 
 then reft not on Pruitlefs Lamentations or 
 Idle wiflies ; O purine hard after God, the Ark 
 &nd the Glory, cry to him, Lord tho' thou go 
 out of Scotland, with the Ark and the Glo- 
 ry, yet that ftiall :not finder me and thee, if 
 there be a God &nd a Glory in Heaven and 
 Earth, lihall be at him; will I fit like a 
 Sot, and hear a £>ack of Men Havering and 
 Preaching, that have fent away the Ark, the 
 God and the Glory, no,0!j my Soul, pafsa- 
 way from them, and fee if you can find him 
 whom my Soulloveth; there and nowhere 
 clfe will I Worihip, but where the Ark the 
 F God 
 
I St. ) 
 
 God and tire Glory are. Cant. 3; 4. Thd* 
 lihouldleave all the Minifters in Scotland^ 
 him will I not leave; KaL 63, 8. My Soul 
 folhwetb bard after thee^ I ihall follow; thee, 
 with Complaints,, Pfal. 22. 1, My God my 
 God why baft thou forfaktn me, 1 iL.sll holdl 
 Faiths grips as I follow: thee my God, my 
 God, I fhall follow thee with Arguments, 
 our Fathers hoped in thee and- thou helped 
 them, Lord, my Fathers GOli and nry 
 GOD be no worfe to me tazn^ to my 
 Fathers, I fh all follow thee with flie, Com- 
 rnendations of thee, hear me pr r (j hod 
 
 wilt, yet thou art Holy, I have alltheweitol 
 the harih Dealings I got from thee, fol 
 him Commending hini, and I iliail war 
 thee, for there is no fear, if the forfakiD; 
 not Mutual, a Flyer would haieai: r oUo 
 if thou foriake not him he will not forfake 
 thee, he never forfakes them that truly feek- 
 him ; there's not an ever dyed fince GO 33 
 made the World, feeking GOD in the way 
 to Heaven, with this Written oh -their 
 Gr&ve-Stone, to difcourage thee, HERE, 
 
 3l3tes a. man that terish-. 
 Mt> with his soul, follow 
 1ng hard after god com* 
 
 tlaining, . "believing,, 
 argumenting and com- 
 mending him, sut thou 
 
 ART HOLT, no, no, and thou fliall 
 tot ly by the Way, more than the fed! 
 
r i* ) 
 
 them, O Righteous Man hold on this way, ana J 
 God fend you good fpeed this Day inPeiiu- 
 ing after a departed Ark, a departed GOD 
 and a departed Glory; do as JJrrri did in 
 fucha Cafe, i Sam. 7. 2. Wferfc tfo ■*#-& 0/ 
 God abode at Kirjath-jaram, fin it was i 
 it was Twenty Tears ail Ifrael lamer fed qfaf* 
 the Lord, While the Ark of God abides 
 long at England, the? it fliculd be Twenty 
 Years, twice told, Itt all Scotland Lament 
 after the Lord, cry Mightily to GOD afi 
 pmid Tfal CXXX1L 8. "O Lord God 
 Return, Return, Return, Return O Lord* 
 to thy Red, thou and the Ark of thy Strength 
 Return once again O Lord God of Scotland^ 
 to thy own Scotland, fhy own Covenanted 
 Scotland, aadfulfill that pronyfe to this Ge* 
 neration tK\i from one Gfenefaticrft to 
 another, Men /hall lliew forth thy Mighty 
 Axis, Lord what ilia.11 this Generation have? 
 to tell of thy Mighty Afts? for thy Ark 
 and People, if thou bring it not back ill 
 our Age, let not there be iuch a fad blank- 
 in thy Book, as to leave out this Gene ra- 
 tion, and give them nothing of this to do.' 
 5* Artie; arife why lyeft thou on the 
 Groirad, sp and to Work, this Glorious- 
 Work to bring back our God, the Ark and 
 the Glory* O ! that God would fend a flrife' 
 fitfoughotrf the Land when the King of Glo- 
 ry h away with the Ark as was when King 
 ybaMd was away. 2 Sarn, XIX. 9. "there 
 
f *3 ) 
 
 ©W a f -oughaut the whole Land, fay;:* 
 
 the Kv ^ fixed us out of we Hands of our , .- 
 pemes 9 and now he iiYled out of the Land 
 for A'USslLOMy and why are we the 
 laftin bringing back the Ki:^ f Vv'hyihould 
 we abide wnh Abeatloet the Hie Prieftthat 
 keep? Alfalom\ Court, and revolted froin 
 the Antitype of Tjaxid, what hatn not T>a- 
 ltd, King JESUS never a Minitter to our* 
 him, hath not Jef us delivered us from Death, 
 Hell, and Sin, Heathenifm, Popery and 
 Prelacy ; and fliall we ly lrill faying if he be 
 away, let him come again when he pleafcs, 
 Its not the Fa&ion now to go for him, go 
 thy way gracelefs Soul, he will come back, 
 Whether thou fetch him or not, but thou may 
 take up that bitter Cry, Mai. III. 2. Its pro- 
 mifed the Lord whom ye feek fiiall fuddenly 
 come to his Temple, but the cry rifes then 
 among thefe that fought him not back, but 
 who may abide the the Day of his coming,, 
 and who can ftand when he appeareth, ma- 
 ny look up with a bold difdainful Counte- 
 nance now,pn thefe that are purfuing hard af« 
 ter him,and will not allow them Converfe,nor 
 anights quarters becaufethey call themChurch- 
 Ivenrers, that iliall look with pale Faces 
 and Trembling Joynts, at his back coming, 
 go thy way, is the bringing Chrift, the Ark, 
 and the Glory back a renting of thy Church, 
 what a Church is that? Would to God 
 Mai% that Church -had been rent from top to, 
 
 bouom 
 
( H ) 
 poiiom long Seven Years fince, that Kirk of 1 
 thhie is over long heal, that ftands in the way | 
 of the coming back of the Ark, our Godl 
 and i our Glory, do as David did when he 
 went to 'bring back the Ark, 2JSam. T VI. 2l 
 'e£.;id David and all Jfrael iijent to bring tip 
 the- Ark of "God; zvhofe name is called by the 
 r Na?ncojthe Lord of Hojts, that dvcdleth be- 
 pfoeen the Cherubims : But alas fay fome ! if 
 King, and Rulers, and Miniftcrs would go 
 v; ;li ns, we ;vonld go and bring back the Ark, 
 hut what can we do?'' *a number of poor Bo- 
 die" can we gt> alone ? ' and enter into a Co- 
 tenant to bring back the ; Ark, the Glory: 
 Anfwer firil, doit" thou nnderflannd what 
 thou faycftr\ dofc thou not fc'nOw? that tb : 
 make a Covenant to bring back the Ark, is 
 no more but to Covenant/ to keep by the 
 right 'DbQriie^ Woriliip and Government 
 of trVe ' Boiife of God, + 'vhtther Minifters 
 and Maffiftrats do it or no. 2 Tell mc in 
 earneft Man, if other folk be content, to 
 ■vyanta God, an Ark and a Glory, are yon con-' 
 tent to clofo too:* 3, Js it rictyourDuty fodo as 
 Jo/hud;Jqfh. XX1Y- Chuie ye to fervc 
 whom ye will, as ic ■? me and my Family we 
 will ierVe tb^ Lord/' What tho* the King 
 as once Hcmeft 'facrytd did takefuch arlege, 
 th'it'he be afraid to' bring back the Ark ; 
 & Sam! VI. 8'. 'David' was afraid, feeing a 
 crfrtfade on Uzza, and would not bring 
 the Ark to him' to the City of 'David, 'but 
 • - . whe» 
 
( 85 ) 
 
 when King and Prieits, and all kid by the 
 Work up Hands good Obed-Edom and takes 
 home the Ark of God for them all, and 
 what one Family did, may not a part of 
 feverai Shires do * What hinders thee to do 
 as Obed-Edom did? Art thou fear'd they 
 call thee an Edomite, If thou do fo, call thee 
 as they pleafe, if thou win as much by it as 
 Obed-Edom did, thou wilt not rue the Bargain; 
 the Ark remained in the Houfe of Obcd-Eclo;;j 9 
 and God biffed Obed-Edom and all his Houfea 
 You are neither to go out of your Station 
 to do the King's Part nor the Minlfter's Part, 
 but your own Part; if none in all Scotland 
 ihould take in the Ark, take ye it in, if none 
 in all the Paroch or Family fliould take it in* 
 fcc ye the Perfon alone in fr^ Family or 
 Paroch, that will not hold Chrift without 
 and ye within, take thou in the Ark, God, 
 and the Glory, and you have good Compa- 
 ny, I mean you not, your Bread is Bakei), 
 who knows, but when Kings, Rulers and 
 Minifters fees God's Bleffing on thefe that 
 take in the Ark, but they may 'come to an 
 Gled-Edoms Houfe and take in the Ark, 
 and give it room about \Throhes, Courts and 
 Churches, if once the fleg they have got with 
 it for the rafli handling of it were over, St Ihey 
 come a Kttk to thcmielves again, the A±I^ of 
 G O D is good PleneSQiing,in the mean Time. 
 6. In turning back the Ark of GOD again, 
 fo that ye do it very cautioufiy, let that be 
 
 your. 
 
( 8<5 ) 
 your firft care ; And i/?, in ferbging bade 
 She Ark of <SOD, take heed ye Jay not a 
 foul Finger on it, come firft to the Blood of 
 Sprinkling with the Tears of Repentance, 
 and ye will be the fitter for handling the 
 Ark of GOD, take that Advice along 
 with you ye will Thrive the better at Ark- 
 Work, Ifa. I. 17, 18. Wajh ye make you 
 dean, ceafe to do evil, learn to do well, PiaL 
 XXVI. I villi wajh my Hands in Innocency, 
 and fo I will catftpafs thine Alter. 2. Take 
 heed what ye carry the Ark home again u- 
 pon, left the Work Mifcarry, as it did, 
 £ Sam. 6. 3. Then they ho/mmered up a new Qart t 
 and bended the Ark of God upon it, and God 
 fmpte Uzza to Death, Whyi* that was not 
 the way GOD commanded to carry home 
 Ids Arjt, the Levitt- ihould carry it, be- 
 ware, ift of the new Cart of Human Knglijb 
 Inventions, lay it not on the Shoulders of 
 civil Magiftrates to do as he bids with it, 
 even a good T)artid gave a finfull Command 
 when he commanded to make a new Cart, 
 and draw it home with Eeafls, therefore it 
 mifcarried and came not home at that Time. 
 2. Eeware it be not laid on the new Cart 
 of the Inclinations of the People, that is as 
 totering a Seat as ever the Ark of God 
 was let upon, and yet this was the Cart our 
 Revolution-Men fent for it, when they ftiould 
 have laid it on GOD's Mind revealed in the 
 Scriptures; but Cart and it and all have got- 
 ten. 
 
( 87 ) 
 ten a fliake for that Sort of Work, NwK 
 4.5. They fhal! not touch any Holy Thirig 
 feft they dy,- DM. XII. 2. Ye fiiall hot da 
 every Man what feerns good in his own Eye?;. 
 fome great ProfefTofs have laid it on the In- 
 clinations of the People, and are ail like to 
 (be :ken to ihivefs, with the tottering of it. 
 k> i ye go not with a Proud Heart to 
 
 brim : the *4rk 9 for if you do^ neither 
 
 GC ; nor Glory will go with yon. 
 
 Ex. XXXJIL 1. I will not go with this Peo- 
 ple for it h a ftiff necked People, a Stiff 
 Proud and Wilfull People, are not for the 
 Workj-gonotaSfo many Rude Souldiers, of 
 father proud Beggars contending and calling 
 tout about it, whofhall he molt praifed, e- 
 Deemed and cryed up, if you can fay with T)a& 
 %id 9 Lord mine Heart is not Haughty nor 
 feline Eyes Lofty, then thou may exneer his 
 Goncfua in the Work, Pial. XXV? 9. He 
 id il glide tie Meek and Lowly, and tt 
 tieffiMsioay. ..* . 
 
 Secondly, There are fome Things I would! 
 ftave you doing, in going to bring tack the 
 Ark, j. Come with Hearts knit to GOT), 
 and to one another, In Love, Jer. 1L. 5. Thfc 
 Children of Jfrael ihall come they and the 
 Children of Judab together, weeping «ns 
 tjitygo, they ihall go to feekthe Lord thek 
 G O D, faying, Let us join our felves to 
 the LORD; join to the LORD and one 
 another. 
 
 a. Corns 
 
( 8 * > 
 
 , 2. Com? with firm Rcfoktions in Hi* 
 Strength to make a fickerer Covenant with 
 him, that ye ihall keep the Ark better, I 
 mean, the Divine Doftrine, Difcipline* 
 Worihip and Governmerft of his Houfe, 
 P'urer than ever ye did, and not loofe it out 
 of aSlaviihFearof Man coaft what it will. 
 3, Come with an Holy Emulation, an4 
 Contention, who ihall do moft and be fore- 
 mod in bringing back the Ark of God, 
 2 Sam X. 1 1 * Why ihould we be the kit in - 
 bringing back the Ring ? 5. come with an heal 
 Heart, let neither Sin, Satan, or the World, 
 have any Part of it, and ye ihall come fpeed, 
 Jer. 29. 13, Thenjhallyejeek me and find me\ 
 <mhcn ye fearebforme with all your Heart. 4; 
 Come with Hearts melting with Sorrow, for. 
 finning a way the Ark, as thefe, Luke. II. 4.8- 
 Tthy Father at:d Tha-ve fought fbe Sorrowing. 5', 
 With great ]ojT>axid and Ifrael brought back 
 the Arkvvich Pialtries,Tr ampersand Harps re- 
 joicing greatlybefore the Lord, why I becaufe 
 Cbveiianting-Pays are Chrift Coronation- 
 Days the People ihonted till the Earth rang 
 again, when it could be faid, Solomon reign- 
 cth. O then what Joy ought there to be? 
 when ye fet the Crown on the Head of Chrift; 
 and fwear your alledgance to Him, let all 
 the Chiidrenof Zion be joyfull in their King, 
 yen Pfalms of Joy and Pxaifes on his Co* 
 conation-Day, GOD Reigneth let the 
 
.., ( 83 J 
 Earth be glad, and the Iiland of ScothnA 
 greatly Rejoyce and we that now Sow id 
 Tears may reap in Joy, 
 
 A 
 
 Treface, LeCiureand 
 Sermon, on the Lord's 
 Day before the Re- 
 newing of the Cove- 1 
 nants. 
 
 PR E F A C E. 
 
 AMONG many other Things' T)M?d 
 was a Type of CHRIST,, in tkefe 
 Two. ift In that the People of Jfraeh 
 
( 90 ) 
 League and Covenant with 'Dartd, 2SamV a 
 3. And Secondly Set theCrown uponhis Head; 
 1. That they made a League with him, 
 2 Sam. V. 3, So all tie Elders of Ifrael tame 
 tot tie King to Hebron, and he made a League 
 mth trjem before the Lord,' typyfying the 
 League and Covenant, that is made between 
 King JESUS, and Israelites indeed, in whom 
 is no Guile, and this is the Work for which 
 you are come here to Day, O that it may be 
 fa id, and King JESUS, and the Sincere Scots* 
 Men are come to "Black-hill, and then he 
 made a League with them and they with 
 him ; Now in this League to Day, ijl 9 
 there moft be a Renounciation, a Difoun- 
 ing and Shaking off the Authority, of all 
 Ufurpers, and Pretenders who pretend to be 
 King of the Heart, or King of the Church, 
 let this be a great Article of your League 
 with him this Day, that was the Article of 
 Jjrach League with him, Ka. XXVI 13. 
 Lord ot<y God, dther Lords hauehadlDominion 
 ever us, but henceforth by thee .only will nsoe 
 wake Mention erf thy Name % They have inva- 
 ded ,md imp'ofed on our Confidences, they have j 
 invaded -And impofed upon thy Kingly Domi- 
 nion jh thy Church, and we like Slaves and 
 Rebels nave, yielded to their ufurped Autho- 
 rity, but by thy Grace it fliall be lb no 
 n<»re, thz L O ft. D will pnrfue you with the 
 Armies of his Wrath, ay till you put away, 
 a&d ilta.K coif the Authority of thefe Pre ten- 
 
 ders ? 
 
( 91 ) 
 ders, to his Kingly Throne, as TDawd did 
 the City oiAbell, whereof Rebell Sbeba had 
 taken Poffefion, but when they once threw 
 the Head of Sbeba over the wall to Joab % 
 'David'* Army retired, 2. Ye muft this Day 
 take the Oath pf Alledgence, to him that 
 ye will be governed by his Laws , and on- 
 ly fubmit to the Doftrinc, Difcipline, Wor- 
 fliip and Government of his Houfc, which he 
 himfelf hath appointed and revealed in his 
 Holy Word, contained in the Conferlion of 
 Faith, and Sworn to by the Three King- 
 doms, and that although it be with many af- 
 ter their Oath as it was with Orfab. Ruth I, 
 14. who after a Solemn Promife, to'gowith 
 Ruth to the People, and God, of ijr^id 
 yet kiffed her Mother in Law, and left the 
 God of Ifrael r and his People, yet do ye as 
 Ruth did, /he clave to her Mother in Law, 
 and faid thy People fhall be my People, 
 and thy God fhall be my God, and took a» 
 Oath upon it, as the Lord liveth ihe would 
 do it, I know thefe that have all their Reli- 
 gion by rat, and kens no more of the Keali-. 
 ty and Power of it, than aBeaft will think it 
 Strange or fay it is Judgement like to. fee 
 you hold up your Hands and fvvear your 
 Alledgance to Chrift, but the really Reli- 
 gious knows it is a great Duty commanded 
 of God, and pracliied not only in our Fa- 
 ther's Days, bat even under the darker A i- 
 miniilraticn, under the old Teftament, 2v : . 
 
 M 2 X. 2 9 , 
 
X. 29. they entered into an Oath, and 4 
 Curie to keep the Commandments of GOD; 
 Wifhii® the heavy Curfeof GOD on them- 
 fckes :f tii^y kcep^d not the Covenant or 
 Comr.i^nd^eiu's of God. ' 3. Article of your 
 League with jEimit nmft be that ye will ne- 
 ver part', your Spiritual Obedience betwixt 
 jhim ancj pretended ufurpers, if it fhould 
 coaie to that, that the Kings of the Earth* 
 aid forbid the Government, Difciplme, 
 Doctrine and Woriliip that CHRIST Com- 
 mands, or to dirniniik fo much therefrom as 
 kn evidence of Loyalty. Anfwerthem, not , 
 £n Hove, or Hare-breadth ( What needs thitf 
 £rc there no other ways to * evidence our 
 Loyalty to Earthly Monarchs, but by prov- 
 ing IVebels to CHRIST, if paying them _ 
 what is their Dues, praying \o GOD for 
 them, Uc- will not prove it, t&eyfliall get 
 no other proof from us, Atis IV. 18, 19. 
 Let them take Teiefs Anfwer, in the like 
 Cafe, whether it's Right in the Sight of 
 God, to obey yoiynore than God judge ye. 
 Now if you Covenant with the LORD, 
 to be ruled by his Laws, he will Covenant 
 with you, that ye ihall be faved by his 
 Rightc oufnefs, protected from your Enemies, 
 guided by his Cp.u»fel here/ and received, 
 to his Glory hereafter, and be not dejected 
 tho' ye meet with perplexing Difcoiu 
 ments, about or after your Covenanting, ibr 
 £0 it hapened to Abraham, Gen. XV. 12. 
 
 GOD 
 
God Entering in Goveant with him, the 
 Sun went down upon him, and lo an hor- 
 
 our of great Darknes fell upon him, but 
 the Lord thy God will make they Dark-- 
 nefs Light, and he promifes Gen. XV i. 
 To Protect him, fear not Abraham for 
 I am they ihield, and thy exceeding great re- 
 ward, Ifa XL1II t. 2. Fear not for 
 I have redeemed thee, I have called the, 
 by thy Isfamc tho"a art mine I am the Lord 
 thy God, the Holy one of Ifrael they Sa- 
 viour Tf. CHI God's Mercy never 
 ends to them that fear him, tq them that 
 keep his Covenant and his Teftimonies. 
 
 Secondl as they made a Covenant with 
 jDaTid, fo they anointed him, and fet the 
 Crown upon his Head, for he was a King 
 of God's appointing, therefore they fet the 
 Crown upon his Head, fo Jefus Chrift is 
 a king of God's appointment, therefore fet 
 the Crown upon his Head, Tf. II 6. I 
 have let my King upon my Holy Hill Zion, 
 therefore the Church Crowns him hence 
 the cali is given Can. 3. Ult go forth O! 
 Daughters of Zion, and fee King Solomon 
 with the Crown wherewith his Mother 
 Crowned him, in, the Day of his Efpoufals 
 ye know Dukes, and Nobles, and Pears 
 cf thcLand are Honoured to fet the Crown 
 on the Heads of earthly Kings and what Joy 
 among them at their Coronation and the 
 cry given King William^ or George Ring- 
 ed* 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 cth in London, few of the great Men for? , 
 maly making a Covenant with, & Crown- 
 ing King Jefus only fpme of meaner Rank 
 but, Heavens Nobles {hat are to fet the 
 Crown on Chrifts Head to day when he is 
 coming to take infeftment in Scotland come 
 away fee him with the Grown on his Princ- 
 ely Head, the Crown of the Kirk of Spot* 
 land, and long may Jie enjoy it and 
 God's bleffing one eveyy one that lifts up 
 an Hand to fet it on his Head and God 
 give every one of you a Joyfull Heart 
 at his coming to Receive the Crown,, Zech 
 IX 9. Rejoyce greatly O ! Zion, input O ! 
 Daughters! pfjerufalem behold {hy King 
 someth to the meek and having Salvation, 
 and Lord give you a Joyful Heart when 
 ye have fet the Crown xipon his Head, 
 &f. 149-2- Let all the Children of 
 Zion be Joyfull in their King, and fend 
 you home to your Houfes with a Glad 
 Heart, faying as in Jfaiab XXXIII. 22. 
 Now the Lord k our Judge the Lord is 
 pur Lawgiver, he will fave us, we have 
 Crowned Qirift whom we have chofen 
 to be our King let others chule to be 
 King in the Church whom they will I have 
 chofen him, and fee who /hall have moft 
 ground to rejoyce in their King, at the 
 laft day, look there be noAie that fear 
 God here to day that iliall either refufe to 
 fet the Crown upon his Head or be angry 
 
 at 
 
( 95 ) r 
 at us who are going to v do r it when wtf 
 
 .Ztebar you from the Priviledges of hi* 
 Kingdom, left it come to this at lafl with 
 yOu thefe mine Enemies that would not 
 that I fhould Reign ovci' them, bring 
 >them hither and flay them before me, now 
 you have a Golden opportunity to do 
 Chfift anHoribur openly before the World 
 and fwear your alledgance to him when 
 bthers are fwcaring away his Kingly pre- 
 rogatives you will may be never fee the 
 Ixke again while your Eyes are open,' 
 Hand not in the way of your own mercies 
 for thofe that Honour him he will Honour 
 but thefe that Defpife him fliall be lightly 
 eftemed Ledure, 
 
 LECTURE 
 
 . Ckt XV. f2, is, 14,- T5. And 
 they entred into e Covenant to feek tlx 
 Lord God of their Fatlxrs, with all their 
 Heart and with all their Scul, "That -who* 
 foever would not feek the Lord God of 
 Ifrael, Jhould be put to TJeath, whether 
 fmall or great, whether Man or Woman 
 And they Sware unto the Lord with a 
 loud Voice, and with jhoiding, and with 
 Trumpets and with cornets And g'll Judah 
 
 rejoyced 
 
£ 95 ) 
 
 rtjoyeti at the Oath ; for they had Sworn with 
 all their Heart, and fought him with their 
 whole dejire, and he was found of them and 
 the Lord garoe them rest round about 
 
 IN the Fh% Two verfes of this Chap: 
 the Prophet Ohed Exorteth King <A}a* 
 and all Judah to cleave to the Lord, and 
 backshis exhortation with fir (iaPromife, that 
 if they be with the Lord in Duty, he will be 
 with them in Mercy, the Lord is with you 
 while you are with him. . 2. With a thre- 
 atningthat if they left the Lord's fervice, 
 he would leave them but if ye forfake 
 him, he will alfo forfake you, and then 
 one may chafe a Thoufandof thembecauie 
 their Rock hath S©ld them, and the Lord 
 hath flint them up, and the truth of what 
 he had now afferted, he proveth from an 
 example pf the late war betwixt the King- 
 dom of Judah and the Kingdom of Ifmel 
 for Judah who had not forfaken God prove 
 victorious in the War^ and Ifrael who 
 had forfaken the Lord were yanquiihed and 
 greatly diftrefled, as in the XIII Ghap. of this 
 Book, from u 3; For, now, for a long time 
 Ifrael was without the true GOD, without' 
 a teaching Prieft, and without Law, then 
 there was no Peace to them that went out, 
 or came hv but City, divided a&ainft City, 
 and the Lord did vex them with all Ad- 
 ▼crfi'tv, they had Priefe enough at that 
 
 Time 
 
( 91 ) - 
 Tittle, but they were unfaithful, therefore 
 GOD reckons them no Priefts and there was 
 As little luck, Grace, or Peace in their Time, 
 as it is faid in Chap. 13. 9. have ye not caft 
 out the Priefts of the Lord, and made you 
 Priefts after the Manner of the Nations of a- 
 ther Lands, fo that whofoever cometh tocon- 
 fecrat himfelf with a young Bullock and 
 Seven LambsJ the fame may be a Prieftof them 
 that arc no GODs, the very fin of Scotland: 
 Now this good King hearing it to be the faf- 
 eftCourfe for him and all his Kingdom to 
 cleave to the Lord, he prefently gathers all 
 Ifrael together, and King and People and 
 altogether, enter into a Covenant to feek 
 the LORD GOD of their Father's: Ofot 
 fuch a work among the the King and Sub- 
 jects, of 'Britain what Peace would be amongffi 
 us from GOD, and what bleffings would 
 King and Subjects be to one another, how 
 .would it go better with Soul and Body, both as 
 to oar Temporal and Eternal Conditions f 
 How would the Heart-Burnings, and Debate 
 that are amongft us at this Day ceafe ? but 
 aks! little Faith in God, but all Humane' 
 Policy ay debording farther, and farther from 
 God's Covenant, and ay the farther from it, 
 ay the iefs peace, fo that if we continue in 
 this Courfe" of Apoftacy, a little Time poor 
 Scots-Men w T illbe their ownHuine, tho* no 
 .reign Enemy ihould trouble us, we will 
 come to that with it, to cut one another 
 N Throat* 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 Throats ere long, yea great Mints making to 
 
 do it already. 
 
 Inthefe Words from the beginning of our 
 reading are $ Things, i. Their Noble Re- 
 ligious A&, they entered into Covenant 
 with GOD. 2. The Manner and Way they 
 go about it not fuperficially, overly or forma- 
 ly, with a Vain Empty outward fiaow, no^ 
 they are Heart exercifed they do it 
 with all the Heart. 3-. Theyapointa ftrick 
 Puniflimcnt to be inflicted on all without Di- 
 ftinftionofSex, that will not enter into Co- 
 venant with GOD. 4. The great Joy they 
 expprefs in going about this Covenant with 
 GOD. 5. The bleffed Effedfc that followed 
 upon it, GOD fmiled from Heaven in his 
 Providence upon the Covenanters. 
 
 1. Their Noble Religious Aft, they en- 
 ter into Covenant with GOB, and this h 
 different from a Perfcnal Covenant, which 
 is made only betwixt the LORD and a Sisglc 
 Perfon, it was a National Covenant be- 
 twixt GGD and the whole Nation, where 
 the heal balk of the Nation enters under an' 
 Oath and a Curie to keep the Commandments 
 of the Lord, and clofely to adhere to the 
 Scriptures real Government, ttoctrine, Di- 
 scipline and Wor/hip of his Houie, like -that 
 Covenant, Neb. X. 29. They entered into. 
 <m Oath to keep aMthe Commandments of 
 the Lord, and that Jer. L. 4, Ifrad and 
 yudal?, joyn together ro enter into a lure Co- 
 ven* 
 
( 99 ) 
 venant never to be forgotten, and that 
 T>eut. XXVI. 1 8, i p. where GOD is the one 
 Party and the Nation the other, thou halt a- 
 vouched the Lord this Day to be thy GOD, 
 und the Lord hath avouched thee to bt a Ped- 
 pie to himielf, you fee National Covenant- 
 ing is Lawfull. 
 
 2. The Excellent way they £o about this 
 bleffed Work, it was with all the Heart, and 
 all the Soiri, they did it not with Halfe the 
 Heart, not caring whether they did it or not, 
 they did it not with a Double Heart with one 
 Heart, to make it, becauic it wa^ the Fa&i- 
 on, becaufe the King and Rulers did it, or 
 to get a Name of Honour to be outwardly in 
 Covenant with GOD, and with another 
 Heart to brak it if Authority Commanded 
 it, not like that Man fpoken of the double, 
 minded Man, that h unliable in all his Ways, 
 James 1.8. The Greek hath it the Man 
 with the Heart and the Heart, or the Man 
 with the Two Hearts, to make it to Day 
 and Swear, againftthe prefent Perjury, and 
 Apoftacy of the Times, and yet go back a- 
 gain with their Convcniency, to joyn in 
 that corrupt Worihip which they abjured, 
 this would have been no'iefs than deliberate 
 Perjury, and a Mocking of GOD to his Face, 
 not like thcie .that flattered GOD with 
 their Mouth, Tfd. LXX VIII. 32. but their 
 Heart was not right with GOD, and there 
 fore proved unftedfaft and perfidious in his 
 N 2 Co. 
 
( ioo } 
 
 Covenant, not like thcfc 2 Kings XVII. 35, j 
 that feared the Lord arid ferved their own 
 gods, no, but with all the Heart, many in 
 Scotland would have the Honour to be called 
 GOD's People, but will ferve their own gods, ' 
 great Men, felf intereft, and the Faftiion, 
 look there be no fuch Covenanters here halt- 
 ing betwixt Opinions, but imitat this happy 
 People they entered into Covenant to feck 
 the LOKD GOD of their Fathers, 
 with all the Heart and with all the Soul, and 
 fuch a Heart and Soul-Seeking and Covenant- ' 
 ing takes in thefe 4 Things. 1. They did 
 it with all the Judgement and underftanding 
 they had, as if they had laid, now LORD, 
 we the Dull: of thy Footftool are going in 
 Humility to enter into Covenat with thee, 
 to keep by the right Government, Doctrine, 
 jPifciplinc and Worfliip of thy Koufe with all 
 the underloading we have, Lord let us have 
 110 more Underftanding than we fhalllrnploy 
 about that Work, Lord take the Witt from 
 us that Day, that we imploy it to break thy 
 Covenant, and Improve our Underftanding, 
 how to e::ci;fe the breach of Covenant with 
 Thee, and render the Keepers of it Unfam- 
 ops: Tfal CXIX. in, with all the Under- 
 ftanding ^nd ail the Judgement I have 
 judged thy Commandments concerning all, 
 Things to be right, and I hate every Falfe 
 fjouble and trkkey way- 2. With.ali the 
 Heart that is with all the Will, Q faith the 
 
 Soul ! 
 
( ioi ) 
 Soul! I never did a turn io much with the 
 Will, as 1 'do eiiter this Day in Covenant 
 with God, compelled Worfhip is ill for the 
 Soul: I will make thy Precepts my Medi- 
 tation, and I will have a refped to each one 
 of thy Commandments. Tjal CXIX. 106. 
 Ihaue Sworn and I will perform^ that I will 
 keep thy Righteous Judgements. Mark how 
 many wills are here, I will, I will, I will, 
 and I will, as if they had faid, Lord let me 
 never have any will to my own welfare, if 
 it be not all fet on Work to enter into Cove- 
 nant with God, for Covenanting Days 
 are Da^s wherein not only Minifters 
 but even Covenanters imprecat a Curfe, 
 andthe Curfe of God on the Breakers of the 
 bleffed Bargain. Neh. IX. 29. They entered 
 into an Oath & into a Curfe, to keep all the 
 Commandments of God, as if they had faid, 
 the broad Curfe of God light on us, if we do 
 not in Divine Strength perform our Vows 
 ' to God, or if we knowingly, willingly or 
 totally and finally break this Covenant. I 
 know fome Folk will think that uncouth fort 
 of Language, to fpeak of entring Cove- 
 nant with God, arid taking on Curies on 
 thernfeives, and will fay you Minifter Curfes 
 all Day, but flay till I tell you, fo did thofe 
 Heart-Covenanters, and if this be to Curfe, 
 we will Curfe yet more. 2. I ken what 
 fort of Folks ye are that will fay fo, a fort 
 of People that to this very Day, aie Strangers 
 
 t© 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 to God, and never yet to this good Hour, 
 were in earneit in God's Matters : Yea ye 
 are a fort of Folk, that will not Vow becaufc 
 you never yet relolved to pay to the Lord our I 
 God, left ye fhould marr your covetous or 
 finful Defignes ; and therefore, think you will 
 hold you loufe when you are loufe, poor 
 Man would thou have that loufenefs explain- 
 ed to thee, then fee it done to an Hairs-breadth. 
 Eph. II. 12. 'That at that Time you are with- 
 out Chrift, being Allans from the Common-Wealth 
 of Ijrael, and Strangers to the Covenant of Tro- 
 fttifii having no Hope, and -without God in the 
 World : You are not of David's Mind 
 and therefore, not of the right Mind in this 
 Matter, Tfal CXIX. I will walk at liber- 
 ty when I have a Refpedt to all thy Com- 
 mandments. 
 
 3. With all the Heart Sc Soul, that is with all 
 the Affections of the Soul, Love, Joy ^Delight 
 as if they had faid, Lord let us never find Joy 
 in any Thing if we take not thee, to be our 
 God, and thee alone King and Head of thy 
 Church, to be ruled by thy Laws, and no o- 
 ther in the Matters of thy own Houfe, & Lord 
 fet us as a Seal upon thine Heart, as a Seal 
 upon thine Arm,for our Delight our Joy Scour 
 Love to thee, thy Caufe Intereil and Inftitu- 
 tions, is ftrong as Death vehement as the 
 Grave, and therefore as love was the Motive 
 that moved Jonathan to enter Covenant 
 with 7J?,'Jd y and Swareto him for he lov- 
 ed 
 
( 103 ) 
 ed him as his own Soul, is both my Motive, 
 and Manner of going about a Covenant Re- 
 newing with thee. 
 
 4. With all the Heart and Soul, that is 
 with all the Pith, Power, and Strength they 
 had, as iftheyhadfaid, Lord let me never 
 have Strength or Power to do a good Turn 
 to my fclf after this if all the Strength I have 
 through Grace, be not im ployed in maintain- 
 ing defending and Handing up, to the Death 
 for the Defence of his kingly prerogative, 
 and alone Head of his Church and thatlfliall 
 neither direftly or indirectly willingly and 
 deliberately countenance or totally and final- 
 ly fall away to that Do£irine, Difcipline, 
 Worihip, or Government of God's Houfe, 
 that is not of Divine appointment, or that 
 is Corrupt with Humane Inventions, or Per- 
 jurious Oaths, contrary to our National Co- 
 venant and Solemn League, which we with 
 all the S011I8C Strength we have renew with the 
 'this Day, and with all the Strength we have, 
 encourage and defend one another in the main- 
 tatning of thy pure Infiitutions. 
 
 This Heart- Work is a Work that alas ma- 
 ny in this Land are Strangers to, and there- 
 fore, we may take up that Lamentation, 
 Jer.,XIV. 8. Othou Hot t of Tlracl, and Ste 
 miG%r thereof in Time of 'Trouble, whertforg 
 wt thou as a Stranger in Scolizn^ and as & 
 ttoxy-farhg Man that turns a):de io tarry for a 
 J&gbt, God will withdraw, and withdraw^ 
 
 and? 
 
( 104 ) 
 and ay the longer the Farther away from t^j 
 and we will dwindle away in our Religion, 
 and Liberties, till fcarce the Shadow or Re- 
 membrance of either be left unlefs we 
 come to be in good earneft, and enter into a 
 Covenant with all our Heart, and with all 
 ©ur Soul. 
 
 "Thirdly, In the Words, we have thefe- 
 vere Puniihment that was to be inflicted on 
 all that refufed to Covenant with God, <verf* 
 13. that whofoever ihould not feek the Lord 
 God of Ifrael ihould be put to Death, whe- 
 ther it were Man or Woman, How guilty 
 then are thefc Lands that have put fo ma- 
 ny Men and Women to Death for feeking 
 God, and adhering to his Covenant, and I 
 will tell you, 1. that if the Magiftrate at this 
 Time ; hath made no fuch Lav/ as to puniih 
 with Death, thefe Men and Women, that 
 will not enter into Covenant with God, yet 
 the great God, the Supreain Magiftrate of 
 Heaven and &arth willPuniili fuch negle&ers 
 except they repent and amend, and we fear 
 they be thin Sown in this Generation that 
 will Repent for the Matter. And 2. What 
 if (for asiickerasfuchfit at this Day J -God 
 fulfill that threatning, andPunifh many with 
 Bodily Death. Lev. XXVI. 25. hml bring 
 aJ&word upon the Land which Jhall'vyivengc 
 the^anel of my Covenant, , 
 
 Fourthly, The great Solemnity and Joy 
 they expi-cfed, ingoing about the Work of 
 
 National 
 
( io 5 ) 
 National Covenanting witn God. wf. 14; 
 And'AlJudab rejoiced at the Oath, for they 
 had Sworn with all the Heart, and fought 
 him with the w T hole defire, and they fwore 
 to the Lord with a loud Voice and with 
 fliouting, and with Trumpets, and all Hea- 
 ven and Earth Sounds and Keiounds with 
 joyfull Jubilations in the Coronation Days 
 of' Chritt, which are Marriage Days betwixt 
 him and a Bride prepared, and made ready$ 
 O that this may be fuch a day, as you find 
 the like Days in Scripture, Tech. IX. 9. 
 Rejoice greatly O Zion. iliout O Daughters 
 of Jerufale/%, for behold thy King cometh td 
 thee, Cant. 3.1aft. Go forth O Daughters of 
 Jerufolem, and fee the antitype of King So* 
 iomo% Crowned with the Crown wherewith 
 his Mother crowned him, in the Day of his 
 Efpoufals, and in the Day of the gladnefs of 
 his Heart, Rev. XIX. 7. Let us be glad and 
 rejoice and give Honour to him, for the 
 Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his 
 Wife hath nude her felf ready, O Ghri- 
 ftiansmake ready, make ready, and let us 
 have a joyfull day of it, all is ready, i£ 
 ye be ready : The Coronation Day is come* 
 the Marriage Feaft is made ready, for Heart 
 and Soul Covenanters we are ready, come- 
 in his Name to_invit. you, and propofe tho 
 Terms to you, and lead yon by the Hand,- 
 and prefent you as a Bride toChrift by 
 flic wing you as God Aull help in the 
 Q ftfllo^iiSg 
 
( 105 ) 
 
 following Work, how ye ftiall come to the 
 Glorious Bridegroom, and we arc heartily rea- 
 dy and willing to folemonize the Marriage 
 in our Matter's Name and bind you Minis- 
 terially to the prince of the Kings of the 
 Earth, and to put the Marriage Oath to you 
 that we may be able to fay with TW, I have 
 efpoufed you to one Husband, even Chrift : 
 Can it be porlible that there fhall be one in 
 all the company fo obdured, and hard heart- 
 ed as to refute to come and give Chrift a 
 glad Heart, when he fo fvveetly Invits, I 
 have prepared my Dinner, my Oxen and 
 my Failings are Killed, all Things are 
 ready, come ye to the Marriage, give him 
 one glad Re^rt, for all the Sorrow ever 
 he fullered for you, even make this a Co- 
 venanting Coronation day, betwixt Chrift 
 and you, and that will be the day of the 
 Gladneisof his Sbulj can it be pomble that 
 there is one fo obdured or hard Hearted 
 hi all tills Vc.ii Multitude, againft their own 
 Soul, as to Refufe, to come and beMari- 
 ed to, and £*ved by the plant of Re- 
 nown are you amind to harden your feif 
 in Sorrow and deipife the brightness of 
 the' Fathers Glory, and run to Ruin 
 wilfully like fo many Defperado's: O 
 Rew in Time, Rew in Time, left ye 
 Rew it fore when Time is gone for ever, 
 and he ffiall fay to you behold you de 
 fpiers wonder and Perifli, wonder what 
 
 Glorio 
 
( 107 ) 
 Glorious Bridegrom ye flighted, and for 
 how bafe and unparalelable an Equiva- 
 lent as you have done, what a Noble baiv 
 gain you have let go by you, catching 
 at fo infignificant trifrles, if any of you 
 think itisfafeftforyou, for all that is faid, 
 not to engage in Covenant with Chrifr, 
 nor once to lift up an Hand, nor weild 
 your felves, to let the Crown on his Head, 
 and if there were none to fet it on, or be 
 efpoufed to him but you, there 
 fliould never come a Crown upon his 
 Head, and he might come a Suiter to 
 the World's end, and go home as he came, 
 I tell fuch ye will not be long of that 
 mind, I can affure you, when ye ftand be- 
 fore his Bare and none to fet the Crown v 
 upon your Head but him, whom ye ferved 
 fo on his Coronation day, ye may cry for 
 a Crown of life to the Ages of Eter- 
 nity, lifting up your Head and Kyes in Tor- 1 
 ment, and lay down your Head and Eyes 
 to fry and Hotter again in Hell, 
 Is this any thing but fair jufii.ee, to thefe < 
 curfed Eyes of thine, that could fland and 
 fee others fet the Crown on his bleffed - 
 Head, and would not fly to and help, yea 
 flew away becaiife ye Loved not to fee 
 the Crown on his Head, Keproching the ^ 
 Poor Miniilers, becaule he would not 
 deceive you, and fay you fliould be laved, 
 tho' ye never put your Hand to the work 
 
 O 2 y y 
 
f 10S ) 
 you will Change your Mind, ye that would 
 nor willingly give him this peace of Glory 
 due to his Name, when he calls you in 
 Prifon, and exacts it of you by force, and 
 the 'Chariot Wheels' of his Wrath ride e- 
 ternally over you in Triumph, that envy- 
 ed Chrift of the Crown of his own Ecc- 
 lefiaftiek Kingdom, and what did thou 
 win of it, thou faw it fet on his Zicad 
 whether thou would or not, and much 
 joy that day, but they part of joy was 
 lead then, and ever ihall be world with- 
 put End. 
 
 5. The bleffed efecls of this Heart work 
 in feeking the Lord, and! Covenanting with 
 him, and they are two 1. He was found 
 of them, he was found of them, what 
 Word's what pen what Tongues of Men 
 or Angels can lufficently hold fourth what 
 thefe Heart Seekers, Heart Covenanters 
 found, that rriorning they found him, 1. 
 They found God's favour, and Eternal Life 
 that Morning Tro. VIII, 35. They that 
 find me find Life, & ihall obtain favour of 
 the Lord, 2. They found a ixighteouinefs to 
 Juftify them before the Bare of God, 
 and Strength to carry them thither, that 
 happy covenanting Morning that they found 
 him, Ifa. XLV 24. Surely iliaH one fay. 
 in the Lord have I Pughteoufnes and 
 ftrength 3. They found a Salvation Cap- 
 tain to firick and cut the gate to Glory 
 
 before 
 
t *©9 ) 
 before them, that hippy covenanting Morn- 
 ing that they found. Mm, Htb. II 10. 
 He's the Captain of Salvation that brings 
 many Sons to Glory, be the adversary's who 
 will: Rev, Vl 'i. He hath a bow and 
 a Crown, and he goes forth conquering 
 and to conquer, carrying down all. oppo- 
 sition of Men and IDiveis before him Col II 
 15. He fpqiled Principalities and Powers, 
 that's Devils, trumphing over them 
 pn the Crofs and Tjh CX 5. He 
 ilia] I ftrick through Kings that oppofe 
 him in the day of his Wrath, Wee] s, them 
 that ever they were born, that finds him, 
 3. They rind a Vanquisher of Death and 
 Hell, and of the grave, that bkflcd cove- 
 nanting Morning, when they went to work 
 with the Heart and foud him, Hof. XIJI 
 s%. I will Redeem them from Death, I 
 will Ranfom them from the power of the 
 Grave, O Death I will be thy plague IO 
 Grave 1 will be they Deftruction 5. They 
 found not only comfort, but confoltation 
 it felf that blefTed covenanting Morning 
 when they went, to the Work, with their 
 Heart up the Brae, Luke II. 25. He is 
 called the cpnfolalion of Ifrael> 6. That 
 Welled Morning they found him they found 
 a Glorious Refurre&ion to their Poor 
 Bodys out of the Grave, John XI 25. I 
 am the Refurrection and the Life they find 
 all that find him, and they loTs all that 
 
 lofc 
 
f no } 
 lofe him, And alas they let cxtrordi- 
 nary finding time flip that Jet a covenanting 
 ing day flip, it was whan they entered into a . 
 covenant to feek him with all the Heart, and 
 Soul, that he was found of them. 2. He 
 gave them Reft round about, People will 
 notbelive it, that the Keaibn.of wars abroad 
 and 2X Home, are Gods raging Sword 
 avenging the Quarrel of his covenant, but 
 if they would tray an experiment, as Judah 
 did here enter into covenant, to feek the 
 Lord with all the Heart, and Soul, the 
 King's Trcafour needed not be fo ex- 
 haufted of Money nor the Poor groan un- 
 der fo many Ceffes and preffes to mantam 
 a warr, nor fo many bodys go to the green 
 as now there doth, 
 
 If this will not engage you to this great 
 Work what can I fay more. 
 
 The ACTION 
 Sermon 
 
 >. L 4. 5- 
 
 IN thofe Days and ^t that time faith the 
 Lord, the Children oilfrad fnall come 
 they the & Children of Judah together going 
 and weeping as they go, and feeking the 
 Lord their God, they fliall ask the way 
 
 to 
 
f I" ) 
 
 to Zion, with their Faces thitherward, fay- 
 ing, Come and let usjoyn ourjehesto the Lord, 
 in a fer£ciual . Covenant never to be for- 
 go/ten. 
 
 The People of God and their Enemies 
 arc like the Two Scales of the Ballance, 
 when the one goeth up the other goeth down, 
 a Day of Joy to Enemies is a Day of La- 
 mentation to Ifrari, and a Day of Joy to If 
 rttcl, is a Day of Lamentation to Babylon^ 
 in that Day Babylon fhall be brought to La- 
 mentation : The People of GOD at this 
 Time were Poor Captives in "Babylon : but 
 the Prophet Jerewzah foitelleth a Change in 
 the Government, the Northern Army coming 
 fltgainft Babylon, under the Command of Cy- 
 ruSy then Babylon is deftroyed -, how then 
 gees it with the People of God? never better, 
 they are let at Liberty, from their long and 
 fore Captivity, and come home again to their 
 own Land, to build the Temple, and feek 
 the LORD their GOD, and to enter in- 
 to a perpetual Covenant with him never to 
 be forgotten. 
 
 In the Words are two Principal Parts, i .The 
 Angular and feiious Frame that thefe Heaven- 
 ly Souls are in, they are fvveetjy and harmo- 
 nioully going Zion-ward together, going and 
 weeping as they go, in a melting frame of 
 Spirit. 2. The blefled Deilgn they have be- 
 fore them, it is to find the Lord their Gcd, 
 and to enter into a perpetual Covenant, 
 
 with 
 
f *w ) 
 
 with the Prince ot the Kings of the Earth* 
 let us join our felves to the Lord in a per- 
 petual Covenant never to be forgotten, which 
 ought to be the Frame and Work of this 
 Multitude met here this Day. 
 
 Time andStrength will not allow to fpeak 
 largely to this fubjeci, we /hall therefore pitch 
 upon one general Observation from them, for. 
 your Direction in this great Work, that if 
 poflible we may lead you by the Hand, to that 
 God, and that Zion whom you profefs to be 
 asking for, and feeking, and get you Hand 
 failed and Married to hirn, in a perpetual 
 Covenant never to be forgotten, and the Ob- 
 fcrvation is this. 
 
 T>gCl That a Serious and Single-Hearr- 
 ed People coming back to B.enew their bro- 
 ken Covenant with God, cometh in a very 
 Melting, Tender and Heavenly Frame * 
 O with what a Noble Frame of Heaven, 
 doth this Honeft-hearted People, come back 
 to feek the Lord their God, and renew their 
 violated Covenant with him, going and 
 weeping as they go feeking the LORD their 
 GOD. 
 
 Here I lTiall enquire into thefe Things, i. 
 What a National Covenant with God is, 
 (for fuch a Covenant with God was this) 
 2. How it appear?, that a Nation that have 
 entered Solemnly in Covenant with GOD, 
 imy notwithftanding break it and dealialily 
 in his Covenant. 3. Why is it or what are 
 
 the 
 
( "3 ) 
 the Rcafons why a Nation that hath Solemn-* 
 ly entered into Covenant, may break their 
 Covenant with him. 4. Why a Nation that 
 fiath broken their Covenant with God ought 
 to renew it again. 5. What are thefe pio- 
 per Times and Seafons, when a Nation that 
 hath been periideous in G O D's Covenant 
 ought to renew their Covenant with him* 
 
 6. Wherein ihould the Serioufnefs and 
 Heavenliriefs of a People that hath broken 
 their Covenant with God appear, or what 
 Frame ought they to be in, in coming back 
 to renew their Covenant with God. And 
 
 7. Speak fliortly to the Nature of this bleff- 
 edWork of rtricking up again a Covenant 
 with God that had beed formerly broken by 
 them. 
 
 E?>/?, What National Covenanting with 
 God is, I fliall hint fhortly at it in ihewing 
 ift, Negatively what it is not, 2d, Pofli* 
 lively what it is. r. Negatively to prevent 
 mi ftakes about it, a National Covenant, 
 cannot be an Engagement to any Thing 
 unlawful, befide or contrary to the Word of 
 God, for all fuch Covenants arc finfull, and 
 an Oath cannot be a bond of Iniquity, we dare 
 not add to, nor take from the Word of God, 
 any manner of way, Rev. XXII. 18, 19. 
 much lefs with an Oath, this would be ta 
 Vow and Sacrifice to the Lord, a Corrupt, or 
 at leaft an unrequired Thing, and would be 
 j-ejeded, Ifa< L12, 13, Wich* Wbohdthre- 
 
( 114 ) 
 
 quired thejc Things at your Hands? i\ A 
 National Covenant is not an Oath to do a- 
 ny thing that is impoflible, even although 
 it be lawful, all impoflible Oaths are unlaw- 
 ful Oaths. Would it not be an unlawful Oath 
 for a poor Man to fwear that he fliould 
 mantain a Faithful Minifter, on his own 
 proper Charges, in this Time of need, for 
 Seven Years ; and in the mean Time he can 
 fcarce Maintain his own Family : The 
 Thing is lawful, if it were in his Power, 
 and yet an unlawful Oath becaufe not in his 
 Power, that is an unlawful Oath, alfo to live in 
 'Britain, and yet Swear in a Covenant neither 
 to pay any manner of Dues to the King nei- 
 ther direclly nor indire&ly as fonie do, that 
 Oath is unlawfull and highly finfull, becaufe 
 impoflible, itspoiible, to "die for the Truth, 
 if put to it, but notpoffibletolive in 'Bri- 
 tain and keep fuch a Covenant, fuch a Cove- 
 nant fliould have been made on the Borders 
 of thefe Dominions, and then prefently Jek 
 them, and never returned. $. It is an unlawful 
 Covenant, to fwear poor Things not to hear 
 the Gofpel Preached, untill they agree with 
 fuch and fuch Sectarians and Criminal Mini- 
 iters, for here is a Wickednefs on both Hands. 
 i. In bringing Perfons from Converting Ordi- 
 nances, even when they lye under that fad 
 Bond ; feeing Perfons here and there convert- 
 ed by fuch a Mlnifter, as they are Sworn 
 not to hear. And, 2d 9 in ftrengthning the 
 
 Hand? 
 
r us j 
 
 Hands of fuch Infamous Men, that dare be 
 f o bold as to feefe fuch Oaths of poor People, 
 fuch an Oath is a Piain £ond of Iniquity, 
 reiembling that Confpiracy againft Tatk 
 where a Number of Infamous Perfons Band 
 themfelves under an Oath and a Curfe, that 
 they ihould neither Eat nor Drink untiil 
 they had Killed Tad 4. Its an unlawful 
 Covenant, to fwear to maintain a Govern- 
 ment in a Church, all corrupt with Human 
 Inventions, Additions to, and Diminitions 
 from the Word of GOD, where fome of 
 the Bible is picked out to be made ufe of, and 
 the reft laid by reproachfully, fome of it 
 called Dark, and unintelligible, fome of it 
 called immodeft, and Additions made of 
 Faffs Vigels Feftivals, Supperftitious Days, 
 Saints and Angels, fuch as Yull, New- 
 Years-Day, Whitfunday, Pentecoft, Epipha- 
 ny, Advent-Sunday's Lent, Candlemais, Eit- 
 her, the Purification pf the Virgin Mary 9 
 Croflings in Baptifm, Kneeling at the Sacra- 
 ment, which is a Worfhipirg of Bread and 
 Wine. Saints and Angels, and many fuch 
 Things do they in England and Rome, to 
 which Government the'Minifters of Scotland 
 have Sworn to maintain, which makes them 
 lyable to that fevere threatning Rcv.XXU. 
 18, 19. 
 
 2. Pofitively, in a Word a Lawful Nati- 
 onal Covenant is nothing elfe but a Solemn 
 Oath to God, to Serve aad Worihip him ac- 
 P 2 cording 
 
( II* ) 
 
 cording to his Word, without Addition or 
 Diminition, Neh. IX 38. Having confefled 
 their Sins, they fay^ "Becaufc of all Vis, noe j 
 make a [are Covenant and Write it, What is 
 the Covenant * Ch. X. 29. There it 
 is they entered into a Curfe and into an Oath, 
 to walk in God's Law, given by Mofcs the 
 Servant of God, and to obferve and do all the 
 Commandments of the Lord our God, all the 
 Commandments are buoorntoand not any thing 
 dfe but the Commandments » you fee then 
 what a National Covenant is, all the Word 
 of GOD you may alio fee how dangerous 
 a Thing it is, to miftake a Covenant with 
 GOD, as if the firength of it were not 
 to pay Tribute to Rulers, not of our Opi- 
 nion, contrary to the 23. Chapter of the 
 Confeflion of Faith, and Matthew XXII, 
 21. compared with Matthew XVX 24, £5: 
 Render to C&far the things that are §df&*U 
 what is that!* Tribut, and left Clirift fhouM 
 bflfend them in not paying, he wrought a Mi* 
 *acle, and got it out of the Mouth of a Fifh 
 *z. ^Yoxi fee alio any that will cajj a Na* 
 tional Covenant Treafon, calls the Bible 
 Treafon, thefe that burn their National Co- 
 venant burn the Bible : And thefe that fay, 
 what have we to do with the Covenant, it is 
 not binding upoji us, thefe fay what have 
 we to do with the Bible, it is not binding upon 
 •as, but only on thefe, in whofe Day?, it was 
 Tfiade, theft that add fv y ortakefro^"a Nati- 
 
( 117 ) 
 
 tnal Covenant, add to and take from. tbe2Sible t 
 the want of taking up a National Covenant 
 aright, hath clone much Skaith on all Hands 
 in Scotland, or take a National Covenant 
 thus, it is a Solemn Oath, to Maintain Defend 
 and ftand up to the Death for the Scriptural 
 Doctrine, Difcipline, Worfliip and Gover- 
 nment of the Houfe of GOD, and the main- 
 tamers thereof, and. a Renounciation and 
 Abjuration of all Falfe, Antifcriptural 
 Doctrine, Difcipline, Woriliip and Gover- 
 nment, and the obftinate Maintainors there- 
 
 Secondly, How'it appears, that a Nation- 
 that hath entered into Covenant may v break 
 it, we need not flay upon this fad Subject of 
 Perjury againft GOD, having thefe Three 
 Things at Hand to prove it. i , The benfilof 
 corrupt Nature. 2. Scripture. 3. Sad Ex- 
 perience, r. Of corrupt Nature, of which 
 the LORD faith, my People are bent to 
 backiliding from me, Hof. XI. 7. a Woful 
 Beniil, and perpetual by as in corrupt Nature, 
 and Tit 1. 16. haling a Trofejjion that they know 
 (xGZ>, but in Works they deny him, beingTZe- 
 belious and ^Disobedient, and to every good 
 Word and Work Reprobate. 2. It appears 
 from Scripture Exampels, Ez. XVII. 1 9, 20. 
 Surely my Covenant -which he hath broken and 
 my Oath -which he hath dejpfed, it will 1 re- 
 comtence upon his own Head. ■ And Tfal. 
 LXXVII1. 32. Their Words were good bid 
 
 their 
 
[ irS ] 
 
 their Hearts were pot right with GOT), neither 
 were they Jledfaft in his Co-vena*!: i\nd alfo 
 from thir People in the Text, they endeav- 
 our to make, this Covenant fickerer, becaufe 
 they had broken their laft Covenant. 3. 
 From fad Experience in Scotland, that ve- 
 ry King and People and Minifters that entered 
 Covenant with God, to extirpate Prelacy, 
 and ered GOD's own Divine Inftitutions, 
 brake and exterpated the Lord's pure Initia- 
 tions, and owners thereof, and ereded. ab- 
 jured Prelacy, and at this Day in which we 
 ly under a Curfe, and an Oath to reform 
 England, as far as we can, from Prelatick 
 Government, yet have taken an Oath quite 
 contrary to defend to the uttermoft of our 
 Power, the Prelatick Goverment of the 
 Church of England. 
 
 Thirdly, Why is it? Or what are the 
 Reafons why a Nation that hath Solemn- 
 ly entered into covenant with God, do 
 break it i 1 . Becaufe many have the fame 
 Reafon to enter covenant with God, that 
 they have to break it, and that is Superi- 
 our power, they will enter into Coyenant 
 with God, becaufe the Magiftrate bids them, 
 that they maybe Loyal, and they will break 
 it again when the Magiftrate bids them, that 
 they may be Loyal and that Word holds 
 true of them, Hof. V. 11. Ephraim isoppref- 
 ed, and broken in "Judgment becaufe he willing- 
 ly walked after the Command, that is whither 
 
 the 
 
C 119 1 
 
 the Ms giftrate Commanded to mak^a Cove* 
 nant with GOD or to break their Covenant 
 with him, it was all one to them, they were 
 alike willing to do both. 2. A Nation that 
 hath made a Covenant with GOD, do break 
 it through a Papift Principle, pining all their 
 Faith on the Minifter's Slive, they indeed 
 fcruple alittleat,and apprehend, That what 
 they and the Minifter are doing is not fo 
 right, when Minifiers are taking Oaths that 
 all the Countrey fays are a breach of Cove- 
 nant, and whom to go they for Resolution 
 but to Che Swearing Mini'fters who beguile 
 and deceive them, and hence that Scrip- 
 ture is fulfilled. Ifa. IX 16. For the Lead- 
 ers of this Teople caufe tlem to err, and they 
 that are led of them are defiroyed : In this cafe 
 it is with poor People, as it would be if an 
 Army had invaded the Land, openly to de- 
 firoy it, and the poor Country iliould go to 
 the Heads and Commanders of the Army of 
 Enemies, and ask Advice m this Matter 
 how they fliould be fafe, but quoth the Peo- 
 ple, the Minifiers are the fame Men that 
 they were before, they took the Oath and 
 fubmittedto Evglrjh Biihops, and Pa pifts Pa- 
 tronages, Anfwer all is true, but Minifiers are 
 not Popes, they are not infallible, Cam was 
 the fame Man he w r as before, after he had 
 flain his Brother; Juddi was the fame Man 
 after he betrayed C H R 1ST, that he was 
 before when he Preached him ; the Chief 
 
 Priefts 
 
f TSO ) 
 
 Pricfts and Elders of Jjrael were the fame 
 Men, after they had Murdered the Son of 
 GOD, that they were; TDems was the 
 fame Man after he forfookthe Apoftles that 
 he was before \ Simon Magus was the fame 
 Marl* when he would buy and fell the Ho- 
 ly Ghott for Money that he was before, when 
 he believed and was Baptized i Bifhcp Sharp 
 was the fame Man after he betrayed the 
 Church of Scotland, that he was before, 
 when he was a Stout Covenanter ; and the 
 Six hundred Minifters that turned Epifco- 
 pals at the laft Overthrow of the Church of 
 Scotland, were the fame Men that they were 
 before, when they held up their Hands and 
 Sware to extirpat Prelacy. But it is as true 
 their Actings and Deeds were not the fame, 
 for they were now throwing down what they 
 formerly builded, and fo made themfelvcs 
 Tranigreflbrs : So it is with thefe Minifters 
 of the f wearing Religion, they are the fame 
 Men working about the fame Houfe they 
 were, but then they were building it now 
 they are throwing it down, imployed ab A\t 
 the fame Ark, then building it, but now 
 throwing it down like Noah's Builders who 
 builded not the Ark out of any Fear of a 
 Flood, for they neither feared nor believed, 
 any fuch Thing, but only wrought for Wa- 
 ges and would have with us good will thrown 
 it down for the fame Wages, as built it and 
 the be ft of the two, 
 
 3< They 
 
( m ) 
 
 5 They break becaufe they Covenanted 
 with a refer ve, and by Reipect Jail to 
 keep Covenant as long as it was in faihior* 
 and they might do fo vvithout any oifcnce 
 to their Mafters, or the Ruler, like naam.in 
 the fyrian, i. Kings V 27* There he Co- 
 venants, thy Servant will neither henceforth 
 dfer Brunt Offerings, nor Sacrifice td any 
 God, biit to the God of Ifrael, but Pardori 
 they Servant in this, I moft wait one my 
 Matter at his Idolatrous Wor/hip, Pardoii 
 they Servant only iii this, when I ihall 
 bow in the Houfc of Rimon, Tfah LXVIII 
 32. There Hearts were not Right with 
 God, tho f their Words were good they 
 Covnatnted with a Referve, ay to hold i» 
 with the Laird and the Miniiters, for their 
 own . convenience* 
 
 Fourthly, why is if or what are the 
 Grounds and Reafons why a Nation or 
 People that have broken their Covenant 
 with God, ought to renew* it. r* Becaufe 
 we cannot live without God, what is breach 
 of Covenant w r ith God, but a renouncing 
 of him, and fluking off, of his Authority 
 and protection, thefe are joyned together 
 Pf. LXXVIII 10. They brake Qod'i 
 Eouenim and refufed to walk in his com- 
 maniminUy and wo to that "People thai Ihe 
 ixiithoui God in the WorH K Eph. II 12. 
 Strangers to the Covenats of promife with*' 
 oat God, and without hope in the World 
 Q^ % Became 
 
( ni ) 
 
 2. Becauie Qod commands it *yer: HI 1 2. 
 13. 14. Return O Backflidihg ^ Children 
 faith the Lord, And I will not caufe mine 
 Anger to fall upon you, Hof. XIV r. O 
 IJracl Return unto the Lord they God for 
 thou haft fallen by thine Iniquity, 3. Be- 
 cauie by Covenant relation we are the 
 Lord's, his Spoufe, and its a wicked de- 
 frauding him of his own right to flay away 
 and therefore the Lord is inviting us home 
 again, claims Intereft and Marriage right 
 to us, Jet. Ill 14. Return O Back Hiding 
 Children faith the Lord ;for I am Married 
 unto you tho you have broken your part of 
 the Covenant, the Relation frill ftands you 
 are mine I am Married to you, alio a Back- 
 aiding Covenant breaking People, acknow- . 
 ledge Gods Right to them in coming back, 
 Hof. XIV 2. Jer I'll 22. Return O Back- 
 sliding Children faith the Lord, their Aniwer 
 is behold we come to the for thou art the 
 Lord our God, we are not our owen but 
 thine and bought with a price 4. becauie it 
 Will be better for us. Hof II. 5. 7. I will 
 Hedge up her way wuh Thorns, that fee 
 fiiallnot find her path, and ike iliall follow 
 after her Lovers, and {hall not overtake 
 them, then ihe fltall fay I will go and Re- 
 turn to my 1. Husband, far then it w.asrjet- 
 ter with me than it is now : all fatiffaciion 
 I looked for in fin, in the World, in Rul- 
 ers in deceving Miniftcrs, all teals, me, 
 
( x?<3 ) 
 I can never over take that which I perfhew 
 after, beildes Hedges of Judgements and 
 Calamities meets me in purfuing them, Like 
 to Loofe both Church, Nation, and Soul, 
 a> the Prodigal Kan away from his c'aiheY 
 Houfc, and became both a drudge aud 
 ltarved drudge, I want the fweet Feaits of 
 Communion with God, 1 then had in ordi- 
 nances, 4. Became to come back is the very 
 Exercife of Repentance, and the way to get 
 Pardon, and Life, and fare Mercies, Ija. 
 LV 2. 3. Come to me and your Souls 
 /hall live and I will make an everlaftinit 
 covenant with you even the fure Mercies 
 of David 5. That we may as publickly 
 owen, and as earneftly contend for the In- 
 tereft of Chriit, and the Doctrine, Discipline 
 Wonliip and Goverment of his Houfe, as 
 Enemies contend againft, and abjures them 
 wherefore are we Chrift's Souldiers t living 
 on his Pay if we turn our back on him. 
 in the Day of Battle and brake that com- 
 mand. Jade 3. contend earneftly the Greek 
 fignifyes to contend as one contending in 
 an ageny, yea more as one contending for 
 his Life in an agonie yea more as one 
 contending for his Life in an agony above 
 his ircngth, 6. That we may be ever able- 
 after to Pray in faith which we cannot do 
 livining in open breach and violation o 
 our Covenant with God the Poor Mari 
 Tier's y&n I 6. Came to Jonah in tim 
 
( *u ) 
 
 pf danger, faying what meaneft thou O, 
 flecpcr ? Arife call upon they God, that 
 lie may fave us that we periin. not, for 
 tho we ihould all be drowned in the Sea 
 we cannt Pray to him, for we arc not in 
 Covenant with him, he is not our God 
 and little confort to come in a ftrait to a. 
 God that we Renounced in our profperi-* 
 ty or never took to be our God, ho Faith 
 in fuch Fraycrs it is much better Praying 
 in 'Da'vhVs condition in faith, under a Co- 
 venaftt Relation to God, Tfal CX1X 94., 
 Lord I am thine fave thou me, if there be 
 one in all the World that thou will fave 
 it will be they owen, fuch an Ojue I am 
 Lord I am thine, fave thou me, I belive 
 Ifhou will do it. 
 
 Fifthly when may a time or Seafon be 
 called a fit time to renew publick'iy our 
 National Covnar.t with God, anfwer firft" 
 in General its ay time to lienew it as oft 
 as we break it, unles we be reiolved to fend 
 the bell way without God we can, but, 
 wo, wo to that People that are without 
 God in the World; but more particularly 
 there are thefe 5. Proper Seafons for Perfons 
 and Nations -to renew their Covenant with 
 God, 1. I» time of Danger when we moft 
 flee from our cruel Brethren, for our Life, 
 thus Jacob Gm. XXVIII 20. 21. When 
 he is flying for his Life from the Face of 
 his Brother Ek%\ he Vowed that the Lord 
 ,- ' - Jhould 
 
f 1*5 } 
 
 ihould be his God, fo we flying from the 
 JFacc of our cruel Brethren who have pub- 
 Lckly broken their Covenant wjth God, ought 
 now to enter Covenant, and to Vow a. 
 Vow that the Lord lull be our God efpe- 
 cially when the Danger is greater for we 
 are flying for the Life of our Souls 2. it is 
 a fit Seafon and opportunity to Renew 
 our Covenant with God when we are 
 reda£led to a Wiidernefs condition fome 
 not only not having Churches to Preach 
 in but alfo Scarfe a Holl to fct their Head 
 hi but another Man's Hofe; So did Ifrtd 
 in their Wildernes condition, T)eut V 2, 
 The Lord our God nudeja Covenant with 
 us befides the Covenant that he made with 
 us at Horcbi fo this being our prefent con- 
 dition to covenant with God, now is not 
 only to do duty, but to do it in the proper 
 nick of time its not now to corne too 
 flioon before the Egg be hatched nor, to 
 Longfom when the Birds are flowen but in 
 the right Seafon, and every thing is beauti- 
 full in its Seafon, 3. Its a proper Seafon 
 and opportunity to renew our Covenant 
 with God when the Lord's wrath is threat- 
 ned againft us for Sin, or lying on us al- 
 ready, 2. Cbro. XXIX 10. "God's Wratk 
 was gone out againft Ifrael, for their Sin, 
 and they fall on this way of Removing it 
 let us enter into a Covenant that his firce 
 Anger may be turned away his wrath is 
 
 gone 
 
( 126 ) 
 gone forth agamic us in taking away the 
 Ark and the priveledges of the Nation, and 
 in fending a Curfc with, and Mailing the 
 ordinances Where they are in purity, in giv- 
 ing Minii'rers that fad comiffion, ]fa Vi 8. 
 9, io. Preach the Hearts of this People 
 hard, and where iha.ll we look but we fee 
 evident Tokens of his Anger, therefore 
 Jet us enter in Covenant with God, that 
 his feircc Anger may be turned away 4. 
 When we make Sinful pa£xions with People 
 of Corrupt Religion, like ibeicEzra X 2. 
 3. We have Sinned in taking fliange Wives 
 of the the People, now therefore let us make 
 a Covenant to put them away and the 
 Children of thefe mixed Marriages fpake 
 half the Longuge of Ifiael and half the 
 Languge of Aftodod fohave we made a Co- 
 venant with a People of different and cor- 
 rupt oppinions and our Minifters Prayes 
 half in the Languge of Scotland, half "of 
 England^ and have amixed Religion half 
 of Presbytry half Prelacy, fuch times as 
 thefe are proper Scafons, 10 renew our 
 Covenant with God, and ali of them arc 
 met together in this fad day of perplexity 
 from the Lord of Rolls in our valley of 
 Villon 5. when the Lord gives gracious de- 
 liverances to his People from their Ene- 
 mies, as here in the lext, they are comirg 
 home from the Babyloniih Captivity, then 
 JJkd and Judah go' together to fcek the 
 
 Lord 
 
( I2 7 ) 
 
 Lord their God, faying let us enter into 
 a lure Covenant with God, this 1 fear fayes 
 that the Reviving at the Revolution was 
 not a delivery from our captivity, Since 
 tho we had broken our Covenant, with 
 God, yet had neither Heart, Hand nor Ho- 
 ncitay to do it, and a fad Reproof to thefc 
 that did it not. 
 
 Sixthly wherein doth the ferioufnes and 
 integrity of the Heavenly Souls, appear in 
 coming back to Renew a broken Covenant 
 with God, Anfwer, in doing as thefc honeft 
 Covenanters did, i. Joyn together in going 
 about the Work whatever dirlerancei were 
 among them before, the ten Tiibes that were 
 feperated to Caife. and Devil Worfhip, befor, 
 and Judah that long refine the true Worfhip 
 they both lay alkie their factions, <k Labour 
 'to put away all the Sins that had made the 
 divifion, axidfplfrael and Jvdah gotogzther* 
 
 % Doas they did making a holy Progreffe 
 and promotion, what are they doing I Are 
 they laying or fitting fall, Reafoning and 
 difputing about the matter, no, no they 
 are no Slugards, they are advancing, and 
 letting forward in Reformation ay &f ay going 
 puting away the other Sin,- ay doing the 
 other duty, and fetting about the other 
 geice of Reformation ay going, go ye a^ 
 they did, <k God fend you good fpeed to 
 day, and favour in the Sight of the man 
 Qirift Jefus, with whom ye are to renew 
 your broken Covenant, and grant yon 
 
 Gracs 
 
( 125 ) . 
 
 Grace to go from ftrength to ftrength, till 
 every one of you appear at laft before the 
 Lord in a melting Heavenly Covenanting 
 frame. 
 
 3. Come as they did with a Heavenly 
 melting frame, they are going weeping, O | 
 that the way may be called Bcchim, the 
 place, or path of weepers for fo might 
 their way be called it was all bedewed 
 with their tears weep one thefe account, i.for 
 all Sins againft God and wrongs done to 
 Chrift Zecb XII 10. Lookon him whom 
 ye have peirced ' and mourn, that there 
 may be a great Mourning amongft you, 
 like the mourning of Hadad drimmon, in the 
 valey of megiddon,every one for his own Sins 
 and for all the abominations of all Ranks, 
 efpeciallv for abounding Perjury, and 
 breach of Covenant with God 2. Mourn 
 as they did, for the great fhamc they had 
 fallen under by that Sin, Jer. XXXI 19- 
 After I was Inftrudtcd 1 fmote upon my 
 thigh, I was aftiamed yea even Con- 
 founded, becaufe I did be are the P^eproach 
 of my Sinful! Youth, and the Lord fays 
 of fuch penitents 1 have Surely heard 
 Epbriaw, bemoning him felf he is my dear 
 Son, my pleaiant Child I will finely have 
 mercy upon him. 3. Weeping for Joy 
 and Love to Chrift, who had Loved tfiem 
 out of Sin, and mifery, like that Womau 
 JLukt VII 37, And behold a Woman m 
 
 t!*a 
 
( I2p ) 
 the City which was a Sinter, wlen Jhe knrh 
 that Jefis fat at Meat in the Houfe, flood 
 behind at his Ft et Weeping, ard legan to itoajh 
 his Feet with Tears, and to wipe item with 
 the Hairs of her Head, and Kiffed lis Feet, 
 and anointed them with Ointment, vcrf. 47. 
 A.nd her Sins -which were ?nany were for gixen, 
 for Jhe loved much, would ye not covet to 
 be mfucha Frame as this Woman? would 
 ye not covet to win as far ben in Religion, 
 and Communion with God, would ye not 
 covet to have as free and full a Pardon ; fee 
 then if ye can win to this Heavenly and 
 Melting Frame to love CHRIST, until! 
 you weep again for joy. N 
 * 4. They came back to renew a Broken 
 Covenant, with an Holy accurat Scrutanie, 
 and fearch after GOD, they Jhall go and 
 feek the LORD their GOD 5 It is not 
 they fhall go and feek home to Canaan a- 
 gain, it is not they fhall go and feek to build 
 the Temple again, it is not they fliall go and 
 feek Heaven : What lliall they feek then f 
 they fliall feek the LORD their GOD, if 
 they were a Flock of Swine, the fwiil .of 
 Canaan would ferve them, if they were a 
 pack of Cheats and formal Hypocrites the 
 Stately Temple would have been fought by 
 them, and reflcd in it when they had found 
 it, boafting of it ; The Temple of ijbe< Lord, 
 We Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord 
 arethefe: If they had been a paclcof-Igno- 
 R ramufe^ 
 
( f& y - 
 
 amuies, or fo many Heathen jBalaam, that 
 thought a Life without Holinefs, and a Hea- 
 ven without GOD would have done their 
 turn, and they would have fought principal- 1 
 jy after thefe three. But they are a Compa- 
 ny of Single, Sincere, Heavenly, Heart-' 
 wrought People, that kens better Things,- 
 and that can be put off with nothing but 
 GOD himfclf: Therefore they go to feck 
 the LORD their GfOD,forif dnCethey have 
 film they have them all, his Prefcnce with a- 
 People or Per ion, turns a Wildcrneis into a 
 Cznaa-i, a Mcif--i:ook, or a Know-fide into a 
 Heaven. •GV % . iB. \6, 17. Jacob had lyen at 
 a cold Kncw^Side all Night, arid his 
 Head upon an hard Stone, yet having GOD 
 wkh him, lie fays, Where am Inovo t this is 
 ■m other. Lux the Houfe of GCZ), the Sulurbs 
 rjid Gates of Glory, they wiJl reft no where 
 till they find the Lord their God, they go 
 and feel; the Lord their God, and when they 
 find the Lord their God, they will not go a 
 Foot farther, but fay with Tiavid, r P(aL 
 CXVI. 7. Return mm to thy RefiO my Souk 
 Cant. II. 3. I fat down under his Shadowy 
 nsoitb great delight, Why r* the Soul is come to 
 its Center now, it could never reft but iiill 
 Graviiat to ii<> Center, before as Waters do 
 to the Sea, and if they fticetwith any llop 
 hythe way, 1 . •, ftill gravitat toward their 
 Center, till 1 come t|ie Impediment, 
 
 break ^-, t and run with the 
 
 more 
 
( 131 ) 
 more Impetous Force, to the Center, and if at 
 
 any Time he be to fend them an errand, they 
 irefufe except he go with them, Ex. XXXlil. 
 15. Except thy T*re fence go vsitb us cany us mot 
 ■hence, not a Foot they go, not a Word they 
 jfpeak, but it is all to leek the Lord their Goc£> 
 with Panting and earneit Deiire, as Job. 
 XXIII. 3. that I knew where 1 might find 
 him\ I would come near, even to r.is &cat* 
 Life, much Luck and Liberty is going about 
 his Hand, but no Luck to be had no where 
 - elfe, y/i/.LXXIII. 24.25. Wbomf or what 
 have I in Heaven but Tfhee^and then -h nor. e in 
 all the Earth ihat I defire he fide "Thee ; i hey 
 go to feek the Lord theirGod,ay they feek,ancl 
 ay they go, ay they go, and ay they ieek ; 
 happy They, for they fliall find, Prov. Vlil. 
 34.. 'Bleffed are they that feek for they /ball find, 
 5. They comeback ieeking the Lord their 
 God, with great earneftnefs, not feignedly 
 nor carelefly, no, they let about it work 
 like, heartie like, finding like, now their 
 Faces are to the Wark their Faces are Zio*- 
 ward, not like many now lying under the 
 great guilt of a broken Covenant with God, 
 and they will hold up a .Diicourfeaboi.it Re- 
 newing and Keeping Covenant with God, 
 and it were the better it were renewed, theli 
 we would have brave Days, and then ru» 
 ckyly and join in Communion 'with the break- 
 ers and abjurers af it, but will they be a£ 
 the pains to fet their Faces out of their wart^i 
 
 K.2 
 
( J?2 ) 
 
 Neft £o fetch Minhters that ftand by it* 
 and renew it, and join with us, and fet their 
 Faces to the Work, no, yea inch MinUtets 
 ihall not fee their Face, tho' they come to 
 their very Dors, and yet I cannot wonder 
 enough at it, they have the Coniidence when 
 Trouble comes to cry to God for help, what 
 if God fay to them as once he did to the like 
 of them, Jer II 27. TtJeytunttp me the 'Back 
 and not the Fate, and yet in the "Time of their 
 "Trouble they -will, fay arife and five us, if ye 
 were but as earneitto be in Covenant with 
 Go i as to be in a good Mealing, and as ear- 
 ned to keep every Article of it, as to keep 
 your Horfe or K in, your Face would be to 
 lion to God, and his Covenant but being at 
 beft, think what ye will, of a Galio temper 
 that cares for none of the fc Tilings, ye talk 
 olZion; God and his Covenant wirh your 
 Back on all the Three ; 1 face about Man, 
 face about Woman, come to Zion asking the Way, 
 with your Faces thitherward : It fets you not 
 to fpeak of Zion, and God's Covenant, you 
 look not Work-like, your Backs are on Zion 
 and God's Covenant , come to Zion and your 
 Faces thitherward. 
 
 6. They came back to renew their broken 
 Covenant with great Humility, denyed to 
 their own Wifdpm. willing to receive Inftruc- 
 (km from all that faces the right Airth. O 
 qub&they! Is this the way to Zionf They 
 thevask at thefe Lelow tliemfelves in Grace 
 
( 133 ) 
 
 and Experience ; as the Spoufe of the 
 Daughters of Jerufalem, defiring their help xo 
 get a meeting betwixt Chrift and her, Cant. 
 V. 8. 1 Charge you 'Daughters of Jerufa- 
 lem, if ye fit Chrifi tell him my Condition. 
 They ask at Minifiers, Cant. 111. 3. I 
 went 10 the Watchmen to ischom 1 faid, 
 faw ye him whom my Soul l&veth. They ask 
 at God himfcif, Cant. I. 7. SkUb me 
 thou whom my Soul krveth, where is bonny Zioc, 
 where thou feeds the Souls of thy Teople, with 
 a Feafl of fat Things full of Marrow, not like 
 fome fo puffed up, that they think they 
 are able enough to teach Minifters, not like 
 thefe that are carelefs whether they get an 
 .Anfweror not, likeT//V, JohnXVTiL 38. 
 that asked what is Truth, and went out, 
 and waited not for an Anfwcr, or thefe 
 Hypocrites, Ezek. XXXIII. 31. They hear 
 thy Words hut they will not do them, for their 
 Heart goeth after their Co-vet oufnefi. O they 
 are Humble, Serious, fenfible of their Ignor- 
 ance, Crying, Light Lord, Truth Lord, Lord 
 find forth thy Light and, thy Truth; and let 
 them Guide me, and bring me to thy Holy Hill 
 where thou dwell eft, Lord guide me in coming to 
 God, and in the weighty Work of Covenanting 
 with him, for 1 am a poor \Brutiflo Ignorant, 
 and unskilfull "Body in this Work. 
 
 7. They came back to renew their broken 
 Covenant effectually, taking thefe means that 
 will prove effectual for doing the Thing, 
 
 and 
 
( 134 ) 
 and removing all Diifercnces among them- 
 ielvcs, how io? they begin with God, to 
 get the breach betwixt him and thcmfelves 
 done away, and then Union among taern- 
 ielves natively follows, for the Lord's De- 
 parture, and breaches go together, Hof VI. 
 14. I even I will tear and go away y Rent your 
 Cbutcb, and Jet you all in Factions, and tea^ve 
 you So joining to the Lord and to one a- 
 nother, . go Haiid in Hand, let us joyia our 
 ielves to the Lord, Hof. VI. 1. Qome and 
 hi us pyn ourfehes to the Lord, let us return 
 to the Lord our God, for he hath torn and he 
 {mill heal us, he hail: j //J I ten and he will bifid us 
 up, let us be glewed to tne Lord and one a- 
 npther. O Sinners! be perl waded it is our 
 breach of Covenant wkn God, that hath 
 .made lb many breaches among our Lives, as 
 appears by the Covenant renouncing Oaths 
 ^amongus, that hath mightily divided us, and 
 we will never be unites! untlil we renew our 
 Covenant with God sgun, and curled be 
 the divider thzt hath broken us, and for a 
 chat of the World, a bit of Pride, or un- 
 written Traditions, or upon the account of 
 Church renting Paths, or Promifes, fhall 
 this Day ita'ad in ihe Way of a bleffed Union, 
 let your Uifc Oaths and Covenants go, 
 break thefe and renew, and Hand by 
 your Covenant with (rod, and we will join 
 with all of you on thefe and on no other 
 Terms, becaufe Union in Sin is nothing elfe 
 
 but 
 
c 135 r 
 
 tut a Confpiracy againft Chrift; I charge' 
 andobteftyouasyou will anfwer to GOD, 
 at the great Day on your Peril, come joyn 
 your felves to the LORD, and tc one a-. 
 nother, in a perpetual Covenant never to be 
 forgotten. 
 
 8. They came back to renew their broken- 
 Covenant with God, fickerly with Heart 
 Deilre to make ficker and fa ft Work, that 
 they play not iaft and loofe with God 
 any more, no, no, the Covenant mull be both 
 ficker with God, and fickered upon their 
 own Memories never to be broken or for- 
 gotten, a perpetual Covenant never to be 
 forgotten, it is not fafe after Vows to make 
 Inquiry, this God {hail be our God for ever 
 and ever, if the Devil and all the World, 
 and our own ill Hearts had Sworn the contra- 
 ry, 1 will never forget thy Precepts, 1 will 
 never forget the Inititutiong of thy Houfe, I 
 will never forget that I am God's, God for- 
 bid, will I forget my Love, my Heaven, my 
 Happinefs, no ficker Work, Lord ficker 
 Work, O Lord Godot Ijr a el keep this upon 
 the Thoughts and Imaginations of rr.y Heart 
 for ever. 
 
 The -]ih and laft Thing is to tell you what 
 you are to do in this Act of Covenanting, 
 when you are to engage with the Lord : In 
 the firft Place, you mult renounce and put a- 
 way all falfe God's, let not Satan, Sin nor 
 
 the 
 
the great Men of the World be your God's, 
 let not their finfuJl Commands be your Rule, 
 either in Matters of God's Ho life, or of 
 your own Conventions, fee for your Sou]?, 
 that there be none of them left,dq as repenting 
 Ifracl did when coming Home to God, Ho]. 
 XIV. i . O Ifrael return to the Lord thy God, 
 lfmeV$ Anfwer is, What ha-ve I to do tsoith J- 
 dohy any more y take away all Iniquity and re- 
 ceive us grarioufly, for I know that one Sin 
 one Idol, one Devil retained will marr the 
 whole Bargain, the bowing in the Houfe of 
 one Rimon, will give the whole work a 
 -backfet, Jofma binding Ifrael to God in Co- 
 venant, the iirft Thing he commands is, Jo. 
 XXIV. 14. Tut away the firange God's which 
 are among you, 1 . Away with the Idol God 
 Covetoufnefs, a SwinifhDivil, ay grunting af- 
 ter the World, Crying Who will Jhew us any 
 good? what Jhall I eat y orwhatjhal; lUrh/k't 
 or vjherewithall Jhall I be chathed ! This 
 AS'wlnifli Devil made Judas fell the Saviour, 
 for Thirty Pieces of Silver ! and the Mini* 
 Hers of the Times, to fell the Church for 
 Steepends. 2. Away with the Idol of Pro- 
 phanity, a filthy Devil ay hading you 
 through the Mire of Sin, and defiling and pud- 
 ling you with the Cum and Sut of Hell, fee 
 there be no Prophane Perfon among you like 
 Efau. 3. away with Idol Pride a hauty De- 
 vil, ay holding you upon flipry Places, ay at 
 the tumbling over the brink of the Bottom- 
 
 les 
 
r 137 ) 
 
 fcs p% making yon overvalue youf teU 
 yes. 3.nd undervalues others, Luke XVIII 
 11. With a God, I thank thee, that I 
 am not like other Men, fuch a pharafaick 
 Spirit Readly ftick ay by a Corrupt 
 Kirk, and if at fome times they come to the 
 Mountains to hear faithful Miniiters, they 
 are ay finding fault with their Do£trine, or 
 Life, as thefe proud Pharifes did with 
 Chrift, he is a Man Gluttonous arid a 
 Wine biber, he is not of God, for he 
 keepeth not the Sabath day, he fpeaksay 
 againft the Church, and makes void the 
 traditions of the Elders, are you proud Souls 
 ill pleafed with Faithful Miniiters, the 
 Lord is as ill pleafed with you God re!- 
 lifts the proud 4. Away with Idol Decit 
 a cheating Divel, ay fetting your talk, and 
 whinging at Duty, and yet cheating the 
 People of God, and underminding his work 
 profeiTmg what never yet entered into your 
 mind to perform, 5, Away with Idol fear* 
 a Dead Swumph Divel, ay crying the Ma- 
 gistrates will be on us aadfleegus out of 
 our witt, out of thy witt may the like 
 of the go, and then thou will not Do fo 
 much ill to the work of God, dead Calf, 
 I tell thee they are very ill Magiftrats* 
 that are not better then thou art, Ifa. VIII 
 12, Fear not their fear, they are all .living 
 that the prefent Magifirats have flain, yet for 
 i&iag true to God, what fear* thee t 6. A- 
 
f 138 ( 
 
 way with Idol Malice that flandering Di- 
 vel, ay fpeaking ill of them, whofe fli 
 thou art not worthy to carry alter thettij 
 either for parts or piety, and all this becauie 
 they will not follow, thy example a brave 
 bargain indeed, follow thee, who follow 
 thee to thy Family feldom or never is the Wo r- 
 fliip of God there, follow thee to thl 
 place of Worihip, If there be a Societf 
 in Scotland that have overthrown the work 
 of God, there lands thou ! follow thee to 
 the Ale Houfe, there thou Curffes lyes, 
 Swears, Drinks they felf Drunk, & makes 
 a mock of Godlinefs and the Profeffors 
 thereof follow thy example no fault Indeed 
 1. Pet. IV 4. That thinks it ftrat/ge, that 
 Men run not 'with you to the fame excefs of 
 riot, Speaking evil of \hem, wondring at them 
 as an Hen that hath hatched Patridge,Eggs 
 when they flee away, being of a more Noble 
 kind, then her own, Chikens and many 
 other graccles gates ye go, till at laft Sin 
 being finiihed bringeth forth Death. 
 
 2, You moft promife in Chriftsftrength, 
 fincerely to keep or have a refpeft 
 to the heal Law, of God, thefe that 
 Commands to ad for Chrift, as well as thefe 
 that Commands to refrain from doing evil 
 Jfa. I. 18. And that ye are as willing to 
 go to Gethfemany, and accompany Chri ft 
 in his agony's as to go to Mount tabor, to 
 enjoy a waff of Heaven, iu his company', 
 
 to 
 
( 139 ) 
 to fuffer as well as to reign with him, 
 and that thou iTiall do fo with all they 
 itrength and Soul always even to the End 
 Neh. X 29. They entered into an Oath, 
 and into a curfc, to keep all the commande- 
 ment of God. 
 
 3. You muft engage with all the He art, 
 to lland to the whole work of Reforma- 
 tion, fro:n Popery and Prelacy, as it was 
 at its height in the Year 1649. Contained 
 in the Scriptures, Conieilion of Faith, Ca- 
 techifms Confeirion of Sin and Engagment 
 to Duty, Covenants National and Solemn 
 league, and that you ihall have a refpect 
 to all the Articklesof the Covenant, engaging 
 to Maintain to your Power, the Priveledges, 
 and Soveraignity of the Kingdom, and 
 Scriptural Government, Doctrine, Dis- 
 cipline, Worfhip and Goverment of the 
 Houfe of God, Tf. 1 1 9. I have Sworn and 
 I will perform, that I will keep theyRighteous, 
 Judgement's 8c that you lhall do your ut- 
 termoit to get the prefent Church reformed, 
 from this mangled Religion, all mixed 
 with reformation, overturning Inftitutions, 
 both in its, Goverment Difcipline, Doctrine 
 and Woriliip, Oaths and Patronages and 
 thatby difcountenanccing them &£ otherwayes, 
 this is the ajhtaroth of the time put away 
 the ftrange God's and this curfed ajhtaroit? 
 from among you. 
 5. You moil moll promife to give your- 
 S 2, fclves 
 
( UO ) 
 felves wholly to the Lord, Soul and Body, 
 goods and Relations, to be at his fcrvice, 
 and that if he call you to it you fhall leave 
 all and follow him, and not lore ynm 
 Lives to the Death, and you may blefil 
 God if he take them off your Hand, and 
 fay as ManoarTs Wife, if the Lord had 
 been amind to Kill us he would not have 
 accepted a facrifice at our Hands, beg that he 
 xnay take away all Iniquity, and receive 
 you graeiouily, and take Heaven and Harth 
 to witres that you are his, for you have 
 Joyjied your felves to the Lord in a per* 
 petnal Covenant never to be forgotten i 
 And if ye do fo the Lord will give him-* 
 fclftoyou, his Spirit, his Son, iiis purchafe, 
 his Heaven, Grace here Glory hereafter: 
 And will fay I aril the Lord thy Cod, the 
 holy one of Ifniel they Ssyhbvet, come a- 
 way then th^ Artickfe are (Jw . . >& God 
 hath Subicribed live Covenant, in theie 
 Word-, I am the Lord th; . God foe holy 
 one Gt.2fr,iel they Saviouf, take thou the 
 Pen and fet down thy Name in aes fair 
 a charafter as thou cmft, % let that PropheiV 
 be fulfilled of you this day Ifa. XLIV. 
 5. One flrJl fay I am the Lords, and 
 another (hall call fctmfelf by the Name of 
 "facoh, and another ihall Subscribe with 
 his Hand to the Lord, and furname him- 
 ielf by the Name of jfrarf, O Let it be/o 
 Gods ifracUts indeed in whom are no Guile, 
 
 who 
 
f Hi ) 
 
 who fhall not deal falfly in his Covenant 
 and the God of Heaven help yon, and fet 
 his Seal to it, let it once pafs the Subscrip- 
 tions and the Seals, and Seal up your 
 Souls to the day of Redemption. 
 
 The Lord Blcfs Sec. 
 
 Then after Prayer &2>/. 
 the Covenants National and Solemn legue 
 were Read, and then the Confeffion of Sins 
 and Engadgmcnts to Duty in fo far as was 
 concerned us in our Low capacities, and 
 keeping within our ftations. 
 
 CONFESSION of SINS 
 and 
 
 ENGADGEMENTS to DUTY'S 
 
 TKeReafons why we the fmall Rem* 
 nant of the once famous and Glorious 
 Church of Scotland, when in her Robes 
 in the Year 1649. Do Renew our Cove- 
 nants with God, in our doole weed, and 
 Widowes Garments, tho' neither the Magi- 
 flrats, Minifters, nor EvgUnd do Joyn 
 with us, are as folio weth. 
 
 Firft when the Three Kingdoms entred in 
 a Solemn Legue with God, the Three King- 
 doms, were not three different parties, but 
 like Ifrael and Judab had Joyned them- 
 
 felves 
 
( 142 ) 
 felves together, to be the one party and 
 the great y-ehouab was the other parte 
 and tho' England and Ireland have pi; 
 the Harlot, yet let not Scotland otfe 
 and althought the molt part of Scotland I 
 have broken the Oath of the Covenant, 
 and taken a Covenant, abjuring Oath, yet j 
 let not them all offend, for in the great I 
 Defection in Elijah's days when the great 
 part of the Nation had broken their Cove- 
 nant with God, yet there were Seven 
 Thoufand in Jfrael that would not break 
 nor bow a Knee to Baal, let Scotland and 
 England break their Oath, and Change the 
 Do&rinc, WoriKip, Difcipline, and Govern- 
 ment of the Church as they will, yet we 
 in divine ftrength, will keep thefe pure In- ' 
 ftitutions, as we fware, fo let us pay to the 
 Lord our God. 
 
 2. Bccaufe thefe facred Obligations are 
 fo publickly broken, and violated by all 
 Ranks, efpecially Minifters by their Re- 
 iterated publickly abjuring of it, and could 
 not under pain of perjury be filent when, 
 they Swear away, the Right Doctrine, Dif- 
 cipline Woriliip and Government of the 
 Houfe of God, but Swear to maintain, and 
 defend it, in our private ftation with all the 
 flrength we could, let us as publickly Renew 
 our Covenants as they have violated them, 
 and that in the fame Year and Moneth they 
 have done fa 
 
 3 * Becaufc 
 
( H3 ) 
 
 3- Becaufe this Generation js like to for- 
 
 they are in Covenant with God, and 
 * ■turn Ignorant of what National and Solemn 
 Covenanting with God is, and the way 
 and manner of going about it. 
 
 4. Becaufe fome whither out of Ignorance 
 or Selfifimes, or for what other end I can- 
 not tell, pretend to the Renewing of thefc 
 Covenants, and put in fuch Impo Abilities;, 
 and Irritating expreflions in them contrary 
 to the Word of God, as is enough to i rri- 
 t at Superiors and make thefe that are unf kil- 
 full to Miftake what a Covenant of this 
 Nature with God is. 
 
 ■ 5. Becaufe many well Meaning People 
 are readie to think the Covenants a thing 
 differnt from the Bible, 8c alfo the Confeffion 
 of Faith, as fome of their Learnedft Lead- 
 ers askeed at my felf, how many Rules 
 have we to walk by, I anfwered, one 
 only, the word of God. He faid he thought 
 we had, moe the Confeffion of Faith and 
 .Covenants I Anfwered then our Catechifm 
 is nor right, which faith the Word of God 
 is the cnly rule to Diredt us &c. for we 
 abhorc Popery that fays there are 2. Rules vizx 
 The commands of the Word of God, and 
 the Commands of the Church of which they 
 fay their are Six principal ones, but let them 
 and them make as many Rules as they 
 will, to us there is but one rule the Word 
 of God, to rule us, Confeffion of faith, Co* 
 
 veiwntt, 
 
( i44 ) 
 Tenants, Commands of the Church and all, 
 for that is a compleat National Covenant, 
 Neb. X 29. They entered into an Oath 
 and a Curfe to keep all the Commandments 
 of God, 
 
 c~. That we ftandingup for and cleaving 
 to the Lord he may abide with us and be 
 our defence 2, Chro. XV 1. The Lord 
 is with us while we are with him. 
 
 7. Becaufe although we will not go 
 out of our ftations, to meddle with the 
 Magiftrats part, or Reform England or 
 maintain the Rights of the Parliament of 
 Scotland ; yet we fliall do all we can within 
 our ftation we fhall make a fincere mint 
 to keep our own part, and do all we can. 
 by Prayer and Supplication to God, to 
 Endue the Hearts of Magiftrates, with his 
 Grace, make them favourers of his Intereft 
 & bleffings to thefe Lands, and that he would 
 Reform England, and Ireland from thefe 
 many corruptions in their Church Confti- 
 tutions and refufc to countenance thefe 
 that are one the other fide in their S*oppef- 
 ftitions, and ihall encourage one another 
 in perfuing the Ends of thefe Covenants, 
 as far as it is poilible for a People in our mean 
 capacity's can do, and that the rather be- 
 caufe the Kingdom of God comes not 
 with observation, bl mighty Kings and 
 Armies Ez. IV 6. Hut by -working {Grace 
 in the Heart, by mean & timtefigtitie hfirumenu, 
 
C Us J 
 
 ^ifo Z^.f^ def[ijtd the day of [mail TTtfVgfj 
 not by Might nor by "Power, hut by my &p»> 
 faith the Lord of Hofts. And the Lord 
 : iieth the bale things of this World, to 
 xon found the Things that are Mighty, aiicl 
 tlie Fooliih Things of the World to confound 
 the Wife. 
 
 8. Became wc cannot dwell with a fife 
 Cqnfcience in our own Koufes, and Chriii 
 pat to the Boor of his Houfe, fliall we put 
 orf our Coat and not put- it on, ftiall we flick 
 at all the reproaches that are call upon us, in 
 jrifing and taking in the Beloved, when he 
 ■ftands without and fworn to the Doors, 
 no, let us do as ZW d, PfaL CXXXII. i, 2, 
 3,4. Lord remember "David and all UsA.fftiS± 
 (tons, how he [ware to the Lord and Doited td 
 the mighty God of Jacob, Surely 1 will hat 
 come into the Tabernacle of my Houfe nor reft 
 in my "Bed, J will not give flee p to mine Eyes 
 nor (lumber to tnincEye4ids,untillI bank found $ 
 flacefor the Lord an Habitation for the ^Mighty 
 God of Jacob, Scotland will thrive no worie 
 that the God of Heaven have an Houfe in 
 it, let thfcm all lay wha: they will. 
 
 And that God may take up Houfe with 
 us, and be no more like a Stranger in the 
 Land, or a w [an that tumeth a- 
 
 fide to tarry but lor Pardon 
 
 all our Sins and the breaches of his Cove- 
 nant and bleii us in th : Work. 
 
 T Y/e 
 
f l 4 6 ) 
 We wil freely and with deep Humilia^ 
 tio,- ana forrow of Heart confeft w< 
 dealt: perfideoufly in God's Cov: oth 
 
 in tfle National Covenant and the 
 
 tgue ill all the *s of it, not one 
 
 Joror Title oftjii jc ceeped, a id the 
 fore we are lying under that heavy Thr< 
 liing, Ezech. 17. Shall they eficpe that do 
 thtfe Things, JhalT they break my Covenant 1 
 he delivered. 
 
 As to the firft Article where we e 
 and vowed to God, to prefer vc the true- 
 formed Religion in all the Patfs t] : 
 the Church of Scotland, in its Purity of Doc- 
 trine, Worihip, Difcipline and Government 
 that we S ware, but how have we performed, 
 alas we have giveii yea Sworn over the 
 Church Government to, the Magiiirates 
 brought up in another Religion, and there- 
 fore Doctrine, Difcipline, Worihip, and all 
 are Corrupt, as we proved on the Fai£-Day r 
 and hence the Lord hath gone far from his 
 Sanctuary, and we lamenting the Glory is 
 departed from Scotland, for the Ark of God 
 \% taken, we vowed alio to the litre 
 our Power, to reform England and heioxd; 
 ill Doctrine, Difcipline, Wpriliip and Go- 
 vermerit according to the Word of God, and 
 heft reformed Crnrfches, but alasma$y with 
 1 Hands in an Antifcriptural Covenant 
 ■ ,.,: Qverthi • de- 
 
 . the inter moil of our Power, the 
 
 once 
 
( 147 ) 
 once Glorious Church of Scotland^ and are - 
 bringing her itep by ftep, in the neareft con- 
 formity to the worft reformed Churches, in 
 Doctrine, Discipline, Wcri'kip and Gover- 
 meiit, ftrengthning the Hands of che Engiijh 
 Church iniier Corruptions. 
 
 And in the id Article e Swear t© extir- 
 tirpate Popery aid Prelacy, and the Go- 
 verment by Bifkops, Arch-Bidops, Deans, 
 &Tc. But how pera dec ally have we dealt in 
 this alio, and Minifiers chemiel~ves have 
 Sworn to the Goverment oi Evgland, Go- 
 verned by thefe abjured Ranks of Men, ttiby 
 have alio Sworn to maintain Kings and 
 Qjueens in their Royal Dignities, and this 
 *ing an Engli/b Oath, made for the 
 Defence of the Church of England, by Pre- 
 lates and others, and it being the L«aw or* 
 Engbnd y that the Kings of it are Kca'J 
 Church, and fo they make Kings and Q 
 civil Popes, for they by Royal Dignify un- 
 derhand, another Thing than we do. In Sco u - 
 land by it we under itand, the King's jiili 
 Power and Greatnefs in things civil over the 
 Kingdoms : Bit by his Royal Dignity they 
 undcriland in England his Head-ihip and 
 Power over the Church of God, and that he 
 is Supream over all Perions, and in all 
 Caufcs as well Civil as Ecclefiaitick here 
 lay the Poyfon and Perjury of Scots Mmi- 
 fters in Swearing the i/? Oath ^ and in the 
 ^d Oath they Swear to defend the Government 
 T2 to 
 
? T 4 8 ) 
 to the fcttermoft of their Bpwe$ thus alfo 
 is an Effglfjh Oath deviled, and lhipofed by 
 Biihops, the Lords Spiritual aiwJ their Autho- 
 rity, nowhere lyes the Deceit, Foyfon and 
 Perjury ofthisOathin Scathndi That&'dfr 
 land takes up the Government in one fenfc, 
 and Et-gland in another, by the Goverrncnt 
 Scots Men nnderftand the Civil Govermefit 
 of the Realnefs by Juft andtawfall Magi-. 
 .ftrats; but byGoverment the Engli/b under- 
 Hand the- Goverment of Church and State, 
 both by the Civil Magiftrates, and his Crea^ 
 tours Biiliops, and Areh-Bi/hcps. So no pot 
 libility for a Scots Presbyterian or Miniiler 
 to Swear an Etfgtijte Oath in thefe Terms, 
 without Manifcfi Perjury and breach of Cove- 
 nant, for the WordGoverment in the Month of 
 ?,x\K»zi;jhman and the Word Government in the 
 Mouth of a ScotfmaV) can no more agree, than 
 as the Proverb is, than the Devil and Holy 
 Water can agree. In this Article we are 
 bound alfo by Solemn Oath to God, to put 
 away Sehifm, Herefy and Divifion, and 
 whatibever is contrary to found Doctrine. 
 But alas! what Divifions are made in the 
 Lands, by receiving new Innovations, into 
 the Houfe of God, both contrary to the Doc- 
 trine that we have received and to the Oath 
 that we have Sworn, and what pains is taken 
 by xmfaithfull Mini 11 en to put away thefe 
 feat are againfi Siphifm and Herefy, and 
 
( 149 ) 
 maintaining of found Doctrine feverall A els 
 
 Eaft in Courts, and Curfcs and Anathema's, 
 cllowcd Out in Pulpits againft thefe that will 
 pot join with an apoltatizing Church inSchifiii 
 Penury and Divifion, and in the mean time, 
 receiving to be ruling Elders: fuch- as have 
 been Schiimaticks., and accepted of Tells, un- 
 lawful Oaths and Bonds, . 
 
 And in the Third Article we Swear with 
 our Lives and Eirates to preferve and main- 
 tain the Rights of the Parliament, Sincere* 
 ly, Really and Ccnfianrly,in our Several Vo- 
 cations, and the Liberties of the Kingdom, 
 but we acknowledge to our own great fhame 
 vc have given away with cur Hands 
 both the Kightb of the Parliament, and Li; : ci- 
 ties and. Sovcraignities of the Kingdom, 
 and thefe are f wallowed up in an Erglijh 
 Epifcopal Parliament, and Confiitutior 7 ° in 
 this Article we alfo promised, to deienc the 
 Kings Majefly and Authority, in the Defence, 
 and Prefer vation of the true Religion, but 
 alas with Perjury is this Land guilty of in 
 this that there are contrary Oaths and Prac- 
 tices taken, many have defended murdering 
 Kings, iliedding the Blood of the Saints, and 
 overthrowing Reformation, and Liberties of 
 the Kingdom and Swearing to defend them 
 in fo doing, and infteadof limiting them to 
 a juft Power, have allowed them an un- 
 ynit Power of intruding into the Houfe of 
 God, and given the Royal Priviledges, and 
 
 Prerogatives. 
 
( m ) 
 
 Prerogatives of Chrilt and his Church to 
 them : Which is no lefs than to fay to Chrift, 
 we will not have this Man to Reign over 
 them. So that Ads of Parliament are im- 
 posed, and received in many Things in (lead 
 of and contrary to the Word of God, which 
 Commands every Thing in the Hon fe of the 
 God of Heaven, according to the Mind of 
 the Go i of Heaven, but though we neither 
 mtghtnor will do any thing that tends to De- 
 miniih the Kings juft Power and greatnefes, 
 yet wc deny that he hath a juft Power to Im- 
 pofe on the Church, 'Acts and Oaths con- 
 trary to the Word of God, Fundamental 
 Laws of the Kingdom, and upright Cove- 
 nanting with God. 
 
 In the 4//; Article we faithfully promifed 
 to endeavour the discovering of all fuch, 
 as are or have been incendiaries, or evil In- 
 fcruments in hindering Reformation of Re- 
 ligion •, but alas by our Intelligenters and o- 
 thers, we arc horridly guilty in difcovering 
 in order to Pttnlihnient, the Advancers of the 
 true Religion, and many are and have been 
 guilty of Dividing the King and the God- 
 ly, from one another, and alio joining King 
 and Subject together in a way quite contra- 
 ry to the Covenant, that Malignants 
 might not be brought to condign Puniih- 
 ment. 
 
 And in the 5/J Article we promifed to 
 keep Peace and Union with England, ac- 
 cording 
 
f »5l J 
 
 cording to this Covenant, whereas that Vm* 
 
 on is broken, and an Union made with Eng- 
 land, for the total Extirpation of Reforma- 
 tion it being one of the Fundamental Ar- 
 ticles of the Union, That the Epifcopal 
 Church of England fliall be preferved. 
 
 And in the 6th Article, we promifed accor- 
 ding to our Place?, and Callings ■, In the Com- 
 mon Caufe of Religion and Liberty and 
 Peace of the Kingdom, to defend a ndafM 
 them that join in this League and Covenant, 
 in the maintaining thereof, whereas we do all 
 we can, to Defrroy them, weaken their 
 Hands and break their Hearts. 2. That 
 neither will v/e fuffer our felves directly nor 
 indirectly by whatsoever Combination, Fer- 
 fwafion or Terrour, to be divided with 
 or from this Bleffed Union, whether 
 by making Defection to the contrary Part, 
 or to give our felves to a de tellable Indiffer- 
 ence and Neutrality in this Caufe : Where- 
 as to our great fhameboth Dire (31 y and In- 
 directly for fear of Manfome are quite gone 
 off to the contrary Side, and publick abjurcrs 
 of this Covenant fome turned to this abjured 
 IndirTerency, and neutrality, and cares for 
 none of thefe Things, fome combining by 
 Bonds, and unlawful engagments to break 
 and divide the People. 
 
 And One great fteafon of all this is, we 
 
 /e not Cordially doled with CHRI S T, 
 
 faith Chriitwith the Heart, when we lift up 
 
 our 
 
( *5 2 ) 
 
 our Hands to him, and have not walked 
 
 humbly and anfwerably to our Engagements, 
 but have fwelled in Pride retting bathe out- 
 ward Duty, in entring in Covenant with 
 God, conftaptly crying the Covenant of 
 Lord the Covenant of the Lord, therefore we 
 are left of God, to the Difcovery of our 
 Hyj :aufe of own Noble Privi- 
 
 ledges. • \ end diigrace before the World, 
 
 and hazard of the heavy, Wrath of God, 
 in Time, and Eternity, and now having 
 made Cbnfeffibn of thefe God Provoking, 
 Land Ruining, ' Conference Wafting Sins, 
 and deilring to ly in the Duft before God, 
 and mourn for thefe and all other Sins as the 
 Breach of the National Covenant, again! 
 Popery, and the civil power of Church 
 Men, whereas we let "up Popes at home, al- 
 fo farrendering our Goverment to the £i~ 
 fiiops Gf England, to be Governours both in 
 Things Civil and Sacred ; and we do prom iie 
 in the fight of GOD, and Strength of Chrift, 
 to fotfake for our Parts thefe, and all other 
 our Abominations, and this Day to make a 
 Covenant wirh God t© put them away, that 
 the Lord may take away the Judgements 
 lying on, prevent the Judgements threatned, 
 reftore us to be a free Nation, and a pure 
 Church, and prevent and affift us in conten- 
 ding for the Truth untill that Time. 
 
 And became thereis an indifpenfible ne- 
 ceirity lying on 'all them, that would obtain 
 
 Mercy 
 
Mercy to forfake Sin, with Deteftition as 
 well as to Confefs it therefore that the re- 
 ality and Sincerity of our Repentance may 
 appear, we do Sincerely .• rcfolve, and en- 
 gadge our felves to the Lord, only in the 
 Strength of Chrilt, who is the Lord our 
 Righteoufnes, for the Time, to come, care- 
 fully to avoid all thefe and other offences,' 
 whereof we have made Solemn and pub- 
 lick acknc/wledgement, and to hold out off, 
 trapes and Snares thereto Inducing^ and 
 to Teftify our Heavenly Mindedn'efs an4 
 the Sincerity of our Souls, and felf Denyal 
 and how Brouden our Souls are on Chrift 
 and his Interft, and that we may be made 
 ftrong in the Lord, and the. Power 6f his 
 might to performe our Promifes id God,; 
 we do this day with Heart and, Hand, lift up! 
 to God, in the Heavens, 1 Renew for. our 
 Parts, in cmr ftations the Nationl Covenant/ 
 and Solemn league, Promiflng in the. Me- 
 diators llrength to perform all the Duties 
 therein contained which we. are .oblidged, 
 in our feveral capacities, according' asr the. 
 fad Circumftances of our time calleth' for 
 and doeth' allow in the feveral articles 
 
 thereof^ ,, ^ . *f> ? 
 
 , 2. Notwithitanding that a Number ofMenJ. 
 have Surrendered the Soveraignity of 6'uf 
 Nation, Rights of our Parliament, .not, , on- 
 ly againft this Covenant but alfo ? . agalnft, 
 the will aiaol 6v £z the Belly of trie' greaf 
 U * Bod/ 
 
( *54 ) . 
 Body of the People, of this ancient King- 
 dom, and of all the Supplications, protelta- 
 tions and Endeavours of the Body of the 
 Nation,- of all Ranks, and periuafions, Nob- 
 les, Gentlemen Miniiters and People, and 
 alfo have Supplanted the Church of God, 
 and furrendered the Crown and Secpter, 
 and pure Inftitutkms of Chriffs freedom 
 Priviledges, Doctrine, Discipline, Worihip 
 and Goverment of the Church to our 
 Neighbours, yet notwithstanding all this 
 we lhall Maintain that the Church and 
 : Nation of Scotland ought to be a free 
 Church and Nation, and that we in our 
 Stations iliall do all we can, both by Sup- 
 plication to God, to make us fuch, and 
 keeping- at as great Diftance as poflTible, 
 from the betrayers, and Surrenders of out 
 Noble Priviledges, civel and Sacred, e- 
 fp'ecially corrupt Kirkmen, t'hat we lofs 
 not our Souls as well a* Church and 
 Kingdom, which at beaft are already gone. 
 4. That we ihall continue in declaring 
 our great DifatilYacYion, with this incor- 
 porating Union, that drains us offourfub- 
 ftance, ; and Subjects us to that Parliament 
 where 25. TreUty Sits in . civil Places', 
 contrary to the Word of God, and our 
 National Covenant, where all civell Places 
 of Church Men are abjured, as unlawful 
 and Contrary to the Reformation of the" 
 Church of Scotland, ever fihee it was Re- 
 
 formed 1 
 
formed from the Darknes of Topery, and 
 to all our Solemn Vows, to the Conterary 
 for fuch civel Places of Church Men, a- 
 grees Juft as well with the Church of Scot* 
 Unci, as light doth with Darknefs and the 
 Temple of God with Idols, and that we 
 ihall endavour and wreitlewith God, that at 
 laft we miy have fuch an Union with 
 England, as is agreed upon, and contained 
 in our Solemn league and Covenant, and 
 fliall carefully ihun whatfoever ftrengthneth 
 this Sinful Union, and difolveth our holy 
 Union with that Nation. 
 
 5. That this great truth may appear, that 
 thefe that aic beft Subje&s to Chrift or 
 beft Subjeds to the Magiftrat, according to 
 the command of Chrift, the great Law 
 giver of his Church, who hath commanded 
 us to Render to Csfar the things that are 
 Cufirs, and to God the thing's that are 
 God's and that true faying, that thefe 
 that are falfe to God, will never be true 
 to Man, falfe to God and true to no 
 Man, we declare and promife in the Sight 
 of God that we ihall conftantly Endevour, 
 to defend the King in his Juft power, and 
 Greatnes he defending us in our Religion 
 Rights and Pnviledges, and ihall herein 
 exercife our felves always, to keep a Con- 
 feience void of offence, both toward God 
 and tqward Man, that we may be able to 
 give wi(h a clear Confcience this Anfwer 
 V 2 tq. 
 
I X56 ) 
 
 $0 all that accufe us, to the Magiftrat we 
 are accufed being molt Innocent, for neither 
 againft Q&far nor againft our Nation, nor 
 againil the Temple have we done any 
 wrong. And that we are pot Sots, nor 
 Perfons to be fufpe&ed, that neither knows 
 Duty's of Religion, nor that it is our Duty 
 to Pray for the King and Rulers, till Di- 
 rections, and fet formes be lent us from Pre- 
 lats, not of our perfuafion, in our Neigh- 
 bour Land, But lhall Pray for King George 
 and all in Authority, that God, may Guide 
 them in fhe right way, both as they are 
 Rulers and "Chriftians, keep, them from, 
 doing any thing that may be hurtfull to 
 the Church of God, or Prejudicial to their 
 own Souls, and that they rnay get a Sight 
 of all their Sins, both as Magiftrats and 
 Chriftians, and that God may help them 
 to fet about the righting of whatfoever is 
 wrong, either m Perfon or Goverment that 
 God's Wrath may be averted, and God's 
 bleffing 'may be upon them and their Fa- 
 milies, and ppfterity, that God may give 
 them Grace here arid Glory hereafter, 
 make them and us mutual bleflings, and 
 Comforts to one another, and all other 
 petitions that the Holy Spirit fhall put in our 
 Hears, to ask for them, and if the holy 
 Ghofl dyt the Prayer, we both Pray fincerc- 
 ly, and willingly, and may have the bet- 
 ter Confidence to get a Gracious Anfwer, 
 
 but 
 
but if we fivould, Pray in a let form, Im 
 pofcd upon us, under Pain of lofing a little 
 Money, it might both be fufpefted we were 
 not in earneit, and that the Lord would 
 have little regard to Compelled Prayer$ 
 which are faid to be ill for the Soute, 
 we alfo Voluntarly engage to God* to obey 
 the prefent Rulers, . as far a? we would 
 obey Solomon if he were one the Throne 
 of Britain, and that is in all their Lawful 
 Commands, and nq further, for we would 
 have been oblidgedto have obey' & Solomon, in 
 helping to build the Temple, but not in 
 building high Places, for fuperftitious Worihip 
 nor are we oblidged to obey' fuch Coiu* 
 mand's from Ruler's as was given out for 
 Lifting of Six Moneth's Cefs, to bear Soul- 
 dier's Charges to overturn Reformation, 
 and Murder the People of God, when they 
 Declared with their own Mouth, that it 
 was Co : And \ye give Thanks to God, 
 that the Rulers Require nq fuch things 
 off us, tho' it were Juft with God for 
 pur Sins, to fet fuch over us, for if we 
 fliould' be ' unfaithfull to Man which is 
 leaft we would alio be unfaithfull to 
 *God which is greateft. 
 
 6. That we fhall difcountcnance Malig- 
 nants that bear ill will at the Reformati- 
 on of the Church of Scotland, and rent 
 the Church by their new Coined Oaths, and 
 Innovations on the one Hand wronging 
 
 GqI 
 
( 158 ) 
 God, and one the other Hand that fliake 
 off the Magiitrats Authority in things Law- 
 full, and that neither of thefe are any of 
 pur Communion, and that in Qur ftations 
 we ihall encourage fuch, as fear God and 
 keep his Covenant, and itick clQfs to one 
 another, and all of us to Jefus Chrift our 
 Saviour, only Supream King and Head of 
 his Church) and mutually defend one a- 
 jiorher in pursuing the Ends of this Co- 
 venant, and we mall wreftle at the Thron 
 of Grace that the Lord may Purge his 
 foor Church in Scotland, from Church be- 
 traying, difembling, and Cpvcnant breaking 
 flattering time fcrying Men : And that their 
 Places may be fupplied with valiant, 
 Faithfull at>le 'powerfull Miniiters of the 
 new Itflamenty who ihall feek the Salvati- 
 on not the Smiles of Men, and mail feek 
 the flock and not the ileece & we dolincerely 
 Declare, it is not Pride or vain Glory, 
 rewards or terrours of Men that makes us 
 now take this Oath ofGod upon us, but out of 
 a fenfc of our Duty, to God, and for his 
 Glory and the Zeal we have for the Houfe 
 qf God, and in hope of God's Mercy, that 
 when he Sees that Poor things like babes 
 that have no Pith, and calls 1^0 figure now 
 in the World, minting to put away the 
 Rubi/h, and lay a' Stone in the foundation 
 of his ruined Temple he may have pity 
 on us, and fend able Hands to compleat 
 
 * ' ' . -the 
 
( 159 1 
 the Work and fulfill his Gracious PttariflS 
 I am Returned to Jerufalem in Scotland, 
 and my Houfe fliall be Built in it faith 
 the Lord, and that ht may not leave the 
 Land as he hath threatned, if there be but 
 ten in it that will not let him go, nor 
 Quit their . Covenanted God, and 
 we Intirely Renounce all carnal Ccrunfel 
 dhd confidence in the Fleih, and cafe the 
 whole weight of the Burden on the Lord, 
 the Lord Suftain us : And we beg that the 
 God of all Confolation, the Father of Mer- 
 cy's through our Lord Jefus Chrifr may 
 .Look Down upon us, and the Poor Ruin- 
 ed Condition of his Church, in favour, 
 help us to perform our Vows. Reftore to us 
 our whole priviledges civel and Sacred, 
 that according as the Years have beerr 
 wherein we have feen for row for thefe 
 great Lofes, fo the Lord may reftore both 
 again to us with Holines of Heart and 
 Life to the Glory of God and our Confu- 
 tation through Jefus Chrift Amen. 
 
 This being Read and a ihort Exhorta- 
 tion to the People fo confider the Work 
 in Hand and how they ought to go about 
 it The Door was caft wide open for all 
 £erfpns of whatever Perfwafions either m 
 the Houfe or field; to' lay hold on this 
 healing time, and mind what they had heard 
 in* the forgoing Sermon,- of Joyning to 
 the Lord, in Covenant ; & that was the eftcflii- 
 
 all 
 
• f 16a ) 
 all way to Joyn them among themfelvcs^ 
 and heall our diviiions: And telling the 
 People what a Nob]e Priviledge they were 
 called to, to fet the Crown on ChriiVs 
 Head, for Covnanting Days are Chr ill's 
 Coronation Days, as was Typified in 
 Dvvid, thtf Covenanted with David and 
 Crowned him in' Hebron i And how of- 
 feniive it would be to God, to fee Per- 
 fons not to be at fo much pains,asto lay a finger 
 to the Crown,- to lift it up to this Glori- 
 ous Head, that they often Imploy in worfe 
 aftions: And how it would be an Evi- 
 dence of little Love to Chrift for all their 
 Profeifion, that when it came to the Choek, 
 yet they would not fet the Crown on his 
 Head, tho' he fhould never get a Crown, and' 
 crying again O cdme give him the Crown, 
 give him the Crown chearfully and Joy- 
 fully, Zech IX 9.' Rejoyce greatly daughters 
 of Jerufalm. ;,behold they King cometb to 
 thee, harming Sd-vaiion, Can. Ill And lafl, 
 0! ghebim the Crown,ghe him theCroison, all 
 lovers of htm^ fee him Crowned, fee him take 
 Infeftment in Scotland, go forth now, even 
 now, 6 'Daughters ofZXon, fee the Crown 
 upon his Head, in the day of his Ejpowfah, 
 and the Gladnes of his Heart, and let all 
 the Daughters of Zion he Joyfull in their 
 King, and federal other Directions and cal- 
 ling on God for "Direction and acceptance. 
 
 THE 
 
( t6i ) 
 
 THE 
 
 OATH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COVENANT, 
 
 As far as we in our Capacities could take 
 it) was aS followeth. 
 
 WE Solemnly promife, in the ftrength 
 of Chrift, to the great and terrible 
 God, who kecpeth Covenant and Mercy* 
 that we in our federal Stations, ihall iinc- 
 cerly and conftantly endeavour to keep, and 
 obiervc all the commandments of God, 
 delivered in the Holy Scriptures, of the Old 
 X and 
 
( *52 ) 
 
 and new T , and /hall with the 
 
 lame Sincerity and Conftancy, adhere to 
 the Reformed, Protectant Presbyterian Re- 
 ligion, as attained to in the Year, 1649- 
 Contained in the Confeffion of Faith and, 
 Catechifm's, and to the Scriptural Form o£ 
 Church Goverment, contained in the Na- 
 tional Covenant and Solemn League, for 
 extirpating of Popery, and Prelacy and all 
 other Errours, contrary to the Word of 
 Goci, and theie Solemn Covenants, and 
 ihall not fuffer our i elves either by Promiies 
 or Threatnings to make Defection to the. 
 contrary part or give our felves to a de- 
 tettabufe Indifference or Neutrality in the 
 Matters of God, and that we mall every- 
 one of us Hand together, for the Encourage- 
 ment and defence of one another in the 
 work of Reformation, as we look for mercy 
 in the great day of the Lord. 
 
 Then the Solemn AQion was Clofed 
 With Prayer for help to perform, and Praifcj 
 to God to fee the Crown let on Chrifi's 
 Head, tho' by but a few in the Land, and 
 that King Jefus now Reigned in Scotland* 
 
 THE 
 
( 16 3 ) 
 
 THE AFTERNOON'S SERMON 
 AFTER THE SOLEMNITY. 
 
 Pfal.CXLIV 15. 
 
 Happy are the TeopJe that is in fuch a Cafe, 
 yea, happy is the TeopJe wbofi God is 
 the Lord. 
 
 I have two Queftions to ask at you 
 honeit Covenanters, and the Firft is 
 this, know ye what yc have been doing the 
 
 Cday? Have ye not been avouching the 
 
 ^Lord to be your God, Deut. XVI. 17,18. 
 ■'.And promijhg to walk in his Ways, and keep 
 lis Commandments-, O Bleffed Work O 
 
 y Happy People, happy is the TeopJe that is in 
 jnch a Cafe, yea happy is that People whole 
 God is the Lord. My 2d Quefiion I ask at 
 you, whofe Hearts was at the Work, and 
 who made the League with King JESUS, 
 and fet the Crown on that Glorious Head 
 of his which is as the moil fine Gold, know 
 ye what God hath been doing with you 
 this Day;* I will tell you, Tbe Lord hath 
 
 . been thisTDay avouching you tohe a TeopJe to 
 himfeJf, that ye may he above ail the Nations 
 
 \ of the Karth, that he hath made inTraife avd 
 
 in Name andinHonour, and that ye may he a 
 
 Holy Teopie to the Lord as ye have jpoker, 
 
 X2 ' that 
 
 I 
 
( t64 ) 
 
 that is it that the Lord hath been doing with 
 you, Happy ye, that ever ye were BornJ 
 Happy is the People that is in fuch a CafeJ 
 yea happy is that People whofe God is tke| 
 Lord, tor in that very Day or Hour that the! 
 People or Perfon avoucheth the Lord to be 
 their God, Thae very Day and Hour the) 
 Lord avouches that People or Perfon to be | 
 his : Ifrael's Covenanting with GOD, and 
 GOD's Covenanting with Ifrael, are both, 
 done in one and the fame Day, c Deut. XXVI. 
 17, 18. That Day you fay or fwear to be 
 a Holy People to the Lord, that very Day 
 the Lord makes thee fo: That ye may be 
 to the Lord an holy People as ye have 
 fpoken ; have you faid i:, have you honeftly 
 Sworn it to be an Holy People to the Lord, 
 then I tell thee the Word the Oath was no 
 fooner out of thy Mouth, O! honeft Cove- 
 nanters, then the Lord held thee at thy 
 Word, and ratified it in Heaven, P\.ejoice 
 thenO upright Covenanter your Names are 
 written in Heaven, among the Sacred Re- 
 cords, and the Lamb's Book of Life, that 
 thou art a Holy Perfon, a Holy People to 
 the Lord as you have fpoken, juftfo as ye 
 fpake it, juft fo is it written in the Regiiler 
 above. 1 have yet a 3d Queftion to ask st 
 you, know ye what a Condition what a Cafe 
 you are in, upright hearted Covenanters 
 with Godthis Dayf O happy is that Con- 
 dition 
 
( t6 S ) . 
 
 clition you are in ! and happy is that Cafe ©£ 
 yours, would to God not only ye but all 
 
 • that hear me this Day, (and they are a ve- 
 ry great Holt ) were in that fame Conditi- 
 on ; And in that fame Cafe of yours, fee 
 what a Cafe it is in the Text, Happy is 
 that People that is in fuch a Cafe, yea 
 Happy is that People whofe GOD is the 
 Lord. 
 
 From the 1 1 terf. the Koly Pfalmift poor 
 Man had loll the Rod, and alfo the Object 
 of Happinefs, and was Wandering to and 
 fro, fecking the Chief good, in an inchanted 
 
 eWorld of deceiving Vanities, and he was 
 concluding thatthefe were a happy People 
 that are freed from the Hands of flrange 
 Children, and have thriving Families, full 
 Garners, Sheep and Oxen multiplied, now 
 
 ' faith he, happy are the People that are in 
 fuch a Cafe, in the firft Claufe of this rerf. 
 But the Prodigal begins to come to himfelf, 
 and correct himfelf in the latter Claufe of 
 it, and fays where away have pcor 1 teen 
 wandring ? And what a heap of Nonfenfe 
 have I been expre fling t Did I once fay 
 that they were a happy People that were 
 freed from the Hands of ftrange Children, 
 wo is me that ever I have laid fuch a 
 W T ord, for I looked like a Stranger to God, 
 and the Covenant of Promife when I faid it, 
 faid I indeed if they were a Happy People, 
 that had full Garners, wo is me that ever I 
 
 faid 
 
( i as- ) 
 
 faid fuch a Word, for I looked like a full 
 Soul that loathed the Honey Comb, when I 
 faid it, laid 1 that they were a Happy Peo- 
 ple that had thriving Children, wo is me that 
 ever 1 faid fuch a Word, I was but a Child 
 when I faid it ; did I fay they were a Happy 
 People that had their Jbeaits multiplying, wo- 
 is me that ever I faid fuch a Word, I was 
 but a Jbeafl when I faid it : When I was a 
 Cnild I thought I fpake li e a Child, yea 
 when I was a ficaft I fpake as a Beaft, "but 
 when I became a Man I put away Childifli 
 Things, and am come to fee wherein Happi- 
 nefs lyes ; yea, True, Durable, Satisfying, 
 permanent and Everlafiing Happinefs yea 
 happy is that_ People whole God is the Lord. 
 In thefe Words are i ft, Something imply 'dj 
 and 'idly, Something expreffed, ifi, Some- . 
 thing irnply'd, And that is they are a curfed 
 and unhappy People whofe God is not the 
 Lord, and this by the Law of contrarys, if 
 it fee a having the Lord to be a Peoples God, 
 that makes that People a Bleffed, and ; an 
 Happy People, then nothing more furc then 
 they that haVc not the LORD to be their 
 GOD, are a Curfed and unhappy Peo- 
 ple. 
 
 idly, In the Words there is fomething ex- 
 preffed which ye may take up in thefe 
 Two. i/?, Here is an AiTertion of the Ho- 
 ly Ghoft, concerning a certain Number of 
 People in the World, diftinguiihed from o- 
 
 thex 
 
f I<*7 ) 
 
 ther People, that they are Happy, yea Hap- 
 py is that People, zdly, What is it that 
 makes them Happy •* only this, and nothing 
 but this, there being in Covenant with God, 
 or having Jehovah to be their God, yea 
 Happy is that People whofe God is the Lord. 
 •Mark it Sirs, if ye will believe the Holy 
 Ghoft, all in Covenant with God are Hap- 
 py, and none but thefe in Covenant with 
 God are Happy, are ye not in Covenant with 
 God, then wo, is me for it, yea rather wo to 
 you for it, who hath the weit of it, its nei- 
 ther for want of Time, nor Opportunity 
 many arc in Covenant with God, whofe Fa- 
 thers for Age you may be, had you then 
 never an Hours Time in the World to en- 
 ter Covenant with God, fay not ye had 
 not Opportunity for it, had you not the fame 
 Opportunity that other Honeft People had 
 this Day, faw ye not them in the Face of 
 the Sun, and of this great Hoft of People, 
 • with uplifted Hands Sware that the LORD 
 fliould be their GOD. And ye a pack of 
 Idler?, ftood looking on, idle Spe Gators, as 
 if ye had been beholding feme merry Game, 
 or Stage-play, in which ye were not at all 
 concerned, and if ye be in Covenant with 
 God indeed, then are you a Happy People, 
 Happy is the People that isinfuch a Cafe, 
 yea -Happy is that People whofe GOD is 
 the Lord, all you that can Date your Co- 
 venant with .GOD from this Day, may al- 
 
 io 
 
( r63 ) 
 fo Date your Happinefs from this Day, yea 
 Happy is that People whole God is the Lord, 
 for Covenanting with God, and Happincfs 
 goethHandin Hand. 
 
 T>ocl That the Lord hath a People in the 
 World, that are his Bleffed and his Happy 
 People by their being in Covenant with God, 
 in Oppoiition to others in the World, that 
 are a Curfed and unhappy People, becaufe 
 they are not in Covenant with him ; Yea 
 Happy is that People whofe GOD is the 
 LORD. 
 
 I fhall i ft here fliew who aie the Curfed 
 and Unhappy People, that we may rid 
 Marches betwixt Pretenders, and really God- 
 ly, betwixt thefe that with the Jews, only 
 pretend an Iaterefl in the Lord, and thefe who 
 really are the Lord's. 2cily Point out and fet 
 upon the other Side that Happy People who 
 they are, and how they may be known ? 
 whofe GOD is the LORD, gdly, Wherein 
 lyes their Happinefs. 4^/y, Improve it. 
 
 Firfti Who are thefe that arc the Curfed 
 and the Miferable People ? who have not 
 JEHOVAH to be their GOD, who thefe 
 Curfed and, Miferable People are, is clear 
 from the Oppofition, they are not in Cove- 
 nant with JEHOVAH, they have not 
 the LOFvD to be their GOD. Eph.II. 12. 
 At that "Time you were without Cbrifi, heing 
 aliens from the'Common-Wealth of Ifracl Stran- 
 gers to the Covenant of Tromfe, having no 
 
 God, 
 
( m. ) .■;. > 
 
 God, and without hope in the World. And 
 thefe curfed miferabie Cove nan tie fs, Godlefs* 
 Chriiilcfs, Hopclcfs People, may be taken up 
 in thefe Ranks, iji, Heathens who are not 
 fo much as externally in Covenant with God, 
 but thefe are not our Buiinefs at this Time* 
 for G-od will pour out his Fury on the He a- 
 then that never knew Film, why not, let Him 
 do with His own what He will. 2. All thefe 
 are a Curfed and Miferabie People, who; 
 are formal Profeffors, having a Name to 
 be in Covenant with God, yet reall Grang- 
 ers to him, as it is faid Pfal. LVIII 4. 
 The wicked are ejlranged from God from tie 
 *komb) and his appears from this, that they Irce 
 not to God, but to the World, they live to them* 
 fehes: what /hall I eat i Pial, IV 6. 7. 
 Whaijhall I T)rink ? And where with all 
 fljall 1 he clothed ? and who will /hew us 
 any good: but never a Word how Jh all God 
 he Gloryficd ( the pmXy of ihe Gofpell pre- 
 ferred f or how Jhall 1 do alwa\es thefe things 
 that pleafe God, they are Servants of Sin, and 
 Jnfiruments of Satan, Setting themi elves indi- 
 ted Oppofition to God, his Wayes, and 
 People, fuch are for the prefer ving of the 
 Swine, and banifhing Chriir, out of their 
 coafts for the fending of the Kirk, and Cru- 
 cifying of Chrift. Curfed are the People 
 that are in fwch a cafe, yea Curfed are that 
 People whole God is not the Lord. ?. 
 ¥ Gunc4 
 
( T70 ) 
 
 Curled and Miferable are that People that 
 have burnt and broken their Covenant with 
 God, in the breaking, and Burning Times, 
 and never repented nor will Danzie to renew 
 it in the renewing Times Ezech. 1 7. 15. Shall 
 he efcape that Doeth thefe things ? ihall 
 he break my Covenant and be Delivered ?' 
 4. All thefe arc a Curfcd and Miferable 
 People, as have directly or Indire&ly had 
 an Hand in perfecting, and ihedding the 
 fclood of Saints, either out of Malice or for 
 worldly advantage, and are fo far from re- 
 penting, andforrowing fork, that it is their 
 great Sorrow, that the Magi Urates will not 
 give them leave to do fo now, for if they 
 could, they would Hang us or the Morrow, 
 for no other end but becaufe we have this 
 Day taken the Lord to be our God, like 
 Cain, 1^0.111. 12. he flew his Brother, where- 
 fore ? becaufe his own works were evil, 
 and his Brother's Righteous. 5. Thefe are a 
 Curfed and a Miferable People, that flifly 
 adheres to thefc that have fo often abjured, 
 their Covenant with God, and loves them 
 the better thatthey have done it, and that over 
 Sail Motions and Convictions to the contrary. 
 Pro. XVII. r 5. "thefe jufiify the Wicked, and 
 condemn the Righteous, and are abominable to 
 the Lord. 6. Allfuchas refufe to renew it, 
 becaufe they cannot fee how to perfom it, be- 
 caufe of vifible Difficulties, thou art a Poor 
 curfed Wretch that will have nothing to do 
 
 with 
 
f I7t ) 
 
 with Chrift, for fear thou meet with Loffes, 
 and difficulties in his Way. I have as little 
 hope of thy Salvation, as of any that treads 
 God's Ground, thou plays the young Man's 
 Part, Majier -what floatl 1 do to inherit Eter- 
 nal Life, Sell all faith Chrift, and give to the 
 Toor, and come follow me, r,o, no, fays he, 
 here are great Difficulties, and heine goes 
 he farewell Chrift for ever, if the Terms 
 of thy Covenant be fo Difficult, and John 
 VI 60, 66. Tfbefi are hard fayings who 
 can hear them ? and back go they and are ne- 
 ver feen more, where Gcd hach to do, or 
 where Mercy is a parting, not like jPaul, 
 A efts XX. 23. Xonds and ^fiicuons abide me 
 in every City, yet none of thefe Tarings move me. 
 And again: I am not only content to be 
 Bound but to Die atjerufalem for the Name 
 of Chrift. If thou continue in that mind that 
 thou will not indent with Chrift, left thou 
 meet with Trouble, I muft be free to tell 
 you, you are one of thefe fort of Folks, 
 that hath done with Well-doing, Heaven 
 and Happinefs. 7. Thefe are a Curfed and 
 Miferable People, that hath made quite con- 
 trary Covenants, that theyiliall never hang 
 for Religion, tho' they fhould change: it as 
 often as the Parliament fits, yea as often as 
 the Moon changeth, like thefe Ifa.XXVIIL 
 1 5 . We have ma de a Covenant with T>cath and 
 with Hell, arc we at an agreement, away 
 Y 2 Ma4 
 
f 172 ) 
 
 Mad Fools ! a Covenant with Death and | 
 Hell, was it becaufe there was not a GOD 
 in Heaven to Covenant with ! that thou 
 made a Deadly and an HelliJh Covenant ? 1 
 O but fay they 1 not fo Mad as you think, 
 we have made but a Covenant with Over- 
 throwers of Religion, toyeild to what they 
 require, left they Hang us and Bury us in 
 the Grave, which is called Hell in this Place, 
 yea, bat you are dittrattcd ! who hath be- 
 witched you ? O Fools ! know ye not: 
 .what God fays } Tour Covenant wih 2> 
 Jhall be broken, and your o.arccmtnt ityth Hell 
 Jhail not jlanci, God will give you as little 
 good of that Covenant, as Judas got of the 
 Thirty Pieces of Silver, he never nude uie 
 of one Half Penny of it, and hath fryed in 
 Hell for it, Seventeen Hundred Yeart, and 
 evermore will do. 
 
 Objecf. What need all this Curling and Cry-- 
 ing w r e are not in Covenant with God, we 
 are in Covenant with God as well as the 
 bed of you, we are Baptized I hope, and 
 what is Baptifm t Is there no Covenanting 
 with God in that Sacrament! 3 A- You are 
 Baptized there is News, have ye not fome- 
 ' thing to brag of !* Who brake your Baptif- 
 mal Covenant, Burn your National Cove* 
 runt, hate thefe that keep it, not enter in 
 Covenant again for fear of Difficulties, and 
 snakes Covenant with Death and .Hell: 
 What faith the Holj Ghoitoi fuch Baptiz- 
 ed 
 
t 173 1 
 
 ed Perfons as ye are, Rom. II. 25. Titrt 1) 
 
 thou be a breaker of the Law, jhall not thy Cit* 
 jcumcifon be made Uncircumafio% Jer. IX. 
 25. 2, IwillTuniJh them that are Circumcifd 
 with them that are Unci rcumci fed \ Egypt and ' ■ 
 Jndah, and Edom, and the Children of Am- 
 nion, and'Mosibfor all thefe are Uncircumcif 
 ed, and all the Houfe oflfrad are Uncircumcif- 
 cd in Heart, and of fuch the Lord faith, Am. 
 IX. 7. Are ye not as the Children of /Ethiopia 
 to me Houfe of Iirael faith Xht Lord, Bap- 
 tiled Apoftats arc fad Perfcns. 
 
 I come now to fkew you who are the 
 Eleffed and Happy People, and they are a 
 People that have fevcral Marks, rcA Cha- 
 racters, whereby they are diKpgtti'fiieci from 
 •all other People in the World: as, ift s They 
 ■#re a People that are all born ov'r Stgaifi 
 there is a Through and Erle£tual CK. 
 wrought upon the whole Man, The •". • 
 derflanding, Will and Affections: they once 
 judged Sin fweet, and Holinefs bitter, t 
 -once judged Evil good and Good evil, 
 but iince the Charge they judge the 
 -cmite contrary. Pfal. CXIX. 128. I have 
 judged thy Commandments, concerning all 
 'Things to he right y and I hate every Falfe \Vav> 
 the Will was once Rebellious and Difobedi- 
 cnt, rejecting (Thrift and his Commandments, 
 faying, We will not have this Man to Reign 
 ever :is % but in comes the happy Change, and 
 
 the* 
 
( 174 ) 
 then the Stubborn Will fubmirs, faying, Ads 
 IX. 6. Lord 'what will thou have me to do r* 
 TheAffedions wcrefetallon wrong Obje£ts, 
 they Loved, Rejoiced and Delighted in Sin, 
 and in Sinful Company, and were afhamed 
 of Holinefs, and a Holy ProfcfTion, but in 
 comes the happy Change, and then they Love, 
 Joy and Delight in the Lord, his Command- 
 ments, Wayes and People, and Glory in Chrift 
 and his Ways, who aught you know you by 
 thisfare ye the happy People, know ye what it 
 is to be born or'r again ? knew ye ever what 
 the Pangs of the New-Birth meant, to have 
 your Sins as fo many Daggers at the Heart, 
 making you cry out, WharJhaU I do to be 
 Saved, Acts II. 37. Happy are they. 
 
 idly, They are a People all led by the 
 Spirit, of God, Rom. VIII. 9- Now if any 
 Man have not the Spirit of God he is none of 
 his , and this you may know by the Fruits of 
 the Spirit, Gal. V. 12. The Fruits of the Spirit 
 are Love, Joy, Teace, Long-fuffering, Gen- 
 tlenefs, Goodnefs, Faith, Meeknefs and Tem- 
 perance, Contrary to the Fruits of the Flejh, 
 which are Adultery, Fornication, Lafcivouf- 
 viefs, UncJeannefs, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Malice, 
 Variance, Murders, Wrath, Strife, Sedition, 
 Herefies, TDrunkencfs, Revilings, and the like, 
 Who aught you I ken ye by this, are ye the 
 happy People whefe God is the Lord f are 
 ye led by the Spirit of God f the Spirit of 
 God leads not to the Puddle of Sin, nor back 
 
 in 
 
Apoftacy, but in the way of Truth, and 
 Holinefs, it mall be called the Way of Ho- 
 linefs, and thefe redeemed of the Lord liiall 
 walk therein-, Happy are the People that are 
 in fuch a Cafe, yea happy is that People whofe 
 God is the Lord. 
 
 %dly, The happy People are a People who 
 have all of them come to Age, Personally en- 
 tered in Covenant with God, and given theni- 
 felves Soul and Body and all they have to be 
 his, and taken him for their God, and Chrift in 
 all his Offices to govern them by his Law, as 
 well as to redeem them by his Blood. So 
 David, 2 Sam. XXIII 5. GOD hath made 
 with me an eveylafiirig Covenant, fo Jojhua, 
 Jcfojb. XXIV. As for me and my Family -me 
 •mill ferve the Lord; fo "David, Pfal. CXIX. 
 Lord I am thine fave thou me •, Who aught 
 you now ? ken ye by this ? have ye fincere- 
 lyand personally entered in Covenant with 
 God t when was the Time,and where was the 
 Place ? when ye renounced all yourSins and I- 
 dols,& took back your felves from your former 
 Lovers,and made a full and free AiIignation,St 
 Refignation of your felves to God, faying as 
 Naaman, 2 King. V. 17. Thy Servant will 
 henceforth, offer neither burnt Offerings, nor 
 Sacrifices to any other Gods, hut to tie Lord 
 only. Did ever your Soul O Man ! O Wo- 
 man! fay to God as the Soul of David. 
 Pfal. XVI. 1,2. Omy Soul thou baft (aid to 
 
 the 
 
f M ) 
 
 tie Lvd, Thoti art my G GT>, happy 1 that 
 luve fuch a Soul as ever laid fuch a Word 
 to the Lord as this, thou art my God, theie 
 two Letters (MY that thou haft fpoke O my 
 Sou.!, takes in all the Bible, all the Welled 
 Trinity, all Heaven and Eternal Happinefe; 
 for what were they all to me, if they were 
 not mine, and therefore a Great Reformer 
 feid, TOLLE MEUM& TQLLE7DE- 
 I ./, take away My, and ye take away God * 
 and altogether, it is my Soul, that faid it to 
 God, a|i$ therefore that God to whom I laid 
 it with all the Soul I had, is my GOD. So did 
 Jacob, Gea XXVIII. 2o» Jacob -ocmed a 
 Vow, what was it f that the Lord mould 
 be his God, if thou hail with thy Soul done 
 fo, then yea happy, happy is the People that 
 is iiifucii a Cafe, yea happy is that People 
 whole God is the Lord. 
 
 4#fy, The happy People are a People that 
 earneitly long for, and greedily and gladly 
 lay hold on all Opportunities for Cove- 
 nanting with God, in as publick a Man- 
 ner as they can enter in Covenant with him. 
 If many Nations and ftrong People go to 
 Covenant with God, they cry, Jhut n 
 ■ voi oifcatthe hack Z)oort for God's fake take 
 us with you, Zech. VIII. 23. Ten Men /hall take 
 hold of all Languages of the Nations, even 
 ft ad take hold of tie Skirts ofhimthat is a Jew, 
 (tying ■ pUi for vie haue fa'ard 
 
 fv&t GO D is iSGtib you, and if but One Na- 
 
 tiori 
 
( 111 ) 
 
 lion will go, they greedily rejoice and Jay 
 hold on the Opportunity: 2. Chron. 15. 
 12. All of them in the Nation lay hold oil 
 the Opportunity of Covenanting with God, 
 and each of them are glader then another, 
 that they have got the Opportunity; and all 
 Judah rejoiced at the Oath ( of theNationall 
 Covenant; for they had Sworn with all the 
 Heart, and fought him with all the defire, if 
 not, if but a few Families, or but one Fami- 
 ly will go, they ihall be one of that Num- 
 ber, like Jojhua, Joih. 24. Let all the Nati- 
 ons feme what Gods they will, either on the 
 other fide of the Flood, Worjhipzng as other 
 Nations do, or of the Amorites in whofe Land 
 ye T)well, according t<9 the corrupt Worjhip 
 of the Kingdom, yet I and my Family we 
 'mill feme tbe Lord ? What fay ye to this, 
 who aught you ? are ye the happy Peopl© 
 whofe God is the Lord? who greedily long 
 for and Joyfully embrace the bleffed op- 
 ^ portunities of pufelick Covenanting with 
 God, then happy, happy is the People that 
 is in fuch a Cafe, yea, happy is that People 
 whofe God is the Lord. 
 
 Objed. Xou V reach ell to your own fort of 
 folk and to yourfelf that have entered Cove- 
 nant this "Day, ive will all go home, nothi?!g 
 here for us. 
 
 Anf jjl, Why not, would you have us 
 
 walking in fuch iinful Wayes ? and making 
 
 Z fuel* 
 
( 1-73 ) . I 
 
 fuch Antifcriptural Covenants, asthatwhen 
 we Preached the Confolations of the Gofl 
 pel, theie ihould not belong to us; God for* 
 bid, v.e have according to the Scripture 
 and Practice ol the People of God in all 
 Ages been binding a People to God in 
 Covenant, ana the bible tells us, happy is 
 that People whole God is the Lord, who 
 are indeed in Covenant, with him. 2dly> 
 "You fay, you Preach to your felf, lanfwer 
 fo I ought to do, God forbid that I ihould 
 be fuch a Difembler, or fuch a painted Hy- 
 pocrite that when I Preached the Duties, 
 and Correlations of God to others, yet re- 
 ceived no Instruction or Conlblation to my 
 felf, Rom, II. ii.^T'-outhat teach ft another 
 daft Ujcu not teach thy ft if? and as for the Com 
 for is ye envy us of, hare we rot God 7 s Wan and 
 f ike Comfort to mrftetves, and give itto 
 others, that Ue Ctildr.entxid.ntmt their "Breed, 
 i Cor. L $ 4. %lefed be G O D the Fa- 
 of our Lo d" yefus Chrijl the Father 
 of Mercies ard the God of all Comfort, 
 ;cd us in all 'Trilnda'ion, 
 " :■' "might he ahlelto Comfort others, pitS 
 ft c ft/ucLujnforts wherewith isoe our fetres are 
 hrtcd of God. 3, Say you, we will all go 
 me^ nqfhiiig here for you, lanfwer, whom 
 ye that there is nothing here for you,- 
 you were all invited pre fled andobiefied to 
 ant with God, but you re* 
 if God be not your God there is nothing 
 
 here 
 
( *79 ) 
 here for you indeed, but enough for that 
 Jiappy People here, whoie God is the Lo 
 gtf/j>, would you have us Preach contrary tq 
 the jbible, and call them, a Curfea Peoj c 
 whofe God is the Lord, and you a hajjlpy 
 People that rejected God's Covenant t 
 Day, no, no, if ye befuch Folk as reject 
 God's Covenant, and yec will be happy, 
 and will away Home, and break his Sajbbath, 
 and defpife his Ordinances, then yc uiico- 
 ' ver what fort of Perions yc aie, bolc of 
 God's happy People, and ye may go your 
 way home with the heavy Curie of God 
 we will be no worfe of the want of you, it 
 is not Godleis and Covenantlefs People that 
 we want here, Curled arc the People that 
 are in fuch a Cafe, yeaCtuicdare mat Peo- 
 ple whofc God is not the Lord, but 1 ra- 
 ther you would fray and repent, and yet gel- 
 Mercy, and Perfonally Covenant with God, 
 ,and alfo Nationally if ever God give you 
 Opportunity, and if you will away out of 
 Malice and Envy, that yon have feen the 
 Crown fet on Chart's Head, and becaufe ys* 
 hear they are a happy People, then take it as 
 afure evidence of your Eternal Departure 
 from God at thelatt Day, when he iiiailfay, 
 tbefe mine Enemies, that would rot tbat'I 
 fioould Reign ouer them, bring rue whither &n£ 
 Slay them before me, Luke XIX. 37. and Mat. 
 XXV. 41. TDcpart ye curjid into &xrlaftmg 
 
( 1 8o ) 
 Fire, and theft /hall go into everlafting Tunijl^ 
 ■ment\ butaUsl Ifee you going away in the 
 wrong Time, for now the laving Power o£ 
 God is among ft lis. 
 
 Ojjcct. L. So/tte isodl meanivgTeople may 
 fay Mujter tusjayingtoou offendeji us all, for 
 titer? an uere many Hundreds of 'People tmjo 
 have notuetdup t>jeir Hinds by explicit Co- 
 *ymanting whoje Heart is as much at the Work 
 as twfc XiMtdid it, 
 
 ^±*jw. i . God kens the Heart, and what 
 have you been doing within, but I ken 
 wnat ye have omitted that have not expli- 
 citly covenanted witn God. 2. Not! but the 
 bible offends you. 3. This I can fay that 
 as oar of the abundance of the Heart the 
 Mouth fpeaks, fo out of the abundance of the 
 Heart the Hand Acis, be Grace or not Grace 
 in the Heart, I /hall not determine, but this 
 I am fare of, either there is no Grace or elfe 
 Sin abounds, and hath the upper Hand, and 
 its an ordinary Kulc the "Tree is known by its 
 Fruits. 4. It was not the DcfignofthisDay 
 to conceal what Love you had to God, 
 and his Covenant, but to come and declare, 
 and bear a, publick Tettimony before the 
 World, again it Perjurious breakers of God ? s 
 Covenant, for a Teitimonyagainit them, and 
 as public kly as they have plucked the Crown 
 oi his Head, that ye may as publickly fetit 
 on, anil appeal to yourfclves, whatEarrh- 
 }y King would take it well, if when his 
 
 Enemies 
 
( i«i ) 
 Enemies had Sworn the Crown was not his, 
 he fet a Day with his Subjects to let the 
 Crown on his Head, and when the Day 
 came Multitudes came to gaze what they 
 could fee, but never one would touch the 
 Crown with their Finger to fet it on his 
 Head, we ken not your Heart, but this we 
 fee, many hare been idle gazers and fpecta- 
 tors, when others have fet the Crown on 
 Chrift's Head, God grant you may not be 
 Idle Speftators and Gazers in that Day, 
 when Chrift fets the Ctown of Glory on 
 their Heads that with Heart and Hand fet 
 the Crown of Zion on his Head. 5. I fay 
 this to you, that faid we had as good a Heart 
 to Covenanting with God as thefe that did 
 it publickly, and I appeal to your felves for 
 an Anfwer, fuppofe the Sacrament of Bap- 
 tifm were to be adminiitrcd the Perfon to be 
 Baptifed ftiould hear all the Sacramental In- 
 ftitutions and Engagements ( the Perfon being 
 come to the Years of Difcretion ) and when 
 the Minifter fhould fay ftand up, and be Bap- 
 tifed, and yet the Perfon would not ftand 
 forth, nor receive the outward Sign Water, 
 but went his Way. I ask whether or not 
 that Perfon were a Baptifed Perfon, I trew 
 not. 2. I ask, fuppofe this were a Day of 
 receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, 
 and certain Perfons came and fat down at the 
 Table, and heard all that were concerning 
 the Ufefulnefs, Ends and Neceility of receiv- 
 
 ing 
 
( «f»2 ) 
 
 ingthe Sacrament, and yet when it came tar 
 Act oi receiving, and the Mmiiter faicS 
 l^akeye, Eit ye, otc. 'This Cup is fix JS'ew 
 ^Tejlament c Drirk\e all of it % and they would 
 neither receive the Bread nor trie Wine, now 
 fay, whither that Man's Heart was Right or 
 was he a Communicant, I tie w not •, all I ihall 
 fay, Chnii is little in thefe Perfons Conmon 
 for a Tcitimony, in fuch a Day as this/ 
 and how they will mount a Scaffold for 
 Ciiia', in a Bloody Day, that would not 
 lift up a Hand to GOT) in a fweet day of 
 the ffofpel, nor once touch the Crown to 
 fee it on his Head, is more than I can tell,' 
 But to the purpofe again, thefe are a happy 
 People that greedily and joyfully lay hold 
 on all Opportunities, as publickly as they 
 can to enter into Covenant with GO 75, 
 happy is the People that is in fuch a Cafe, 
 yea happy is that People wiiofe GOZ)k 
 the "Lord. 
 
 5 The happy People are a People that 
 reft not in the Act of Covenanting, whither 
 publick orprivat, that is but an Engagement . 
 to Duty they make hafte to perform, Pfal. 
 CXIX. 10.5. I have Sworn and J will per* 
 form that I will keep thy righteous Judgments^ 
 Miferable and Curfed are they that have cn- 
 ;dat Baptifm this Day, or at any Time,, 
 ihall break their Vows, that which 
 principally youCovenantsrsliavc bzz c l vowing 
 
 to 
 
( IB? ) 
 to GOT), as ye fhall ai>i-wer to him at t 
 Great Day, is to ttand itedfaft by the Scrip- 
 tural Won hip, Doctrine, DilciplineandGo- 
 vcrment of the Koufe of God, as it is op- 
 pofed to Popery, Prelacy, Eraftianifm, 
 and the Apottacy, Perjury, and Gover- 
 nment of this prcicnt Conftittit Church of 
 Scotland, by Engti/h'Pitliti, according to the 
 National Covenant and Solemn League, 
 now we do not call you Blefied. and Happy 
 for fo Vowing, except yon perform yonr 
 Vows, let it therefore appear to God, and 
 his People, that ye have been fincere with 
 God, in that ye perform like TDcnid, Pfal. 
 CXVI. 14. 1 mil Pay m Verm vow to tie 
 Lord in the Trefence of all lis Tec fie : But 
 if ye lli2.ll break your Vows to God, and go 
 back to Popery, Pietficy or this prefent A- 
 poftat Clvurch, in the prefence of all the Peo- 
 ple, I call God and your Conscience to Wit- 
 nefsthatye are guilty of direct Perjury, and 
 ftiall be judged blif of your own Mouth, 
 and /hall be none of the Happy People 
 whofe God is the Lord, Pay, and Pay now 
 and continue paying imtiil your dying 
 Day. 
 
 6thly : The happy People are a People 
 that will abide any Affliction, yea, Death 
 it felf, rather than deal Falfly in God's Cove- 
 nant, Pfal XV. 1,4, Eijhail afcend to tie 
 Hill of God, - d efl in lis "Tahrvacle, 
 who changethnot his Covenant tho' it be 
 
 that 
 
f 134 ) 
 that he Swear to his Lofs, every upright Co-' 
 Veil Ji liter with God, calls up his Account be- 
 fore he engage, like a Wife Builder, and 
 fets down- Item, Lofe the World, ltem y 
 Content to lofs my Vail, my good Name 
 ev$a by Minifters, they will take away my 
 Vail from me, ltem y I mult lofe eafe and a cer- 
 tain dweling Place, and wander in Deferts 
 ^ and in Mountains in Dens and Caves of the 
 Earth. Item, I muft lofe my Liberty and em- 
 brace Prifons, for Chrilt like r Paul and Syias, 
 and Jofipb. Item, I may lofs my native Coun- 
 try all for Chrifr, and be driven far off among 
 the Nations. Item y I may lofs my Life for 
 Chrift, like thefe Rev. XII. u. 'They over- 
 came him by the "Blood of the Lamh y and the 
 Word of their Teftimony y and loved not their 
 Lives to the Tieatb y Item, in one Word, lam 
 content to lofe all in the way to Glory, ex- 
 cept God and my poor Soul, thefe they can- 
 not, thefe they will not part with come 
 what will, no their Souls are glewed to 
 Chrift's Heart and love to him ftronger than 
 Death, Pfal.XLIV. .15, 16, 8fc. Zecaufe of 
 the Reproach of. the Enemy and the avenger, 
 all this is come upon us, yet have we not forgot ten 
 thee, nor dealt faljly in thy Covenant & tho' we 
 by counted as Sheep for the Slaughter, fore 
 broken in the Place of Dragons, and killed 
 for thy fake all the Day. Its like the Co- 
 venant betwixt Jonathan and T)avid y they 
 
 made 
 
( 1*5 ) 
 
 nude a Covenant together and keeped it; 
 becaufe they loved on£ another as their 
 dun Soul yea happy, happy is the People 
 that is irl fucjh a cafe, yea happy is that 
 People whole God, is the Lord. ... '*% 
 
 6. They are a People that lov^ haline^ 
 as it is Holiries, tho' rio reward w^re fofc' 
 lowing after it, Pfal. CX1X :Tuy Wr# >\ 
 ii pure therefore my Soul louetk it : . Not 
 fo much becaufe it Jhe^s)es how to Jhun TDam- 
 n*tio% or leads to hap^inejs hit becaufe of 
 ifs fpotles purity and Holinefs -fo fweet avd 
 agree able to my Renewed taft Pfal. CX1X 103^ 
 How fwcet to my Mouth are all thy Words of 
 Truth, yea fweet'ef then the Honey to my. 
 tejl yea happy, happy is that Teople Jwhofe 
 God ii the Lord, Pfal/ v LI 7. 8, David 
 had Brought himjelj in hazard of T)amnation % . 
 and he goes' to God by TrayerJ and whit; 
 fayes he t T>oes hi fay Lord keep me out of 
 HelU Lord take me tip to Heaucn.' and rkake. 
 me happy no but he pants and . breaths dftei 
 peure Holines in this Life, Lord create a Right 
 Heart and renew d Right clean Spirit, in me>.. 
 make me once Holy come ofHappinefs.Vyhat 
 will, yea happy-, happy is the "People whojt 
 God is the Lord, T _ • ; . - ; . 
 
 7. The happy People; are an high' Ben- 
 ded and aft afpiring People, think, not 
 them bafe Spirited and Men of Mean/ arid 
 low Defigncs, becaufe, they' abide , Tryal, 
 of Cruel MocKings, and does not finve to" 
 
 A_a &ee£ 
 
( iB6 ) 
 
 keep the Religion molt in fafhion and fucfi 
 as is the Kings Religion, the great Man's 
 Religion the Religion of thefc 
 that are the Miniiters of the times, 
 rather then the Minifters of Ghrifi that by fo 
 doing they may brag it out with them ancf 
 the Minifters may allow them Familiarity 
 and fay why come ye not oftner to 
 my Houfe it ay till ye get a Drink good- 
 Man, and Hay good-Wife take a Part of 
 my Dinner, and then go Home Braging I 
 was ill the Mmifters, but would he let 
 me ga till 1 Dind with him no, Oh ! he is 
 an Honeit Man our Miaifter, nor arc rhey 
 of bafe and loofe Spirits, becaufe they do 1 
 not afpire to places of Honour in the 
 W#ld no they think no more ol 
 ^firiitles Crowns and Kingdoms, Places of 
 jflfctt fruit, and Earthly Celleries, then 
 Duff and Dung among their Feet TbiL 111 
 8. o. I count all things lofe and Dung 
 ttor are they a bafe and Mean Sprited 
 ; People, becaufe theyrefufe Kirks and Step- 
 " ends, ar.c! contem to go ifl Suaggering m 
 the if perfumes to Synod's and General A$- 
 femhlies, and" be remarked for pretty, net, witie 
 Speaches no,- all this is but to walk in a 
 vain mow what would they be at then! 
 Or wherein does the lugfa .bendednes, 
 Nobility and Majeftckneis of their Spirits 
 appear, it appears in this the Tramp] ing 
 of Crowns, Seepters, 61'nfuil and Worldly 
 Richer PonouDi and preferments; under 
 
 their 
 
"I 187 ) 
 
 their Feet, and therefore the Church Piture 
 is drawn in a ftately M jeitick form Rev. 
 XII r. Standing on the Moan Chatted 
 Wth the San, and on her Head a Q'own of 
 twelve Stars, treading all the Galantries of 
 the World under her Feet like toe Eagle, 
 can [lay at m meaner Game then tbe Su% 
 all Jlrayed and decked whb toe FLoyall Kibes 
 of Chr/Jl, We Sun of the Spirtiuail World, and 
 rejoydng in him that hath tuns adoned them, 
 Iia. LXI 10. T will Greatly relay ce m the 
 Lord, for he hath do at bed me with the Kohes 
 . of Righteoufnes, and cohered me with the 
 Garment of Salvation, and on their Head a ' 
 Crown of twelve* Star$ r the Tfattfine of the 
 twelve \Apoftles ; Noble and Maje (tick -arc 
 they by their new Birth and extracl, John 
 I. u. 12, Born not of the Fleih, nor 
 the will of Man, but of God,. Noble -in 
 refped of their Ready Imbracing the Gof- 
 pell, Acl: 17 1 To Thefe were more in 
 Noble then thefe of Theffalmica^ m that 
 they received the word wich all rcadines of 
 Mind, Noble in refpett of their rule, 
 and Places of trull, they rule not with 
 Sinful Worms but with God, Hof ir» 1.2. 
 Judah yet rules with God, and is faithful 
 w.ith the Saints: Rule, and are Ruled by 
 his Law, in opposition to any Human Law 
 to the contrary, Noble in refpecl pi their 
 end and Dengues Phil. Ill §. 9, tQi^. 
 All lofs that I may gain Chrift, I pre Is 
 A ; j, & ' to 
 
( t83 ) 
 j v o the highefl pitch, and degree ofHolinefs 
 that ever mortal attained to, I prefs for- 
 ward if by any means, I may attain to 
 the Kefurreelion, to Eternal Salvation, they 
 are fuch a Majeltick, afpiring high bended 
 People, "that they think no more of Hea- 
 ven, and Angels without Chiril, then of a 
 iVJlen and morofe campany of Morners 
 about a Toombe Grave like Mary, John 
 XX 13. She vveeped in the company of 
 !Affg€% and itill cryed my Lord if away, 
 and his Place is ill fupplyed by Angela 
 you are good -Angih but ill Chrifts and 
 pavid Pfal. LXXIII 25. Whom haue.\ 
 in Heaven but thee i And. there is none 
 on Earth that 1 T>efire lefides thee \ Yea 
 happy, happy is the People that is in fach 
 <i cafe, yea happy is that People whole 
 God it "the Lord. 
 
 8. The happy People are a People that 
 exceedingly long for Chrifi'.s fecond appe- 
 arance to Judge the World, and defiered 
 hope gives them manyafeek Heart, but if 
 once he would let his Glorious Head through 
 the Clouds, thendefire accp.mpliilied would 
 be fweet to the Soul, they would then ftart 
 to their Feet, "as the Spoufe in another 
 cafe, and cry the Voice of my Beloved, 
 well is me for ever more, long looked for, 
 is once cone at la ft, or a& the bleffed 
 Martyr at the Stake, who when Chiift came 
 with his fenfiblc Glojou. preience-, cryed 
 
 out 
 
t 189 ) 
 
 $ut O ! Aniline, he is come; he is come, 
 hence they are called. .2. Tim. IV 8. 
 JLouers of his - appearance, -who hare laid up 
 for tucm q Crown of Ri'gLteoufnes, benee at 
 Jo is fo many 'Prayers for bis Coming, arid bis 
 bafiy coming Cant. VIII Lait make haft my 
 Jfeloynd anc] be thou as r a Ra'e pr Young 
 Heart upon the Mountains of Separation, take 
 long Steps, ha'ften by Hand all the 
 Great promifes to be fulfilled, before thy 
 Coming, flioul away Snful Suffering days, 
 and dayes of defertion, and the Trumph- 
 ing of the wicked, let it be but for a Moment, 
 *nd right all the wrongs done to they felf, 
 thy In te reft arid People 1 let, Haman and 
 Mordicaiboth get their dues let the Righte- 
 ous be delivered out of trouble and the 
 wicked come into his flesd ? others have 
 need of patience to Dil •, But the Godly 
 {lave need of patience to Live, hence fayes 
 the Apoftle 1; Thef. Ill 5. LordT>i- 
 red your Hearts in tbe Loxe of God, and in 
 patient waiting for tbe coming of Cfyrifi-y&i 
 they would come to him upon the waters, 
 and go through the Jawes of Death, jand 
 fwelings of Jordan to v/in at him, JLuke 
 II 28. 29. Simon ' when once he got 
 Chrift in his Arms, cryed now, Lord, 
 letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, 
 let me dye in the fame place of Imbrace- 
 ment, fo up right heated Covenanters, 
 that have met with Chrift here will wtfti' 
 
 O! 
 
I 190 ) 
 
 OI To depart, and to have our Graves in 
 this place where we became fo happy 4 
 People as get the Lord to be our God, 
 yea happy, happy is the |People that is in 
 fuch a cafe, hippy is that People that is 
 in fuch a cafe, ycf happy is that People 
 whofe God is the Lord. 
 
 The third thing is if the Lord's People 
 befuchanhappy People, wherein lyes their 
 happines £ AntVcr ? . it lyes in this and no- 
 thing but this there being in Covenant with, 
 God, that makes them happy, happy is the 
 People that is in fuch a cafe, jy'ea happy 
 is that People whofe God is the Lord, for 
 they 'tan never come into that condition 
 of Life or Death, Profperity or adverfity, 
 but ay there Covenant with God makes 
 them happy Dent. XXX1I1 29 Happy art 
 thou- Ifrael who is like unto thee £ a People 
 firoecl by the Lord, the fbield of thy help and 
 who is the Szvord of they excellency , and thine 
 Enemies Jhall be found liars unto, thee, and 
 thou Jhall ride upon Hjeir high 'Places. And 
 by their being iri Covenant with God, they 
 are happy in a Threefold Refpect, 1. they are 
 happy here away in their Road to Glory 
 2. They are happy in Death, in flitting 
 .and fteping into Glory, 3. They are happy 
 after Death in their "full poffeffiqn of God 
 in Glory for ever and Ever* 
 
 Firft happy here away in their Road & Jur-. 
 ney to Glory, and that in a two fold con- 
 dition 
 
f '91 ) 
 
 i. of Profpcnry, 2 Of adverfity, fi 
 Happy in proiperity, Deut. XXVIII i. 
 If thou -mill obey the Vbkt of the Lord they 
 God to do all Mi commar, dements then the Lord 
 thy God mill jet the ab&&£ all the Nations of the 
 Earth ; hlc&d fhall thou be in City, and 
 blcffed fhall thou be Jin flic field, bleffed 
 ftiall be the Fruit |of thy Body and the 
 Fruit of thy Ground, &e. whereas all thefe 
 arc curfed to the wicked Mai II 2. If 
 ye will not give Glory to my Name, I 
 will even fend a curfe upon you, and will 
 curfe your bleffmgs, yea, lhave curfed them 
 already, Job XX 21. In the fulnes of your 
 Sufficiency yt /ball he in Jlraiii+ Pro v. I 32 
 The Trofferiiy of Fools Jhall deftroy them\ 
 they fpend their Stibftance in debauchry; oner- 
 ihroiscing Religion &c. But the Godly fpend it 
 for the Glory of the giver, and Mantinance 
 ol the the Golpel, happy they, God's blef- 
 fiiig's on them and it both, yea happy, 
 happy is the People that is in fuch a cafe 
 yea, happy is that People whofe God is 
 the Lord. 
 
 2. Happy in time 6f adverfity 2. Cor. IV 
 8. 9, n.. We are troubled on euery fide 
 yet not difireffed y i&c are fer flexed, but hot in 
 defppjy : Terfecuted, but not forfaken-, cafi 
 down, but not dejlroyed. Happy they, ye£ 
 happy is that People whofe God is the 
 Lord. 
 
 1. Art thou A Lord's Body a Poor weak; 
 Creature and afiauhed with many ftrong 
 
 Temtations 
 
. ( *9?< ) 
 Temtations yet happy the Lord /hall both 
 lieip the againft them and make them to 
 prevent Sin, inftead of provoking to Sin, 2'. 
 Cor. XII 9, I be fought the Lord 
 often to take away the Temtation, but he 
 did better, 1 . He made his grace fufficient: 
 for me, and his ftrength perfect in my weak- 
 nes 2, He made it work for my good, 
 that I might not be exalted above meafure 
 through the abundance of Revelation: Yea 
 happy, happy is that People whofe God 
 is the Lord. 
 
 2 Art thou fometimes overtaken in a 
 fault and guilty of fome Sin, aiter Cove- 
 nanting yet happy for all that, fori: Thefe 
 Sins may mare they Comfoitvbut they fliall 
 notnullyfie God's Co vnant, T/7/.LXXXIX 
 32. If his Childten break my Law, I will 
 Punifh with a Road, but will not break my 
 Covenant with them, and this was 7Jai)id y s 
 comfort looking back on his former Life t at 
 Death 2.SamelXXUI 5. Altho' lriavebeen 
 guilty of many Sins, yet God hath made 
 with me an everl ailing Covenant, better 
 ordered and furer then all rny Sins can. 
 wind me out of it. 2. They fliall not be 
 left of God to ly in Sin without Repentance, 
 the Lord reitored T^auid by fending Nfr 
 thcin to him, and better by a Gracious look 
 happy they. 3. Happy in that the Lord 
 gives them good out of Sin, tivt of this 
 cater he bfings forth Meat, when a Perfon 
 
 Lobk# 
 
{ 193 .) 
 Looks back, and fees the greatnes ofhfe 
 Sins, and yet God forgiving all it makes 
 one love him exceedingly Luke 7. .4,7. 
 She Loved much for much was forgiven, 
 it makes another Labour the more in God's 
 work i. Cor. XV" .9. 10. I am not worthy 
 to be called an Apejlle becaLfe 1 perfect- 
 ed the Church of God, but wnen he beno- 
 wed his Grace on me, it was hot in , vain, 
 for I laboured more aboundantly then they 
 all, thy repent they love God the more, and 
 are at more pains in his fervice, happy they 
 yea more, they get this advantage by Sin, 
 that they rile out of it with more care and 
 watchfulnes, keeping ay a watchful! careful 
 Eye to the Airth from which Enemy , Sin 
 may be expected like the fpoufe, Cant. 
 VII 4. Thy Nofe is like thi J Tower of L& 
 hanon, that looketh toward T)amafcus, an Ido- 
 latrous place by which they were,. Some times 
 tempted to commit lolatry, when the King of 
 Hmel fent Home the Tatter on of the Altar : 
 of 'Damafcus, and fet it up in fbe t Houfe, r of 
 the Lordi they gai this good of- it, the will, 
 ever after aware of Idolatrous \Damafcus. this 
 made a great Saint once fay, I get more good 
 of my Sins then of my Grace, for I amHu;hbl~ 
 ed by my Sins hut like to be puffed up with my 
 graces* and if. they be better of Sin what can 
 wrong, them? ; Happy they, yea happy is 
 thac People whofe God is the Lord, 
 3. Arc flwhi living among Pexfrcattnig 
 
( 194 ) 
 Enemies and has no itrength againft th£ni 
 yet happy for all that, thy Covenanted 
 God is itrong enough for them all and haih 
 promifed to help the If a. XL1 10. Feat 
 thou not for I am with thee be not difmay- 
 ed for 1 am thy God, yea I will help thee, 
 yea 1 will itrengthen thee, yea 1 will uphold 
 thee, by the right-Hand of my Righteoufnes, 
 Go to God and tell him they are like to* 
 under his Poor weak Covenanted p}dy 
 like that King 2. Chro. XX 12 O Lord 
 our God will thou not Judge them, will 
 thou not Judge them, for we have no might 
 againft this great Company that cometh a- 
 gainit us neither know we what to do, but 
 ©ur Eyes are toward thee and what an hap- 
 py return was given, the Lord fet ambuik- 
 avents againft the Children of Ammo% Mo« 
 ab y and Mount Sier are they not happy,-- 
 happy art ihoiiOljrad who is like unto thee 
 a People fayed by the Lord who is thine 
 help, yea happy is that People whofe God 
 is the Lord, Tjkl XII Laft the Lord will 
 compafs them about with favour as with 4 
 flueld. 
 
 4. Haft thou Lofl: they way in a mift 
 of darknes, and a mufe of perplexities, Sa- 
 tan having raifed fuch a mitt ofmanyReli- 
 gons tcr make thee to- waiHer, and art corrr- 
 pleaning Ifi. 59. 10. We grope for the 
 wall like Blind men, we grape as if we had 
 m Eyes, O who will guide me to Im~ 
 
 manuePs 
 
*95 ) 
 rnanwel's Land? who will bring me to the 
 City of Life, happy for all that, thy own 
 God will, do that, Ifa XL1I 16. I will 
 make Darknes Light before thee, and Cro- 
 oked things Straight thefe things will I do 
 to thee an i not forfake the, thine Ears fhall 
 hear a voice behind the faying this is the 
 way walk- ye in it, when thou turned: to 
 the right Hand or the left, Ifi. LI t8 ? 
 I have {ecu his wayes and I will heal 
 him I will lead him alfo, I will re do re contort 
 to aim and to his Mourners, happy thou, yea 
 happy is that People whofe God is the 
 Lord. 
 
 5. Art thou a Poor wighted burdened 
 broken Hearted Body for th y oun Sin and 
 the Sin, of the Land, of all Ranks, and 
 for the Treachery of the Minifters of the 
 time, yet happy for all that, why thy God 
 is a fuftaining upholding God. ' Mit- XI 
 23. Come to me weary heavy laden Soul 
 and I will give the red Tfal LV 22, 
 Call: thy Burden on the Lord and he dial! 
 Suftain thee , happy thou yea happy is that 
 People whofe God is the Lord. 
 
 6. Art thou afraid the Lord leave the 
 
 Land, and take the Gofpel utterly away, 
 
 yet happy for all that, for the Lord will 
 
 not leave the Land for the Sms of the 
 
 Multitude, if there be but in it a foul 
 
 Remnant that will noc leave him 2. Cbro. XV 
 
 , The Lord is with you while you ar e 
 
 2 B b 2 ^tH 
 
( io6 ) 
 with him, as long as the Lord hath an Honeft 
 Party in the Land, the Gofpel fhall not gp 
 away, it may w^U be ecclipfed Ifa. XXXIII 
 20 11 - look on Zion the City of pur Soleri)- 
 nites,' thine Eyes iliall behold Jerufalem a 
 peacable habitation, a tabernacle neycr to 
 be taken down ? will he leave a People that 
 fwearheilulibeliieir God, not at all happy 
 are the People whofe God is the Lord. 
 
 7- Art thqu a Poor Body weak in Grace 
 and can neither take comfort to they felf, 
 lior be very ufeful for others, happy for all 
 that/ whole God is the Lord,' for firftit is 
 not the ftrength, but the reality of Grace, 
 that the Lord looks to as Men have two 
 wayes to try Gold, on by the Ballance to 
 fee what weight it hath if there be much of 
 it, another by the Touch-Hone to fee if it 
 be good Gold, fo doth the Lord, and hath 
 a great efteem of the leaft grain of true 
 grace %, Tet. I. 1. Thefe faith the A- 
 pojile that; have obtained the like Precious 
 Faith with "us 2, Where it is he will en- 
 courage it "Ifa. "XLII'3. The Smoking flax 
 mil lie not quench, nor break the brufed reed, 
 3. be will proportion your trouble to your ftrengtb 
 lay no more on than ye are able. tobetv\like a 
 tender Mother ay dand cling the. weake Child 
 on her knees, iphen floe boosts, the firovg away 
 to the fore turn, 4, He will make your 
 Journey toHeavenmore patent then the weak 
 Rev. Ill 8. Thou haft but a little ftrength 
 
 fceholcj 
 
( 197 ) 
 behold I have iet before you an open. 
 Door 5. If thou had more ftrength of grace 
 it would be as well tryd as Heman a Pen- 
 man of the Holy Scripture yet Heman conclu- 
 ding himfeli a loft Man^/. IXXXVIII 
 5. 10.' J am counted with them that go 
 down to the pic, it's theie God gives much 
 work in the World to whom he gives great 
 grace efpecially affaraiice, jf&cob Jiad ntoach 
 manifedatipiiSjbiit a weary Life pf tryal 1/hac 
 fewer manifeftations but a peaceabler Life, 
 be fides all thy Covenanted, God is a grace 
 giving God, happy thou, Tjal LXXX1V 
 ir. The Lord is a Sun and a fliield, he 
 will give grace, and he will Give Glory, 
 yea happy is that People whofe God is the 
 Lord. r 
 
 8. Is this thy affliction that thou art in. 
 a low condion in the World, happy for all 
 that, God fees thou could not bear with plen- 
 ty, and it is a more Dangerous condition 
 than a Mean conditon Deut. XXXII 12. 
 3c 5. When Ifrael, 'was. in a Mean and lew 
 condition it is faid the Lord alone did lead 
 ttm and there was no firange God irifb Um, 
 but when he rod upon the high Places of the 
 Earth, and Riches rnultipled them Jeihunm 
 waxed fat kicked and foribqk the Lord that 
 made him, better be in a mean condition 
 with God alone leading thee then to for- 
 fake God in a Profperous condition 2. 
 why ddeffi thou fear, hath God done good 
 
 to 
 
fi 9 8 ) 
 to i\\6 Soul, the Jewel he will be good 
 to the Body the Cabinat for the Jewels 
 fake, yea for his promifes fake, Jjn. XXXII 
 14. He that walketh uprightly and fpeakcth 
 Righteoufnes bread ihall be given and 
 Water ihall be fure of Heb. XIII 5. Let 
 they Conversation be without cove toitfnes 
 and be content with fach things as ye have 
 for he hath faidl will not notleave the neither 
 not not forfake thee, the greek hath five Ne- 
 gatives which amount to a ltrong affirmative 
 of prefencefcproviibn, I W ill not notleave 
 thencither not not forfake the yea happy, hap 
 py is the People that is in fiich a cafe, 
 yea happy is that People whofe God is the 
 Lord. 
 
 9. Art thou tryfted with all fort of troubles, 
 from all airts at once as Job once was, when 
 he faid the tcrrours of God fet themfelves 
 in aray againft me and T>avid y Pfah XLII 
 7. At the Noife of thy Waiter Spouts all 
 thy waves and billowes aYe gone over ;^, 5 yet 
 happy for all that, why f Thy God hath 
 fct the moe workers to haften thy Salva- 
 tion, and intends to do the greater good 
 Rom. VIII 28, All things work together 
 for good to' them that love God thy God is, 
 "a, Mcricde and wonder working God, the 
 -more affltlzons the more patent way to Heaven 
 Adls XIV 22. Through much tabulation 
 mujl we enter into the Kingdom of God, God 
 makes your afflictions a caft up caufay way 
 
 tti 
 
( *99 ) 
 to the very entry of the Palace of Glory* 
 Hrhat is the Reafon why one Drowns in 
 the Mire of Pride t another in the Mire 
 of Malice, another in the Mire of Cove- 
 ioulnes, it is God hath notcaftupa Ca'ufey 
 way of arrli£tions to them which was the 
 catife of Moabes filthifies jtr. IV a. u. 
 It was eafe and want of arrli£tions, Moab 
 hath been at cafe from his youth, he hath 
 not Leon emptied from Veihel t© Vefliel, 
 therefore his dregs of Sin remaineth in him,- 
 and his fent of Hell is not changed Pfal. 
 LV ig. Hecaufe rhelWicksd have no changes, 
 therefore they fear not God; Doth God bring 
 all tribulation for thy good, then he either up- 
 holdeth or Comfcrteth or doetlr both in thefc 
 troubles, 2. Car. I. 3. 4. God whocomfor- 
 teth us in all Tribulation fo then tho' an 
 aiiided People yet an happy People yea" 
 happy is that People whofe God is the Lord. 
 Secondly rhey are happy inrtheHoure of 
 Death, when they take the fodsof "Jordan 
 to go over and Tails the good Land, for 
 which they have endured fo much forrcw 
 in a wearry Wiidernes, why fo ? 1 . There 
 Covenanted God hath the Kyes of Death 
 and Hell Indeed if ungodly and great ones 
 of the World had thee Kyes of Death 1 
 and Hell, they would fend all the Godly 
 to Kell from their Death Beds, as well as 
 they fent many of them to fires and Gibbets, 
 and all the wicked to Heaven, ay, but Chrift 
 
( ?-oa. ) 
 bath the Kyes that's thy comfort Rev L 
 17. Fear not John lam Lining the? 1 was, 
 TJead, and I bane tue Kyes of Death and 
 Hell, mil I that ha-ve the Kys and 'Bridle 
 of Death) Suffer a Toor 'Body in Covenant 
 with me to he /wallowed upoj Death, no, no 
 Hof. XIII 14. 1 will redeem them from 
 Death 1 will Raiifom them from the Power 
 of the Grave will I that have the Keys of 
 Hell ? ever fuffer a Poor .Body in Cove- 
 nant with me to go there, no, no, there is 
 as great a difierance betwixt thefe in Cove- 
 nant with God, the, happy People, and thefe 
 not in Covenant with God the unhappy 
 People as was, betwixt Ifrael and Egypt 
 at the red Sea, Ifmel in Covenant with God 
 went in paffed fafely through, and in a 
 little arefinging on the Banks of Canaan, the 
 Lord is my God and I will exalt him, the 
 Lord is my Strength and my Song he alfo 
 is become my Salvation But the Egyptians 
 entered in not in Covenant with God; and 
 never one came fafe to fhore are they 
 not then happy i Yea happy is that People 
 whole God is the Lord : Thou makes but 
 a Poor Tcftament, as to the world you may 
 fay Ihave not much to put in my Testa- 
 ment to my Poor Wife and Bairns i But 
 only this to leave my Widow on my God, 
 and let my Fatherles Children truit in him 
 but for my Poor Soul I have a' - Rich 
 TelUment, and it is David's Teftament 
 
( 2or ) 
 2. Sarn^ XXTII 5, IV ^ #b#> U nU 
 jo isoitt) God, yet be hath made with me M 
 evcrtafting Covenant, and all my Salhxtiion i 
 Is in, it and all is in ic my Heart could deihe 
 and this Teitament the Grave cannot rot 
 neither eternity were it out are they not 
 then happy, ? Yea happy is that People 
 whofe God is the I jrd. 
 
 Thirdly they are happy after Death iri 
 the full Pofleiiion of Goi in Glory to all 
 eternity 1. Thy Body ihall fleep in Jefirf 
 1 Thef. IV 14. In the Lore, and Uhdet 
 the protection of Jefus, who will I oj e nothing. 
 °f y° u y John VI 39. Not a fmall Sand of 
 thyDuftbutihallraifeitupat the laft day^ 
 when that call is given awak and Sing, thou 
 that dwelled in the Duft, and Cant. 2, 4. 
 O my dove that art in the Clefts oi the 
 Rocks, and in the fecret Places of the flair* 
 let me fee thy Countenance let me heir 
 thy Voice, that Countenance that was cl&i$i~ 
 ed pale and Ghoitly by Death, look foftn 
 now as the Morning fair as the Moon, clear 
 as the Sun, let me hear that Tongue tint 
 hath io long tsen bound up by Dcztli 
 how fweetly like the looted tongue of zb- 
 chariah it can i peak and praife God, h<feof 
 it can fing the Song of Mofes and of ijfo' 
 Lamb, come away Poor thing that loi M'f 
 fake God the Prifon the Bar, ancf the . gi- 
 bbet the dens and the Mountans defaft* 
 aad cave* of the Earth, who endured ir8n- 
 Q 6 p? 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 ger and thirft and Nakednefs, and was coun- 
 ted as the filth and offfcouring of aJl thing9 
 your long iinrc Murderers are now Income 
 your beggars crying give us of yonr oyl 
 for our Lamps are gone out, but as they 
 gave you not a Dram of Mercy lb not one 
 pram of oyl for them, take now the throne 
 and let them ftand in the pannel and pafs 
 the fentence once for a 1 ! agamit them, de- 
 part from Chriit ye Cur fed, and for you 
 come ye bleffed, go up r/ith God with ihouts 
 and founding of Victorious Trumpets, but 
 O happy People what will ye think? Wheu 
 ye firft look abo ut you in that City the Strcats 
 Whereof are all beaten Gold, and all the 
 wall of it fparklir.g with different Pearles, 
 and when ye fee the Tree of Life bearing 
 twelve Sorts of Fruits, every Moneth, and 
 the Leaves of it for the healing of theJNa- 
 tions, an Orchyard for varity and an Herveit 
 to L rpetuity, preventinggly healing all deafes 
 Be vcr one falls lick in Heaven, will you not 
 then ask the Queftion that Ifrael asked con- 
 cerning the Mannar i What is that for they 
 knew not what it was-. What is that all 
 Glory, Glory; Glory, unconceivable, perfect, 
 full and everlafting Glorv, what will ye 
 think i When ye fee the Glorious Trinity, 
 Father Son and Holy Ghoft, the Father 
 that laved and gave his Son, the Son that 
 loved and came to fave, the Holy Ghoft 
 that Loved and applyed that Salvation, wiU 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 ye not cry out then, O wondcrfull, did e- 
 vcrthis Glory do io much for me, and when 
 ye turn your Eyes to your felves, and fee 
 your felves all ihining with the Glory 
 of Chrilh will ye not men ilart the Que it- 
 on, Is this I is this indeed the Old lo ngiine, 
 Poor filthy, loit contemned filthy I? h this 
 be I lee me Itand in fome fecret corner of 
 Heaven, &: iteall a look through the General 
 ^.Jfemhly of the firit born, and cry the ble- 
 lings of my Soul that was ready to psriih 
 te on this Glorious Trinity, Hxllduw), Sal- 
 vation to him that fitteh on the Throne, 
 and to the Lamb for ever and ever, your for- 
 mer Covenants, and this days Covenant, were 
 all but a betroatching, than is the Solemn 
 nizing of the Marriage, when Heaven re- 
 founds with that Song, Rev. XL£ j. Let 
 us be Gkd and rejoyce and give Honour 
 to him for the Marriage of the Lamb, 
 is come and his Wife hath made her felf 
 Ready, and to her it was given to be arayed 
 in Fin Lining Clean and whit then the weary 
 Prifon Garments and the raggs of Sin and 
 Mortality are laid afide, and the Kobe 
 Royal of Glory, Life and Imortality 
 lhali be thy Clothing, for ever and ever 
 and then ye will have no caufc to rue thafc 
 this day or any other time you took the Lord 
 to be your God, and entered in Covenant 
 with him, and flood by it notwithstanding 
 all the temptations, you had to break it: 
 happy are the People that arc in f uch 4 
 G c % cafe 
 
( 204 ) 
 
 pfc yea happy is that People whofe God 
 is the Loru. 
 
 1 lhill clofe with fome Direclions to 
 the ie happy People whole God is the Lord i. 
 fee very Humble, make not a t jait of it 
 feat fay what am 1 and what is my Fathers 
 Houle that thou halt brought me hitherto t 
 Y^ho made the to differ from another, and 
 what han thou that thou halt not received i ll 
 if thou halt received it why does thou bcaft 
 as if thou received it not. 2. Go home 
 and pen Songs of Praifes to him, who is 
 your own Covenanted God Ex. XV i. 2. He 
 is my God and I will Praife him, the Lord is 
 my Itrength and my Song, he a] ib is become 
 my Salvation Tfal LXV11I 20. He who 
 now is our God is the God of Salvation, 
 who is gene to Heaven to prepare a Place 
 for us John 14. 1. 2. And will come 
 again and receive us to himfelf, that where 
 he is their we may be alfo, and we who 
 are upon the Earth have been and fliall 
 prepare him a Place in the Heart, and a 
 Place in the Church of Scotland, that where 
 v/e are there may he be alfo, let him&c us 
 jjever finder for time and eternity, 
 
 3. Take good heed to your felves that you 
 forget not to prof ucut, the ends of the Cove- 
 nant, into which you have entered this day 
 TJeut. IV 23. Take heed to your felves 
 that ye forget not the Covenant of the 
 Lord your God which he made with you, 
 
 for 
 
( 20 5 ) 
 
 for I give you warning, If you mind not 
 to perform the Covenant of God in a] I the 
 articles of it but iliall Joyn with abjured 
 Prelacy, and thefe Men that by Epifcopal 
 Oaths andPrefentations have given a ftrook, 
 at the very root of Reformation, or iKall 
 turn to a curfed indifferancy, and newtra- 
 lity in the Matters of God, wavering be- 
 twixt the Covej anted party, and the over- 
 throwers of Reformation, and ihall not flick 
 by them, to ftrengthen their Hands in the 
 work of God, as you have this Day fworn 
 to the moft hight God, Then all the curfes 
 of God's violated Covenant iliall come up- 
 on you, Jer. n. 3. Curfed be the Man 
 that obeyeth not the Words of this Cove- 
 nant, that is a Terible word for you and 
 let it be a warning to you, Nch. V 13. 
 God Iliall iliake them out of his Koufe, & 
 Inheritance, and out of all the precious pro- 
 mifes of the Bible, that performeth not the 
 Word's of this Covenant, and Eztk XVII 
 19. furly my Covenant that he hath 
 broken, and my Oath that he defpifed, it 
 will I recom pence upon his own Head, and 
 I will bring him down : And I wil fpread 
 my net over him and he ihall be taken in 
 my fnare, thefe are hcavey curfes De- 
 nounced againfi you if ye fliall break God's 
 Covenant which need never go out of your 
 Ears, but make both the Ears of them that 
 hear them to tingle. 
 
( 206 ) 
 
 But 2 If yon ihall keep your Covenant 
 with God, neicher be aJlured by flatteries 
 nor terrified by frownes, and threatnirg to 
 break your Vowes, nor to make defection 
 to the Contrery part 2 then the Lord ihall 
 Heep bleiliags upon you, lhaken together 
 preiTed dovvn and Running over, Dent. 
 XXVIII i. If thou/ball keep the Commande- 
 mtnts of the Lord thy God, all thefe UeJJings 
 Jhall come upon thee, and overtake tijee, Blef- 
 fed Jhall thou be in the City, and blejfed Jhall 
 thou be in the Yield "Blejfed Jhall be the 
 Fruit of thy "Body and the Fruit of thy 
 Ground, and all that thou puts thy Hand unto, 
 Ifa. LVI 5. 7. The ftrtnger that Joyneth 
 hi'-nfelf to the Lord, te Jerve him and Love 
 the Name of the Lord, and taketh hold of my 
 Covenant, even him will I bring to my 
 Holy Mountain, and make him Joyful in 
 my Houie of Prayer, their Brunt Offerings 
 and their Sacrifices ihall be accepted on 
 mine Altar and how fweet is thatlik Abel 
 to have our Sacrifices taken of our Hand 
 and to be brought at laft to the Mountain 
 of Vifion, and this fliall it be to you who 
 keep God's Covenant happy ye. 
 
 3. Take Chrift to be Caution for you, 
 and the work will not mater in your Hand, 
 Pray much as the Pfalmift, Tfal. CXIX 
 122- Lord be Surty for thy Servant, for 
 good, and beware of that Religion Deflry- 
 ing Covenant, breaking, and Reformation 
 
f *07 
 
 our thtouing Sin of Prid never will that 
 Perfon thrive nor ftand to its Engage- 
 ments that hath a high conceit of its fel$ 
 the Lord Reiiileth the Proud,, but giveth 
 grace to the Humble; row yen have pub- 
 lickly taken the Lord to be your God Let 
 you and him never Sunder again, go in 
 peace and walk Humbly with your God, 
 and the Lord hear your Prayers, fulfill your 
 Defires help you to pay your Vows, make 
 you exceeding Glad with his Countenance 
 here and bring you to the eternal fruition 
 of himfelf in Glory hereafter, and then 
 you and all the World will be convinced, 
 that the Lord's People are an happy People 
 happy is the People that is in fuch a cafe, 
 yea, happy is that People whofe God is 
 the Lord, 
 
 The Lord's Bleffing follow you where 
 ever ye go, and bles what you have been 
 about and to his Name be praife. 
 
 SOM| 
 
( 2c8 ) 
 
 SOME NOTS OF A 
 
 PREFACE, LECTUREand 
 SERMON, the L R D's day 
 IMMEDIATLY FOLLO- 
 ING the RENEW IN G of the 
 COVNANT. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 r.-'ffjjfi r> irrt uryirj! r t/rrits/- 
 
 m HE Peoph of GOD 
 are a Peop e that frc- 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 m 
 
 qnchtly rc.iew their 
 I ovenant with God. 
 Int XXI C i. Tdc 
 
 Lord there ^mmanded 
 tbi 1eo$\e to utiti* 
 their Coxen tit in the 
 Land o/JVJbab, n-kjeb 
 he made mth them at i uitt, xtrfe 10. 11 
 12. And there Man Woman and Child 
 Hood up to renew it, and it is the work o£ 
 
 :^f 
 
 
( 2o 9 ) 
 a Gofpcl Mini iter to pronounce God's 
 bleiling on the makers and keepers of it 
 and a curfe oil thefe that wiJl neither 
 make nor keep it from enemies to God 
 in their minds, by wicked works, and Ene- 
 mies to Covenanting with God and fome 
 that are not attainted with Covenanting 
 Dayes, were orfenJed when we told therri 
 fuch things, but they may fee we ought to 
 Do far from Dent. XXX 19. I call Heaiftn 
 ttnd Eart/j to wit:nes Xtit "L)ay, that 1 have 
 jet before you Life and 'Dear/), UeJJlng and 
 curling, and. Deut. XXIX I keep therefore 
 
 • the Words of tuis Covenant, that God' shilling 
 miv be on you^ and that you May frojper in 
 ail that ye do, and verfe 19. It jhall come 
 to ptfs vjf'sen Ik beareth the Word's of 
 curfe, and blefs himfelf faying, I Jhall hdi£ 
 peace when I walk after tee Imaginations of 
 my own Heart, the Lord will not fpare Inmi 
 but the anger of toe Lord, and his Jealotifie 
 Jhall fmoke agdnft that Man, and all the curfe i 
 that are Written in this 'Book Jhall ly upon 
 Vim and the Lord Jhall blot out his' Name 
 from under Heaven, and feparate him only to 
 evilly and not only does a. Covenant made 
 with God in a Land, bind tbefe prefeni id 
 keep it, under Tain of the Lord's heavy curfe 
 hut alfo it binds thefe that are not prejent un* 
 
 . der the fame penalty verfe 14. \ 15. Neither , 
 with you only do I make this Gorcenani cind 
 this Oathy wittj mm that fmdetb here witb 
 
 & ' * ■ m 
 
( ^30 ) 
 
 hut alfo with him that is not here with us this 
 d'iy* So all the curj'es of the Law of God 
 co mts on them that Jhould [Dare Covenanted 
 and keeped, hut would not, and untill God 
 dis anuell this' "Bible, and give another Quite s 
 Contrary to it ye cannot eje ape the Heavy ven- 
 gance of God, that contemn the Covenant of 
 God, and wrangle with the Min/fters of ChrijU 
 •for obeying the Lord in pronoun cig his curfe 
 Upon the 'Contemners : Yea we do it again 
 for the Lord hath Curled them, yea and 
 they iliall be curfed, and I cannot reverie 
 it : But th'efe that enter Honeftly in Cove* 
 nant with God, and keep it, the Lord hath 
 bleffed them, yea and they fliall be bleffed, 
 and none can reverfe it, they may well 
 fpew out their Malice againft the People 
 cf God, untill they be ripe for Definiti- 
 on, all their wrangling will never keep the 
 curfe from Covenant contemners nor the 
 bleiTing from Honeft Covenanters with God. 
 
 LECTURE 
 
 
( 2 3 r ) 
 
 LECTURE 
 
 Tfal L 14. to 19^ 
 
 T v He Words Read have Parts 1, Some 
 thing fpoken with refpect to the God-> 
 ly 2. Some thing with refped to the 
 Wicked 1. Some thing with refped to the 
 Godly, fir it the Lord requires of the Godly 
 that they offer to him offerings of ThakA 
 .giving, obferve 1. The Godly are debters 
 to God, and ought to Praife him 1, For 
 Creation that we are made Men and not 
 Beaits. 2. For Jefus Chrift 2. Cor IX 15. 
 Thinks be to God for his unfpeakable Gift, 
 The Me titer giver blefier, and continuer 
 of all other Gifts, 3. For the precious 
 Golpel. PiaL CXLVII 19. He fhmtk 
 Us word to Jacob, he hath not dealt fo with 
 any Nation Tfaife ye the Lord for it is Com^ 
 fort in ajflcVon, a refoher of Tfubts, a Light- 
 to jhe Feet, and a Lamp to the Taffy a per* 
 feci rul> of Faith ; And Manners, a Mean of 
 "Cpnvercion'P'l XIX % 1. Gods Law is perfect 
 D d % convertjua 
 
( 2 3 2 ) 
 
 converting the Sou], 4. For dignifying you 
 with a Covenant Relation, to be a fpeciaj 
 Peopje to himfclf and to be a God to yon 
 when he hath left many without Chrilt, Gran- 
 gers to the Covenants of prom) fe Epk. II 
 12. Ex. XV 2. tie is my God and 1 tsoilj 
 exalt him, my Fathers God arid 1 ivili prepare. 
 him an balhalion 1 Scotland's Covenanted 
 God, which Covenant he honoured " you 
 piiblickly to renew the laft Sabbath 5. For 
 all his Mercies, provifipri, prefervation, pro- 
 tection, the uie of Reaion, that ye have 
 Eyes, Ears, tongues to read his word, to 
 Hear it preached and to praife him when 
 others are blind, Deaf and Dumb and 6. 
 For Crofs Difpentatiqns, that they have 
 been lefs than your lnniquity deferved and 
 and for making them work for your God 
 jBfal CX1X Its good forme may Some 
 fay that I have been arllcted, for before I 
 was arrlicted I went aitray But now 1 
 have learned to keep thy Law 7. For bring 
 ing you manv times out of trouble Pfal. 
 CXVI 6. Jims brought loin and be belted 
 me what JhaJl I render to the Lord for all bis. 
 benefits ? For he bath delhered my Life fro m 
 "Death, mine Eves from 'Tears and my Feet 
 font failing, Render to the Lord offerings of 
 'TfJdnkfgrcing. 
 
 2. Pay thy Vows, when thou enters in 
 an Oath, and Covenant wich God, perform 
 what thou Voued to him oblerve when 
 
 Pcrfons 
 
( *33 ) 
 
 Perfons makes Vowes to God its their duty 
 and advantage to perform thefe Vowes, God 
 calls for it, pay liiy Vowes :o the Lprd, 2. 
 It is the practice of the Saints to do fo, Pfal. 
 CXIX 106. 1 baie Sizoni and 1 will ffrforak 
 that 1 will keep thy Righteous Judgements. 
 
 3 The Lord will have no pleafure in 
 thee, if thou break to him, it thou halt 
 vowed faith Solomon ceaie not to pay, for* 
 the Lord hath no pleafure in Fools, 4. 
 becaufe if thou pay thy Vows to him, thy 
 Sacrifices fhall come up with acceptance orj 
 his alter, and thou fliaU get a gracious an- 
 fwer, and delivery from trouble then call 
 upon me in trouble and I will Deliver thee 
 and thou ih.ill Giorify me, r.Ke ihall De- 
 liver the irom the Hurt of trouble that thou 
 yeild not to the Temtatiou to break thy 
 Covenant, Pfal XLIV T 16. For ail the re- 
 proach of the E'-e/tv and the avenger -, And 
 for all that is come upon us yet have we 
 not Dealt falily in thy Covenant, 2. From 
 trouble above thy ftrength, he will not fuf- 
 ,fer thee to be tempted above what thou art 
 able to bear, r. Cor. X 14. But that the 
 Tern tati on makes way to efcape, ilayeth his 
 Eaft Wind in the day of his rough Wind 
 3. SanOify's Trouble, 1J a. XXV 11 8. By 
 this therefore ihall the Iniquity of Jacob 
 be purged, and this is all the fruit to take 
 away Sin 4. Makes the outgate out of 
 trouble, a young Heaven, and a begun Glory 
 
 on 
 
en Earth, when I have delivered thee 
 then thou fliall Glorify me thou ihall re- 
 ceive the eihcoll grapes, and grit fruits of 
 the Land of Promiie in the Wildernes a 
 faying how the work of the Glorified will 
 go with them, while they are upon the 
 Earth. 
 
 Secondly there is here the wicked's part 
 of the Bible, i . a Prohibition, 2, The rea- 
 sons of it, 1, a Prohibition and a boaiting 
 ancl Bamming the Wicked out of God's 
 prefence, as lfliured in with the adverfative 
 particle But, bnt unto the Wicked God faith 
 from which obferve, that ever Bleffings the 
 Lord be flows, on his own Covenanted People 
 he iniii^s the Contrary Curfes on the wick- 
 ed Jer. LXV 13. My Servants ihall eat 
 but ye ihall be hungry, my fervants ihall 
 Sing for Joy of Heart, but ye ihall weep 
 for Sorrow of Heart, and houl for vexation 
 of Spirit, what halt thou to do to take my 
 Covenant in thy Mouth, or to declare my 
 ftatutes to Preach my Gofpel and my Cove-. 
 nant. 
 
 Obs; 1. God's wrath flames againft un- 
 faithfull Miniftcrs, becauie they continue in 
 Sin thernfelves, Mat. ViL 3. 4. Why he- 
 boideji thou the mot thai is in thy "Brother^: 
 Jgyet And heboid efi tint xoe beam that is in 
 >thwe own Eye, cafi out Hypocrite fwtt the 
 JBtefl/tf that is in thine own Eye Romans 
 1L 21. 22. "thou that oUorrcfl Idols dojl 
 
 thou 
 
thou commit Sacriied^ L a th t , 
 
 thou that pteaCbeff'A^" .?*** 
 thou lie, and .- Tel] J^t T hc > doe fi 
 of England's Covenant wVS 6 3 ^ 
 for Maintaining ¥«]" ' ?^ * < P ° n l,s 
 of the Covenant for IS 55 c g nfi ™ation 
 
 Obs. 2 . The Lorrf f^ IJ l g Prelac y- 
 venant breakers £ fo? ?* *Wc»! 
 
 Odious apoftat > v L! e ,1 Conde ™ed per- 
 keep God" CoTeLn, \ er wi]] renew no r 
 what is thy BuW, " ,f ' ^ Ut ^throws it, 
 
 Covenant 7 notS Go^'T?' or who 
 fit time nowotanvnfitl- Whether ]t te a 
 Covenant who can M h T lenew Go ^ 
 thou fayeft ir is iSte^, , , % WOrf? ' *M 
 ?ot to keep A it L r ";rt rCneW if ' the » 
 It, nor not to 'keen iff?" g °° d t0 b ™k 
 fome things at £^ as nof *<> fail j n 
 
 PerfeaiytokeeptheCo m ^'7 e ™ mt aWe ' 
 fore beft to throw SS3rS?^**«** 
 Sort of a ti me mean ve vL & 2 - W]lat 
 o renew Covenan wS, G 0c jT *i? ^ 
 Unfit fo r that b ™™J£$ ■ No time 
 thou that all that live' ?; ,' - r , mea ^ft 
 "joftperiih, or £i^ kffl this time 
 
 Except 
 
Except as Satan takes on the witches, till 
 once you renounce your Covenant with 
 God; Indeed Man the Magitirates are little 
 obliged to ^ou, and will give you as little 
 thanks for faying ib, was theic ever a time 
 Man i Wherein it was Impoiible to keep 
 Covenant with God no, no, not in the 
 throng time of Heading and Hanging for 
 the Faith TfaL XLIV 16. For all that 
 is come on us yet have not we dealt deceit- 
 fully m thy Covenant, tho' thruft into Prif- 
 ons as llieep in a pinfold, arid now five 
 and then Seven brought to the Gibbet, it 
 was po'ffiblc to keep Covenant with God even' 
 then much more now when there is neither 
 Heading Hanging or wringing an Hair of 
 thine Head, keep God's Covenant as well 
 as thou pleafeth then do not blame the Ma- 
 giftrat but thy felf, if thou neither enter Co- 
 venant with God, nor keep it, how ever it 
 be concern thy felf with thy cups, thy 
 Pleafures, profits, and Perjuries,., and never 
 a Word in thy Head of God's Covenant, 
 haft thou to do take my Covenant in thy 
 Mouth t Since thou both hates to be re- 
 formed, hateil Reformation Covenant and 
 all, if thou butchirft for tt\^ Common People 
 fpeak it, it would be the -firft word would 
 tvme out of thy Mouth. 
 
> 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON^ 
 
 AlXldS 9. 9. Vo* lo I ml command $ and t 
 
 mil fift the houfe of Ifraet dmongjl all r<*~ 
 ttons, like as corn is fifted in a five^ykt 
 not the Ua ft grain fall to the Ground. 
 
 JN the third verfe of this Chap, the Lord 
 conplaineth of Ilrael ; that thev were 
 'become as very Heathens, are ye hot as Chil- 
 dren of Fthiopians unto me, O Houfe of 
 Ifrael faith the Lord, fhd* they profefled to 
 be his People yet they hved as Heathens, and 
 a Profeflion without pra&ice was very un- 
 acceptable to him: And therefore he iooks 
 iipon them in anger, mine eyes are upon the 
 fitful Kingdom, to deitroy it from the face 
 6f the Earth, yet referring a remnant, fav- 
 'ing that I will not utterly deftro # y the Houfe 
 bf ifrael faith the Lord 
 
 AND in the Words read, he tells them^ 
 tie is about to fet up a trying work among 
 them, I will fift the houfe of Ifrael, a meta- 
 phor taken from an Husbandman, that hath 
 .Jus bam confuted with the Chaff and the 
 
 Wheat 
 
I « ] 
 
 Wheat, Coke! and Darnel, all in the tote* 
 heipe herefore opens the doors, and fets all 
 to the Wind, and fiftsand better fifts ir. un- 
 til tiie Wheat be feparated from the Chaff* 
 Cokel and Darnel 2. There is a promife of 
 preservation to the Gddlie in the lifting try- 
 ing time, there /hail not the leaft grain fall to 
 the Ground, the Church by aftli&ion lof- 
 tth nothing but the Chaff, the baggage and 
 refute. 
 
 Dofh Tint the Church may lay her ac- 
 count with hiring and trying times, when he 
 will make them pafs through his paffingfive- 
 I will fiftthehoufeof Iirael A/4;, j* i2. 4 his 
 1 fin is in his hand, and he will throughly 
 * purge his floor and gather his wheat into 
 4 his garnel, but the Chaff will he burn with 
 4 unquenchable fire- 
 
 I shall here enquire, u What are thefefift-* 
 ln£ times ? 2. What are thefe fives with which 
 the Lord fifts a profeffing People ? g. What 
 chfeoveries are made when a People are thils 
 fitted ? 4- What are the Realons why the 
 Lord thus fifcth a profefling People ? $. Ap^ 
 ply the whole to otir prefenf CirctimftanceS; 
 
 i//,What are thde ordinary times ^here- 
 in the Lord iifteth and iryeth a jifofeflmg 
 
 feopte? 
 
. r Z * 1 
 
 People ? when fins are come to a great night, 
 Us the fins of this People, they had to far a- 
 pcftatized from Gods true wor/hip, that they 
 were become like very Heathens, with this 
 aggravation, that they had finned agaioft the 
 Light of the Gofpel, a fin the Heathens were 
 not capable of, never having ihe word of 
 God among them, 4 Are you not as children 
 1 of Ethiopians uno me, O houfe ofllraei 
 
 * faith the Lord ? Lo I will fift you as com 
 
 * is fifted in a five, 
 
 A fecond fitting trying time is, when men 
 are guilty of perjury and breach of Cov$-< 
 yenant Ezek. 17, 19. %o. 4 Surely my Co- 
 « venant, which he hath broken, and my 
 1 Oath which he hath difpifed, it will 1 re- 
 
 * compence on his own head. And there- 
 fore Gtod brought King and Subjed tQ tit- 
 )^lon y to fift and try them there* 
 
 A third fifting and trying time, is after fo- 
 |emn Ingagements and covenanting with God 
 Mat. %5. 35. Peter and all the Difcipleshad 
 folemniy engaged to God, to ftand by him 
 tQ the Death, Peter < laid tho' all ihouJd 
 « fariake *hee> yea, thq* I should die with 
 4 *hee, Y<;t wiil not f forfake thee^hkewifc 
 « alio Ui4 ail the- Difciples ; Yea they took 
 
 the 
 
C 4 1 
 
 (he Sacrament en it, to ftand up to tha 
 death for him, men comes the Sifting time 
 Luke xxii. 5!. 4 Simon Simon, Satan hath 
 1 fought to hive thee, that he may Sift the 
 1 as wheat and what comes it to at laft Mark 
 u. 50. the armed men came ? then all the 
 * Dxlcipies forsake him and Fled. Sataij 
 and his Slaves defircs to have you Covenan- 
 ters to Mft you, be on your guard, he iong- 
 eth to get you in fome fcandalous pra&ice 
 <pr back 10 join in Society with thele Reli- 
 gion ovei throwers, which ye have covenant- 
 ed againft, and they -will blaze it through 
 the world; and lay thefe are your brave co- 
 venanters. 
 
 A fourth Sifting and trying time, is after 
 felt experience of Gods Favour : andteafting 
 of his goodnefs, Satan and his Slaves envy- 
 eth >ou |uch favour?, and therefore expeft 
 Jhard pnfets from them : Exo<i* 17.6.8. When 
 Jfrael h^d juft now drunk of the Rock a 
 type of Chi ift : then came Ama leek and. f aught 
 with lirael in l Rephidinu have you, beea 
 drinking at the Rock of Confoiation this day x 
 expefttobe Weighting in Rephidmi to mar- 
 row.; an4 much if you be not fmitten ^Ifo* 
 at kail, "ixmai. to. know who hath the beft^ 
 
 whether 
 
[51 
 whether Sin or Grace, be therefore on you* 
 Watch, and hold up the hands of Prayer, for 
 when Moles hands were down A maieck pre- 
 vailed, and v, hen ?^Ioies hands were up Ife 
 raei prevailed. 
 
 A fifth Sifting and trying time, is, when 
 the Lord is about to bring about lome great 
 and remarkable deliverance to his Church & 
 People,- So ye fee in Haggai ?.. 6, 7. 4 1 
 
 * will shake all Nations,and the Defire of all 
 
 * Nations shall come, and 1 will iiRthishoufe 
 1 with my Gory. The Lord is a mind to 
 fill his houfe with glory, but what shak- 
 ings 1 not only among the People of God, but 
 but among all Nations before the houfe be 
 filled with glory, wars and commotions, o. 
 verthrowing of Crowns and Kingdoms, to, 
 make way for it and we do hot think that 
 {he Ark of God, and the departed glory will, 
 feturn to Scetiand,till it be shaken in another 
 manrer then now it is, and untill there be 
 greater tumults and commotions, among the 
 nations about, than hitherto hath been, you 
 fee how Cfcrifl came to fave when he rill- 
 ed the lecond Temple with his Glory Vfat. 
 i. 12. \ He that cometh after me, lath John 
 f;the Baptift 3 his fan and five are ii> his 
 
 Hand 
 
£ 6 1 
 
 * hand fche will throughly purge his Floor, 
 
 * and gather his wheat into his garner, but 
 
 * the Chaff will he burn with unquench- 
 able fire Mat j, ivthereisapromifeofChrifts 
 coming to lave, behold he shall come 
 
 * faith the Lord of hofts,but who may abide 
 € - the day of his comings for he is like a re-, 
 finersfire and fillers fope. 
 
 A fi>tt fifiing and trying time, is where 
 the Vfiniftry are turned corrupt Mai. J. 2, 
 3. ' Wheji hec^mes and fiueth, as a rcfin^ 
 \ er and purifier of filler, to purify the Sons 
 c of Levi, that they may oflfcr to the Lord 
 c an offering of Right^oulnefs. He will (hake 
 the N scions through other, and through o-i 
 iher, until he Qiit;e our A/insfters,wi:h their 
 wic&ed offerings., and plant his Church with 
 holy /k/irxirt^rs : to offer to the Lord an offer* 
 ing of Rishreoulnefs: Lord haftcn thattime^ 
 and we fhill be content to hide a (hake, 
 A Seventh fifiingand trying timers, when 
 a People ar« noc only deep Revokers fiQO> 
 (Jod^ and his. pure /ntikuuoas : hut; alfo ar© 
 come totjut hight of Jmpudency, and wick- 
 edaefc; as ra deny (in, fcnd defend their 
 innocqnei^ Jec< 2, 5$. Mieq^ufethou i>ve(^ 
 ' i am ianoeem, forejy \m ^^ & \\ b©, 
 
 lumedi 
 
 * ■■ { 
 
t 7 3 
 ibrnect away from me, I will yet plead 
 frith thebecaufe thou fayeft 1 have riot fill- 
 fed. What then may we expeft, that for' 
 all oar fteps of Aroftacy, fwearingahd lor- 
 fwearing yet impudently plead not guilty, 
 the Ordinances were neve!* purer* the Go* 
 fpel nevei* more faithfully* preached* fince 
 the Apbftles days* thefe Oath* are ot out* 
 own making, and an3 hedge about thd 
 Church and a confirming of the Cevenanr* 
 whereas if fliams would let them fpeak 
 truth, they would lay guilty \ The Ordi- 
 nances were never more corrupt firtce out* 
 Reformation f om Poprie* nor the Goipel 
 more unfaithfully preached fince the Ago* 
 files days, to/hat by conciling of fin* thedu- 
 tys, and dangers of the day* and what by 
 picking Out juft as, much as gain a lively^ 
 hood, and pleale men in place and pow- 
 er, and what by mifapplying the word of 
 God, denuncihp the threitnings aginft the 
 godly > and apply tog the promifes to back- 
 flidersj They fhould alfofay, if they would 
 tor fharfce dedare the thing as ic is, that 
 thefe Oaths are of the Biihops of England* 
 Waking and impofingjand arc an overthrow- 
 ltXg t a&d abjuring ot the Covenant, and a 
 
 hedge 
 
( s ) 
 
 feedge about the Ertglifti Church. 
 
 An eight fitting and crying time, is, when 
 hothihg foot Citing; rryi.ig and ?ffii3io:*s 
 will reclaim a People Jer. 22.21.2S c I 
 4 ipake to thee in ihy Profperity and thou 
 
 * uouldft not hear,this hith been thy fiiia- 
 
 * ner from thy ydtitH- that thou haft noc 
 ' obeyed the voice of the Lo;d thy G:>d, 
 
 * I will therefore give the unto the hands 
 
 * of therii that feek thy life, whofe face 
 ' thou feareft v, 7. I will melt them, and 
 
 * try them; for what eife fhal! I do, for 
 € the Daughter of my People : Nothing 
 felfe will do it 2= Chron. 36, 1 5. 16, Kent 
 ' thy fervants the Prophets rifing early and 
 
 * fending them • becaufe I had companion 
 ' ontny People; But they mocked mv mef- 
 
 * fengers, difpifed my words, and mifufed 
 
 * my Prophets. Until] the wrath of the Lord 
 aroie againft them,and there was no Reme- 
 dy, and delivered them to S vord, Capti- 
 vity, and defolaton, it is as much in vairi 
 for us to preach Repentance^ to them that 
 are thus dead fpiritully? as to preach td 
 thefe in the grave* whofe fouls are in hell; 
 for they will not repent^ all that we get 
 u iaifguidtd 5 iliwilledj regrgashedj arid a« 
 
aSitled therefore when peire and prof- 
 penty, and G)i*pel exhortations will nor do 
 it: expel i lifting trying, melting time., for 
 how Jhiil I do for the Di tighter of mvPeo- 
 jbie Ifii. 5. 4.. 5. 4 The i ord took all tLe 
 4 pains could be taken on the vineyard, fenc* 
 c ed it with the hedge of Civil, Beclefuftick 
 difcipline: And divine protection, removed all 
 impediments,^ fetthe Wine pre is of Chidft 
 Crucified, that they might have recoil tic to 
 him by Repentance, for refre/hment, but X 
 bttmght forth wild gripes, fin in fteid of 
 kdiinefs, therefore the Lord takes aWa] thfs 
 hedges, that it may be eaten up and tfoden 
 down ; a!asi who Gin live when Cod dcth 
 flfius try things. Such times are with us row; 
 and therefore we may expe& we fliafl 
 Save very lifting times, aid itrange diLo e- 
 fies of hvpocrify. 
 
 The fecdnd thin?, is, to shew what ir4 
 thefe fives, wherew.th the Lord fifts and 
 Itys a (idfui People ? t He puts them through 
 the fmilLfive of worldly prosperity & abun- 
 di nee oTfhe things of the world : immediate 
 lv after they fail into Sin, and this judici- 
 ally hardens them in their Sin, andxnafceS 
 t Vea fallen Miaifters to U-j } new are * e 
 
 B* uot 
 
f "to 1 
 c r + tvifef than thefe that fiiiTered in tile late 
 (UGfles* who v, erctoo hot headed ;and flood 
 ftpOntriffies^ and irritat the Magifl rate incon* 
 
 rately, and dyed in error and loft their 
 h pends and broke their families., alas poor 
 fools they do not lay to heart, that the Lord 
 is fifriig them with the five of profperity* 
 which nuns many Prov. u 31. c The prof- 
 * parity of fools deftroyeth them, they will 
 liave Stipends come what will ; and ay yeild 
 
 tfie more for the Livelyhood, andtemp^ 
 God the more for the Peily, like thefe wick* 
 ed hVaeikes m the wildemefs tempted God 
 Pfa\ 78. 19- %6* c And faid can God pre- | 
 4 pare a table in the wildernefs ? Can he 
 give his people drink and Fie*h? the Lord 
 was wroth and feafted them as they defir- 
 &d /But when the meat was in their mouth 
 the w;rath of God came upon them and ]oi>* 
 26. 9?, c When he is about to fill hisbel- 
 & ly, the Lord cafleth upon him the fierce- 
 1 nefs of hiswrath* Jf they w r ill have wealth 
 let th^m have it, it may come to that, that 
 the Lord give the proud covetous ring- 
 leaders of thena, Stipends enough 5 even the 
 ) hops rents? and that will lift them to the 
 piirpoie ; for a profpercus condition is vc- 
 
[ 1' ] 
 
 ry dangerous Beu . $%. iy. « The Lor<3 
 
 4 made^ them ride on t;*e hie places of I lie 
 
 ' c Earth, gave the increafe of the field, and 
 
 * honey from the Hock, but Jefurun wax- 
 
 * ed fat and kicked, and forshok the God 
 4 that made him, and lightly eftccmed the 
 
 * Rock of their Salvation. And the Lord 
 faw it and auhorrecj then], fed horfes kick 
 at their Matters, 
 
 A iecond five that the Lord takes to fife 
 and try his People, is the five of honour 
 and preferment, fa up thefe of the 
 greateft profeffion, to be members of Parii-* 
 ament, and they will hear and communis 
 care with Prelats, and take their Te#s, and 
 Oaths, and I fear if trved, they would give 
 their voice manvof them a.aainft the people 
 of God, The five of preferment is a very 
 fearching five-, 1 mind when the Prophet 
 looking upon Hazael wept ?. K/»e- 8. i%«, 
 1 j. * Why weepeth the Prophet ? the pro-* 
 ' phet told him, b^caufe of the evil he 
 
 * would do the Lords people, burning their 
 
 * ftrong holds with fire, riping up the weo* 
 « mea with child, and killing their youjisj 
 
 * m\ei> withthe Sword , what mb Hazad? 
 $ Am I a dog $q do io gj$*t vnQfetasfej 
 
t r* 1 
 
 * filch a dog he was, and the Prophet tells 
 
 * him whit was the Reafonof it, heshoud 
 1 coin? to great preferment, the Lord hdth 
 
 * shewed me that thou shait be King of 
 
 * Syria. When one would comfort a man 
 o ice 7 on the brink of Defpair, faid he Mas 
 rot to great 3 (inner as Manaileh, the poor 
 mm anlwereJ I would have been as great 
 a Sinner, as ever ManafTeh was, if I hadliv- 
 ed in ManafTetfs time, and been upon his 
 Tiirone: And w r e may fee fomething of it 
 in our own day, let a piofefled Presbyterian 
 who by l}is very profed on is bound to ex-? 
 ft rpate f'r^lacy to theouttermofl of his Pow- 
 er, ;tt fet him up- a ftep to l:e a Ruler in the 
 Piice, and ye shall fee himuie his power in 
 defence of Prelacv ; Take heed for profpe- 
 r.tyand preferment, are two fearchinger Sives 
 th in the moft part are awar off. 
 
 A third Sive wherewith the Lord Sifts 8t 
 tr-eth a People, is, the Sive of erronious and 
 hypocritical ' Minifters, who. overthrow Reli- 
 gion under a fair profeffon, of whom the 
 Lo^d comp'aineth //i, 9. \6. c The leaders 
 
 * o? this People caufe them to err. andthefe 
 f thai ar? ltd of them are defrayed. An<j 
 comanndeth not to hear iueh, Mat, 15, t** 
 
 la 
 
t '3 1 . 
 
 * let them alone they are blind leaders of 
 
 * the bimd, andif the blind lead the blind 
 V both fall into the d#h« To preierve his 
 People from luch, the Lord firft giveth his 
 
 Sheep his ear- nail, to difcern betwixt his 
 voice in the month of faithful Minirers; 8c 
 a ftrangers voice in th^ mouth of thefe hy- 
 pocrites Jobv ic. 4. 5. i Mv Sheep know 
 
 * my voice and fobow me, and a ftranger 
 they will not follow. % He fealethand fecur- 
 eth them, that they be not blown away 
 with the wind of Errour R^v, 7. », The 
 winds of errour are reftrained, till firft the 
 Servants of Gcd were fealcd, of all the fore 
 plagues that Cod inf lifts on a people, this is 
 one of the greateft, when the fountain of the 
 Sanctuary waters runneth with poifon, 
 V'ouldyou not fay that li r e were gone, in a 
 Siege when the enemy had poiioned all the 
 ftreamsthat fupplied them w r ith drink,to re- 
 fresh themfelves, they are cheated, and poi- 
 foned,if the Prophet put wild grapes in the 
 pot, all that cat thereof, cry alas there is 
 death in the pot. And this lsagreatdifcove- 
 ry, which Sifts out thelethat are not Ch rifts 
 Sheep to follow thefe falfe hypocrites, a fad 
 fanunner cf deftructicn 1J*. 9 1 j,.r 5, 1 6J the 
 
 Lord 
 
*■ Lord will cut off i f rael head and tail, branch 
 c and rush in one day, the anient and honou- 
 rable he is the head, • the Prophet that teach 
 eth lies he is the Tail, for the leaders of 
 this people caukth flu m to err, and them that 
 are ledof them are detiroed. What is here 
 laid may iufficientiy aniwer thole that fay what 
 have we to do with Mimfters Sins ? If you 
 follow them you have as much to do with 
 them as themfelves, 
 
 A Fourth Sive wherewith the Lord fifts 
 and trysa People, is, the Sive of Perfecu- 
 nons and LolTes, Mat. 13.21.22. * They 
 
 * anon with Joy receive the Word, but 
 
 * when Tribulations and Affl.ftionsarife fof 
 4 Chrifts fake, and the Gofpcls, by and by 
 ■ they are offended, will they loft their life 
 for Chrift? no, what then will they lofs a 
 great Pofteflion for Chrift? no, they go a* 
 way forrowing, Mark^j. Chrift fends 
 Swine and Devils a packing together, and 
 then they befoughr him to depart out of 
 their Coarts, they rather have the Swine and 
 the Devil with them, than a Saviour with* 
 out Swine ; yea they will not abide gibe or 
 a jeer for Chrift, this is a very trying Stve, 
 by which many a,re caft, 
 
 A filth Siv^ wfcrewjih the Lord fifts 
 
 and 
 
and frys a People, is the Sive of Satans fob- 
 tile Temptations m.freprefenting Scripture 
 to Perions,thus he te dap ted Lhr\i\ 7 Mat, 4.6. 
 4 Caft thy felf down, for he (hall give his 
 4 Angels charge ever thee, and in theitf 
 hmds they (hall bear thee up ( But he holds 
 onr, fhail thy wa)t) would haveChrifl leave 
 0od*s ways and obey Satan, and yet lean to 
 the Promife : But if we lock for God'* Pro- 
 teQion, we mult keep Gods ways, So Rom; 
 16. 17- His luftiumentscame with mifrepre- 
 tended Scriptdre, to prefs union with them, 
 tmark thofe, fay thcy% thit caufe Devifbns & 
 OrFences, and avoid th<m, for they feivenot 
 the Lord Jefas Chrift, but their ,vn Bellies: 
 but they hold out comtary to the Do£Hne 
 which we have received : finfully prefling 
 to keep Union with them, whither that U* 
 nibn be contrary to the Doftrine of the Gof- 
 pel or not, many who lay they are Apofiles 
 and are not, are tryed by this means. 
 
 A Sixth Sive, u herewith the Lord fifteth 
 a People, is, the Sive of corrupt Chureh cen- 
 fure, and fcourgc of Tongues of corrupt 
 Kitk-men, and~manv will forfake Chrift's 
 caufe; led they be Excomrnunicat by fiicH, 
 •ud nothing mors ordioary both in the Old 
 
 and 
 
^Inrt New Tefbmen r, then fuch falreTefi 
 Excommunications, I/a t 6b. 5. 4 Y rur Bre- 
 4 thren that heater! y^u, and eaft you out, 
 ( hxcommunicated you) tor my Names 
 ike; and yet pointed Hypocrites; they 
 tell a rooked tale when they fuve done 
 ir, quoth they let the Lord be Glo- 
 rified ; they would rmke well mean ing Peo- 
 ple believe* it were iov the Glory of Go 1 ; 
 but the other fide of the tale is, we fball 
 caft out theis People oi (/od, and tf there! 
 be a God, let Hirti get Glory in bringing 
 them ihi but we b'a?c in ihe fini place giv« 
 en them Difhonour and a detyance in cart- 
 ing rhem our, hue what followetn, he dull 
 ippear to your Joy* and the\ fhatl be a* 
 {harried. So did the corrupt Church in the 
 l)ays of Clmfts incarnation ]oha^i 22. 34. 
 they had agreed 3 ( tTlang t&emfefre's 5 that if 
 any eonfeffed that Jefus was the Chrri; 
 he fhould he put^utofthe Synagogue* thac 
 Was Excomrriunicatej and a srg ; t bargairj 
 cf that 1 for as it is not Death, mtt thecaule 
 that makes a Martyer, fo no' the Sentence* 
 but the caiife, tliat makes oni fi>;eomrruini- 
 Cant f elfe we would ail be Ft; fnmunicat b/ 
 the Pope oi L\omt> and hi§ Haw Or^en bofrt 
 
( i7 i 
 
 Prent'ces <n this f me Nation, tfco* they h«vd 
 neither Wit ner Power, >et they have Ma- 
 lice enough to venture, tor roihing bolder 
 th*n a fclmd Horfe; but * hat the wotfe 
 was the poor Blind Man, u hen they cait 
 him out of their corrupt Communion, I hnft 
 receives hun into communion, with him- 
 felf, and makes an of the greudt difcove- 
 ries of hinntelf to him, thu ever he did to 
 any jn the day* of his Flefh, when JtfuS 
 findeth him, he faith to him doeft thou be* 
 lieve on the Son of GOD? he laid who is 
 he Lord, that I -might believe on him? He 
 Anfwered, thou tuft both fetn him, and he 
 it is, that tslkerh with thee. 
 
 A Seventh Sivc, wherewith the Lord 
 fif eth and tryeth a People, is, the five of 
 corrupt ftatutes from the Magiftrate, £&k m 
 20 24, 25. i Becaufe they have difyifed my 
 
 * ftatutes; therefore I give th*m ftatutes 
 
 * that were nor good, and Judgements 
 4 whereby they ftiould not live, fuch are 
 ftatutes and commands, coming out from 
 a Court; to fee up ralfe Worfhip, Dan.^. 
 5.6. 4 To you it is commanded^ O People 
 
 * Nations and Language ; rrut ye Wor- 
 [ ibip my Gods, orelfe ye (hull be ihrowrj 
 
 C imo 
 
r it ) 
 
 4 into * T*irrMn£ f , rc Furnace. Such cftfn- 
 muids rnav fe^m tiood in a Mans eyes; and 
 yer the end thereof he l>eath f Prc^, 14. 12. 
 Many exaVnpks of rhis in //r**/, ind oihtr 
 Nations, how fuih Sr^rures have been fenl 
 cur froitl Antbonry, ss were nor only Ruin- 
 i '•?» ro the Souls, bu? ro the Nations, HI. $. 
 II. Therefore i' \s faid bphratm isopprtffld 
 fc<ul broken in Jidgemenr, becaufe he will- 
 ingly walked after the Comrmndment of 
 ill Rulers ; but you fee the Moih breeds in 
 the Cioath that coniWes ir, becaufe they 
 k^rt not the ftatures and Judgements of 
 the Lord; therefore he fets over them fuch 
 Rulers, as give ftatutes that ere not good, 
 and judgements by which Men cannot live ; 
 rhis is a very trying five. 
 
 An Eight five, Whirewlth the Lord fift- 
 eth *nd tryeih a People, is the five or their 
 neirefl: Relations, this Jaam was fihed to 
 purpote by his Wife, fo was [Job, Jot> 29. 
 c Curfe God 3nd d«e, and retain thy inre- 
 c rarity no longer, what would 1 fei ve that 
 Cod thu tokes all from true that thou baft, 
 srsH mkes thy Lfe mvehiucr thin Dearh, 
 fcvhat pains are many Relations at to difwade 
 their friends from performing thatfervice to 
 
 God 
 
( iQ V 
 
 God, that will hazard either life or gear, 
 harken not to fach Relations, their council 
 is cruel to the outmoft degree, tending to 
 the cifting away both of Soul and Bod< , 
 thou art more beho:den to them than fcarce 
 fees oice in the jfeven yeirs ; than to fucli 
 Relations. Do as PM did G'.i. 16. c v/hen 
 * it pleafei the Father to rcvtal his Sol in 
 ? me, immediately I conferred not with Fiefh 
 4 and blooj. And what a tryai inch Rela- 
 tions hive been to lome is not unknown 
 in this place of the world. 
 
 A ninth Sive wherewith the Lord fift- 
 eth a People, is, Teople of other Nation^ 
 1 will fift the houfe of Ifrael among the 
 Nations, like as com is fifted in a five //it 
 28. 7. with People of another fpeech, and 
 of a ftrange Language will I teacli this Peo- 
 ple, this we fear may be our tryal. 
 
 A tenth five wherewith the Lord fiftcth 
 9 People is, The Use of a violent death, fo* 
 rhe Gofpel, and caikth to (owe to refill e- 
 ven to blood ftriving againft fin Rev. ^.\c._ 
 4 Satan ihall cift fotae of you into prifon, 
 4 be thou faithful to the death, and i w:l! 
 4 give thee a Crown of Life. And v/hen 
 the Lord puts a People through fo miuM 
 
 and 
 
f p 1 
 
 tnd that fo trying U es too, and confider* 
 ing how wiifuii and unwilling this Gene- 
 ration is to luffer any thing for Chnii,may 
 we not take up this Lamentation over this 
 Nation, Aiasi Who can live when God dotb 
 tins. ft 
 
 Thirdly, I am to fttw, that eVe Scor/a*i 
 go through ah thele tmng fives., there wifl ; 
 be many parted hyppcrifes found an,< <rg 
 us; e're we go through all thele Sv es tjtra 
 Will be many a Knave difcove red, that there 
 is no word of yet ; eVe we go through all 
 thefe Sives, many a woif will be difcove red 
 that have a sheeps skine on their back:th§' 
 bcr.ie skin will be left which now makes 
 a fair Show, and the wolfs teeth that are now 
 hid wiii appear reed with Saints blood, yet 
 e're SfrtiA»a go through a!! thcfe Sives,th$ 
 fconeft Minifies, and the honeft Profefsors^ 
 cf Sco!/>n will be far loorer courted, than 
 our men with too much charity thinks yet, 
 at is lad Amtm V <• 4 T'ht city that went 
 1 out by a rhoufrnd, shall leave an hundred, 
 
 * and that which went forth by ane hun- 
 
 * dred shall leave ten to the houfe oflfraei. 
 But I fear e* re SaxU*d go through allthtfe 
 Sives, the Mu^srs tlut are -low counted 
 
f *t 3 
 
 tTioufand (hall be counted by rcn \r.$cii< 
 jand. In tuch a fit ing time among he ml* 
 ciple-, rherc was one to betray Churt; Buc 
 
 1 tear ekven and mat y mo fcots Mioiftcrs 
 Ktrty Ch;ift, * here one owns him : I feaf 
 cur Scots ^oitflots go through all ihde fiVil 
 trtFe fh 11 feajrec be twelve leh, of as rna« 
 jiy as would cover the grs^reft mountain 
 ki the Nation ; And ihclc fh.ugQ-away be 
 ri) uft pauOch, asfeemed at ruft to be mot 
 for CJbrjft, Read J^» 6. And ice luchvdfk 
 multitudes following Crnift, as cloathcj 
 the mountains, and a link (hake in he five 
 
 j ©I divj e doitune, cle^nged ihe fields of 
 the foul Carcafesof them; v. 66,* Thcfe 
 4 arc hard faymgs, who can hear them, 
 * mmy therefor, ot the Difciples went ba? k 
 *nd walked nomoe wih him: howman\ ? 
 Twelve, only % Aftrf Jeiusfaid tothetwtke 
 4 will \e alfo go away. Now who were 
 thtfe that wenr awa\ ? even Gich as pro* 
 it (Ted much mote than the twelve v. i~ 9 
 thtle that would ttke Churt by torce a-n# 
 HMke him a King, but the por twelve (A\*\ 
 cd with lower S?ils,ai d yet they ^tay whe<i 
 tie others are away ty on them, and a\\ 
 
 : tUk h«ii to nuke turn a Kii.gi and mm 
 
Jt V:fs to Herod the one day,md not a An- 
 gle foul of them bit ran to the Devil (he 
 TKXtday. which minds us of what fome 
 forward people faid to |if | at the time of 
 the firft ()ith: On are you in your bed 
 yer, and the Ki k of Go:l gone, and no^ 
 h ir he go ie, they $re gone with it ; Ai\\ 
 J will tell you, tVe Sco land go through 
 thtfe ten fives yet, many poor bodies vi ill 
 be found fu.oelfoik, that are not thocglic 
 to be fo : Some grains of precious wheat 
 hide under a hud^e heap of Chaff, and 
 P-Uthrie, but fhy till the Lord open his 
 barn doors, and tike thefe tea trying Sives 
 in hb hand and roll away the Reproach of 
 Egypt* and fet tht Chaff to the wind/fa4 
 it will appear that theririt. bhul be laft, and 
 the iaft firft yet, Ma:. 7. 1 5. 18. \ When 
 4 thefe that- work wickednefs are fet up, 85 
 * they that tempt Goiare exalted, then shall 
 ye return, and qifcern between the righte- 
 oas and the yrfckftl, buwixt, them thit 
 feared the Lord, and the n that fear him 
 not. All appear to feir Gol now, but ftay 
 till God fet up a Ma^iftrite that shall be a 
 Terrour to them that do well, and fee whe- 
 ther the fear of God, or the fear of man 
 
 kave 
 
f s? 1 
 
 five tte'iay for whatfoever fear is real ft 
 will beat out prttcr.dcd fear, if the fear 
 of God, be but ai> hypocritical pretence then, 
 the fear of man will beat it out; But to de- 
 i'ce.id to pait'cuiars I shall shew in thefe 
 fo,lowujg fteps what difcoveries slufl be 
 made bv thefe ten Sives in the Sifting times. 
 
 Firft, it wiii fift many out of their great 
 pofsefFons Job* 6. 5c. 66. ( Thefe are hird 
 4 layings who can hear them ? man*' of 
 * his Diiciples went back, but never went for- 
 ward again, many then will appear drofsnoC 
 goid, chaff not wheat, apoftates notapo^les: 
 look mm thou be right mettal, for Godfets 
 the to the five and to the wind, the fire and 
 the furnace, the touch Ron^ and the bal- 
 lance, it will not be what thou appears, 
 but what thou shalt be after thou haft pail 
 tjbejtryal, fo ne that held up the hand iwear- 
 ing to God the laft Sabbath, mav have up 
 the hind fvrearing the contrary, e're they go 
 through all thefe ten fives yet. 
 
 Secondly, before many Minifters and great 
 Head -pieces go through all thefe ten fives, 
 it wiii fift them out of their politicks and 
 prudentials, and gifts of preachir gvet, Ifear 
 cuay that shake their he^ds m the pulpet 
 
c n ) 
 
 Witri courage, and an clepant TftftptJe Sin«f 
 dunb yet, and God rake the gi'tsfjon, them 
 he hath already taken them from loirit two 
 cr three in this fatriecountrey Sideband this 
 is but anearneft of what shall be, before all 
 the pliy be plaid yet, thefe things aie but 
 the beginnings of tono*', the nice God 
 fhke and fitt them out of the r Politicks, 
 r d prudentials, many learned Clerks ac 
 their Allembly when this work begsn faid 
 tin? prudent muft keep filence at this time, 
 for it is an evil time, yea, but the faith- 
 ful cry the louder, and fpare not the worfc 
 the time be, the wile Cleiks faid «-e will 
 Jcild a flep, we cannot ftate our fuff.nngs 
 Kre and this will be our wifdom; But I. 
 *»II ttil you or all this play be plaid, the 
 Council of Achitophel will be turned to 
 ( coli (hnefs yet, when it cometh once to that 
 with it r Cor. i. 25. 26, ' Where is the 
 Su-ibe,or Minifter? Whete is the wife man 
 Where is thedifputer of this vorld? hath 
 r>ot God chofen the foohfh things of the 
 v odd, to confound the wife? I fear thefe that 
 hiage fo much of their witdom like thtfe 
 }tr, i8 ty. I 8. 'Shali wiidom penfh from 
 ! the wife, aud couucil hum the antenc 
 
 foil 
 
Cvl! h"d thit witdqWiodeed bathpeHfh- 
 cd »« < m the *a iic, and toiinfel from tbearf* 
 tienr ; They thought it a wife counfel to 
 fiiKmu ro fin, and take a bacldtepor tworo 
 fhun fuflR ring, u hat was this but to unlock 
 the door ? and fet it up an inch, until! ihe 
 ccray got in fiivhXqcf , hthold how te cloif 
 it ag*iniYoa ho i^ht it your wifdom to fly 
 in all baft cite, charge, ditchargc, excom- 
 municate aHthat will preach the truth, ai d 
 againlt your fins that th>s was the way to 
 fee u re you : Bmc. it to yeild to (In, and ptr- 
 iecure holinefsyb§ wifdben then the Rabies 
 oi the Church of Ifrael were wife, when 
 they confuhed tok.11 Chn(l,le(hhe Romans 
 fhould come and takeaway their place and 
 -Nation but couniel fealed here from the wife 
 there fo doing was the reafon why the Ro- 
 mans did come, and both unchurch and un- 
 ration them, no wifdom like that to ktep 
 Gods Commandments Da,?. 4. 6 No folly 
 like rhjt to breck them, a long *s wekeeg 
 Gods Ccmn^ndmenis we have w fdotm < - 
 rough to counterbalance the great* it couic 
 politicians in the Wodd,yea& much more too 
 Thirdiy e 7 re niany go through all thte 
 five* yet, the greitsU pan fliifl DC fiued o\ c 
 
( 2* ) 
 
 cfrbrir excellent refolutjbns, vows and en^ 
 
 f- g< merits, to (land by the intereft of Chrift, 
 
 ■he a d the plfciples had all refolved and 
 
 pomikd Mat. ±6. 35.' Tho'sllfh^uld for- 
 
 * 1 ke.rhu, yet W;.l not I, likeways alfofaid 
 
 * the) all : And yet Peter denied him with 
 an Oath, a n<3 Mark 14.5*0!* When the arm- 
 4 td men came to ^ppuhend him, then all 
 
 * ihe diiciples forflick him and fkd. ft 
 is eafie revolving to goto communions, & 
 pn mifing ro adhere clofely ro Chrift. But 
 & little more cumbeifome when a com pa- 
 iv ( i udc loldiers comes cuifing witq cock- 
 ed pift!es, ard draun bayonets at your 
 breafH, 2nd it fuch a fifting time fiftedthe 
 A pi ftes out oi their former resolutions, tho* 
 tl ey repented agidin, and took up and re- 
 newed their former promiies and refolutt- 
 1 s O what rbnll come of rmny duble hy- 
 pocrite 1 who fh«dl be filled out of all for* 
 rr.er prcmiles, and resolutions, that rhey 
 tefolve sgaintr, be upon your guaid and 
 |ei mere Arength than your own, other- j 
 Fays a filing time will fife the out of all 
 thy refc-Jii? ions, and promiies ever thou made 
 to God, tor there is greater edds than ye 
 Ji-ge aware ot bttwixt your refoiving time 
 and your lifting time. Fourthly 
 
t #7 y 
 
 Fourthly, before we goV^rnu^ ? H tfvfo 
 ten fives, many v? ill N fifed our ot the r 
 firm faith, that it fhall be^in to waver, 'tori 
 er and fall about their tars: and that. even 
 out of fome great foundamental truths of 
 the Gofpel : So were the t^o hundred d if- 
 Ciples Luke 24.. 2t. like to be ftaken out' 
 of their faith in Chnft ■ We trufted i-y 
 J they that it hnd been he, which flioiiid 
 c have redeemed Ifr^el, but ve btgin 1$ 
 idoubt and qneftion it now, I ma\ \av to 
 many that thinks their faith as well tick* 
 ered and bottomed, toabo'e a fiftj»g tior*6 
 \i/hat Chrift faid to the difcijries Jehu 16. 
 j«. 32. ' Do you now bilievc, verily I 
 * %y unto you the time is coming, whtn 
 1 ye fhall all be fcattered, and len'e me a- 
 f lone, its a bonnie time a day, for ycu 
 now to begin to believe, when I ?m juft 
 going to be parted from you, and O b?K 
 ye be veggie, and think your fclves u cfi 
 buckled, >ou now believe, but a fhake or 
 two in the five of tfyal, will nuke eve- 
 ry one of you fly for it, and leave me a- 
 lone for all that it is come to with the 
 beft cf you yet, look i* come nor to that 
 with it jet? that thde ihit thiuki then*. 
 
 lelvss 
 
( 2? V 
 
 f T *e< f\rcft, the faftefl away, and leave 
 
 i h ilt A me, t'ie you ftand long in the 
 
 umi among trnfe ten trying fives, in Gods 
 
 b»:n door : And if the rigteous and bell 
 
 fe^ured fc^rcely be faved, where fh*;l the' 
 
 fcingodly finner, and |fclf fecker -arT^r ? 
 
 \\ here^vvay jn all the world willj-hcyga 
 
 in the fifcing time? I wonder much, vea 
 
 rather wheraway will they rot go? Ycij 
 
 v-ill never get them in a fixed condition 
 
 tiM once they be in hell, and there they ' 
 
 wiM ferrle, but never untill they be there. 
 
 Fifthly. Befcre ye go thrcm h all thefe 
 
 ten fives yer, many horeft body 'hat hath 
 
 e clear confcUhcc to day wcith is afwtec 
 
 feut to them, will have their j «y turred 
 
 i-tc heaviness : Perer \\oor man ent^ed fchj 
 
 tryal valiamlv, and fought it with the fword 
 
 and a clean confeience, bu: before jta enry 
 
 four hours, I might have {aid the half of 
 
 them ge -id about, the man hath fotfworn 
 
 his Maiier,, his aorafor* is pone; he goes 
 
 out and weeps bitterly his head like to rive 
 
 h s heart hke to burftout out at his broad 
 
 fide, in a very lamentable condition, like 
 
 to be fvvallowed up, and brought to the 
 
 guve with foaow, in your covenanting 
 
 dajs v 
 
( *9 ) 
 
 rhvs, ye were rrmte a ceding ghde with 
 bis Countcn-HHC,, but in y r u« fitting 6a\$ 
 yofb may come <o that uvh uLiu. i „ 2. 
 16 4 weep luiriiiihe ni^h? a« d jvur iears 
 4 on voir ch^t k, b.rC3ute the comforter 
 fttat ("bond relieve your foul, is tar re- 
 moved tram \ou, becauie ot Tome m<tca- 
 maes in rrv* mul, ecying rny hope ani 
 my ftrength is perished from the Lord* wnl 
 he be gratious .no more, feais his promiie 
 for ever, hath he shut up his tender mer- 
 cies in his u rath, hark O empty profeffor 
 painted fepuichre may the beft b ckied 
 godite be thus fifted out of their comfort, 
 what t:.en shall come of thee ? thou shall 
 be fifted out of heaven, andhappmefs, and 
 may be :ome of youdrouned in the black 
 p;iiph of defpair like Spira,, who in the 
 lift j.g time denyed the truth, and dyed in 
 ddpar, a fm agiinft the remed •', alas who 
 can me when God doth thefe things. 
 
 The Fourth Thing, is, to give iome Rea-* 
 fons why jhe Lord Sifts his profeffing Peo- 
 ple, r. To prevent their Sin: *]et. 48. it. 
 1 Moab hath been at eafe from his yauuh, 
 1 he hath not been poured from veiiel to 
 K vcfselj therefore his teaft remained in him, 
 
 and 
 
( ?o ) 
 
 c and his (cent is not changed. Eecaijfe,rtie 
 wicked hive no chmges, therefore the, fcir 
 not God. "When I/ y ael was in an afflich.4 
 condition, Dm?. 32 to. 16. Jt is fiid. the 
 Lord alone did lead him, and there, was no. 
 ftrange God with him ,• but when he. came 
 to a fetled condition, then he wa>ed fat and 
 kiked and forfake the God that made him. 
 
 2. To chaflen and correct for o n r j'> . ,o. 
 it. c I will correct the in meaiure, and I 
 4 will net leave thee altogether unpuniiixd. 
 
 3. To dean|f froorSm, if a. 27 8 9. He | 
 c ftayeth his rough wind in the day of his Eai | 
 c Wind, by this therefore ihall the Iniquity I 
 c of Jacob be purged, a^d this is all the fruit I 
 to take awav his Sin. 
 
 4. To difcover the reality of Grace in | 
 fome doubting Perfons, that thought they 
 would fall away if ever a lifting time came, 
 they were (o feared to own Chrifts cauie at 
 the beginning, that they ftealed fecretiy a- 
 bout the work, when none faw them, like 
 Nzcrdemur y John 7. who came to Chrift by 
 Night, but yet when the Sifting time came, 
 he owned Chnft on^ the Crois, took him 
 down and Buried him, when there was 
 r*one to own him, J&tw 16. 38. 39. 
 
 5. To make them long and prepare foe 
 
r st 3 
 
 Clor f ,wliere the trying Si\ e fhall be laid afide> 
 & rhev shali fleetly fing, tho' Men have nde 
 over oui Head, & tho' we have palsed thro* 
 'many tryais both Fire and Water, yet thou 
 halt brought us to a weal thy place. 
 
 6. To difcover thofe lee ret Sins, that lurk- 
 ed in the Hearts of many of them, as fet-r 
 his finfuli fear that he never Dreamed of 
 before the tryal came : the beft Saint ere he 
 go through thefe Sives will fee all was not 
 Cold that glitered with him, 
 
 7. To puree out the Wicked from a-. 
 mongft the Godly, the Lord fends Sword 
 and War, and lets all through other for that 
 end, I will fift the Houfe of Ifael as Corn 
 is fiifted in a Sive, and the Sinners of my 
 Peop'e shall die by the Sword, who fay the 
 evil shall not overtake nor prevent them, they 
 lake all Lowns gates both to evite trouble 
 themielves, a;.d to brin£ trouble on the Peo- 
 ple of GOD: Thus he lifted Ifrael, and 
 yhar tocb, through the Waves of the Red Sea: 
 So Mordicsi and the If' elites were fifted a- . 
 mongthe Babylonia*! ^ to the mine of tfeeir 
 Enemies. Rev. \q \g The Beaft and the 
 Kings of the Eitth are gathered together a- 
 giinil Chrift and his People, to their own 
 sfc-ftrutUon, aad the Beaft was taken; When 
 
the Godly are I&e to Rente amonpft B ; ngs 
 of Hypocrites, Wheat amongft Chaff: then 
 the Lcrd takes the Sive of Tryal, and lets all 
 to the Wind together, and mikes a l'epa ration ; 
 then many Godly that were hid and appear- 
 ed nothing, and were diipifed of the Proud, 
 are found to ftand our the Tryal,. and hold 
 fait every hoofeofthe Truth, be the Danger 
 vhat.it will, & many that feemed good wheat, 
 appears now to be nothing but Tares: 
 Alice i who can live when God doth this. 
 We come now to the Af plication ; May 
 (he Church lay her Account with Sifting 
 and Trying times, then try whether ye be- 
 long to God, and the Sh T e be in his Hand, 
 or whether ye belong to Satan and the Lord 
 lath left thee to be Sifted of him, and you 
 may know it thus ; Satan fifes out all that 
 looked like good ; did thou look fair upon 
 it with a fplend;d ProfefTon, Satan will int 
 away that, and thou will lay it afide, and 
 thou that profefed Chrift head of the Church, 
 with that Multitude that cryed Hofanna to 
 ipse Son of David, blefsed is the King 
 that cometh in the Name of the Lord, 
 in the Golpel Dav ; but the nextdav 
 lite Rough Wind nfcth, and Saun lavs 1 
 
 luve 
 
f 33 ) 
 I have got the Sive now, I will try what 
 fort of Mettalyon clamorous Youths are of, 
 and or ever Satan had given them Two or 
 Three makes through other, their Profefliori 
 difappears, their Voice is altered, and their 
 hidden Malice at Chrift appeareth, and the 
 whole Fields are deafned with the .Din,, and 
 Helliflinoife, yabble, yabbling, and bellow- 
 ing out, Crucify him, Crucify him, Safari 
 hath win about with them now. 2. thofe that 
 belong to Satan when the Sive is put in his 
 fiiand, he fiftsout of them, that which ap- 
 peared faithfulnefs, in Corrupt hearted Mini- 
 fters, fo Judas Preached well, and feemed 
 a Faithful Apoftle, as long as the Play was 
 fair, but up gets Satan the Sive and fays, I 
 lhall know in a little what for a Eoy yon 
 Minifter is, and fo Satan toffes him up arid 
 down betwixt Faithfulnefs in the Apoftle- 
 ftiip, and Thirty Pieces of Silver, and then 
 the Thief, the greedy Thief, grips the Bag 
 fait in his Oxter, and runs and and fells 
 Chrift, and the Apoirieihip too, to the Chief 
 Priefts, as many Covetous Minifters, they 
 muft either fell Presbytry to Prelats for the 
 World, or elfe be Faithfull Minifters and 
 take their hazard of loofing the World, an4 
 then you mall have a brave account of many 
 of them, prigging with the Prelats, abou£ the\ 
 price of Pv,eligion, we will give fo much of 
 our Religion, and fwear 10 much of our" 
 E Miitfit-r/ 
 
( 34 ) 
 Mimftry over to you, my Lords, for the 
 Steepcnds, but prig as they pleafe, they are 
 reiolved to make the Bargain, but as fecret- 
 ly as tilt y can, for fear of fearing the Coun- 
 try People, and to ratify the old Seal of Re- 
 ligion with a new Oath, that they call much 
 Bonnier then the old, fy upon the joucking 
 Lawns, for, for as bonny as their hew Oath 
 is, its but the old wrinkled Whore in Paint, 
 and Busk up with a new Suit to deceive 
 thee more. 3. 1 hefe that belong to Satan 
 when the Sive is put in his Hand to fift them ; 
 he lifts out all that appeared good in their 
 Practice, and fets them to commit the Coun- 
 trey Wickednefs, fo did he order Judas, Ju- 
 das had gone once in a day many a Foot to 
 hear Chriit Preach, but now the lifting Time 
 is come, and Judas .practice is altered and 
 he goes on the Head of a Band of armed 
 Men, to apprehend Chrift, and Judas once 
 an Apoftle of Chrifr, now it is Judas the 
 Guide of them that took Jefus. We fravg 
 experience of this fort of Work, many that 
 heard us Preach the Gofpel before they 
 fell, have fmce had an hand in fending arm'd 
 Men to apprehend us, but ay the more Satan 
 lifts his Slaves, the worfe they grow, like 
 ■jrfba&i 2 Chron. XVIII. 28. In the Time of 
 his AM&ion he finned yet the more : This is 
 that King Aha%, that Monfcer of Nature, 
 that when he ihould have mended in Time 
 of Trouble, he grew the worfe ; I think if 
 
 this 
 
( 35 ) 
 lifting Time continue a little, we fliall grow 
 
 vvorfe by degrees, imtill we be lifted out of 
 
 •Reformation, Name and Thing, when this 
 
 Trouble comes quite this Truth, and when 
 
 that Aifiitiion comes quite the other Truth, 
 
 untill all the Truths be quite, that ftaiK& as a 
 
 March betwixt us and Popery ana Prelacy, 
 
 that may ibon be done. 
 
 But on the other Hand when the Lord lifts 
 his People, and keeps the Sive in his own 
 Hand the more the Perfon is lifted, the better 
 it grows, it hands now on the Frountire- 
 Truths, in time of afearfd Invafion, and 
 thinks now lofe one lofe all, let the Froantires 
 once be furrendered, and the Kingdom is 
 gone, they run the iaiter to the Fort,the ilrong- 
 erthat the Incurfionofthe Enemy be, Jude 
 3. They contend earneftiy for the Truth, as one 
 contending for his Lije above his Strength, and 
 in Agonie, as the Greek Imports, and in ftead 
 of iooiing they gain, Pfal. CXIX. 71. It is 
 good for me that I was affliCled, for before 1 was 
 ajflitledl went 0. fir ay, hut now" 1 have learned 
 to keep thy Laws. Satan fifrs out all that ap- 
 pears good, and keeps the word, but the Lord 
 lifts out thatwhichis Evil and prefer vech the 
 Good. 
 
 Ufe. 2. May we look for fifiing and trying 
 Times, then be notfecure, but make 'Preparati- 
 on that ye may be able to fiand in the IJay of 
 Evil, TJhalXfirft /hew you that there arc many 
 E 2 fad 
 
f 36 ) 
 
 fad Signs and Tokens of a Sifting Time com^ 
 ing, j'econdy give fame \Diredionwhat todo % 
 in order to be able to abide toe Try ah Third, 
 give fome Motives to prefs you to Trepara* 
 uon. 
 
 The j ft Sign of lifting Times coming isniv 
 fruitfulnefs, what Fruits of Holinefs in 
 Heart I what Reformation in the Convers- 
 ation t What Reformation ? and righting 
 of what is wrong in the Church, what renew- 
 ing of our broken Covenant, or what pay-* 
 ing of our Vows to God, Luke XIII. 7. 
 *£befe Three Zear shave IcomefeekingFruit on 
 this Tree and found none, cat it down, why 
 Cumbreth it the Ground? 2d. Not only are 
 wf Barren but bear evil Fruit, ftarkPoyfon, 
 Dent. XXXII. 32. For their Wine is tie 
 yVine of Sodom, of the Field a/Gommorah, 
 their Grapes are Grapes of Gall,and their Chfters 
 are bitter, what horrid Curflog, Swearing, 
 Blafphemies, Adultries, Perjuries, Apoftacy, 
 £f alice at the Ways and People of GOD ; 
 fays there are fad Days coming, ihall I not 
 viilt for thefe Things faith the Lord, ihall not 
 my Soul be avenged onfuch a Nation as 
 this, If a. V. ,4,5;, It brought forth wild Grapes, 
 therefore itfloall be eaten up and troden down, 3. 
 The Lamentable Diviflon occafioned by 
 Qiths, and Practices contrary to the Gofpel, 
 Ifa. IX. 21- Ephraim againft Manaffeh, and 
 JVJanaireh agahft Ephraim, and both againft 
 tuojahj, and the Lord's ^iger not turned away, 
 
 but 
 
C 37 ) 
 but his Hand fir etched out full, Every Knave 
 calling out among themfelves, but all agree- 
 ing againlt thefe with whom any honeity ap- 
 peareth, li£e the fad difcord betwixt the 
 Herdmen of A.brajjam, and the Herdmen of 
 'Lot, when the Canaanite was in the Land, 
 and when Jfrael divided in three Factions in 
 Jerufalew, the Romans got thereby the ad- 
 vantage and Detlroyed them. 4. Our furren- 
 dring our Church Goverment,with an Oath to 
 that very Corrupt Church of England, who 
 differs little from Popery, unlefs in their put- 
 ting away Pictures of Saints yet Worihiping 
 them retaining almoft all the Popilh Riest, Ce- 
 remonies, Superftitious Days, having Pop- 
 ijfh Liturgies with very little amendment, al- 
 fothe Popiili, Surplice Mitter, Cape, and 
 Altars, worfhippirig Breadei\God's, Uc. ^th, 
 The Wind is alreadie rifmg, and the Barn 
 Doors call open, by the Lamentable Toller- 
 ation, the Winds of Erronious blowing, and 
 we are all like to be blinded with the Stour 
 of the Hudge Chaf, that is fiyir.g away 
 with the Wind, to all Airths and Points of 
 the Compafs ; and back again, and to and 
 fro, Pfal. 1 . The wicked are going now like the 
 Chaff, drfoen to and fro -with the Wind,* that 
 changeth their Religion as often as the Moon. 
 6. The Perfecuting Spirit appearing among 
 fallen Minifters, and fome of their Adherants 
 mifreprefenting the Godly, to the Magiftrate, 
 this fays the Lord is to bring a Sword on the 
 
 Land 
 
( 38 ) 
 Land, at leaf? threatens to doit, if we be not 
 amended, which fliall avenge the Quarrel of 
 his Covenant, Lev. XXVI. 25. qtUy, The 
 injury done to the Wheat by the Chaff, a 
 continual pr effing, and beguiling of Poor 
 well meaning People, by thefe that are fallen, 
 to draw them bade with them, fays the Lord, 
 will fet them to the Wind and make a Separ- 
 ation. 
 
 Now you fee great evidences of a fif ting 
 Tim?.. The 2d thing is to give you fome 
 Advices, how to carry and order to prepare 
 for the Try al. Fir ft, Get Grace and the re- 
 ■7 of it, foralthougha Perfon ihall be fif- 
 aut of aliCo t Grace,and true Grace 
 
 yet a fere iliake, yet true Grace fliall ne- 
 ver totaly and finally fail, the leaft grain 
 of true Grace fliall not fall to the Ground. 
 judas Counterfif Grace went quite off, but 
 'Peter's Y€3l Grace tho' fhakenyet remained, 
 Luke XXII. 31] Satan lane fought to have thee 
 Simon to ftft thee as Wheat, hut I have prayed 
 for thee that thy Faith fail not. Faith is a Vic- 
 torious Grace, which puts to flight the Armies 
 of the Aliens, and it is the want of belie ving 
 what we profefs, and the want of believing 
 what we Preach, and in that Chrift, whom 
 we Preach, that makes us fly before the Ar- 
 mies of the Aliens. Secondly, Get real love 
 to Chrift and his Intereft, let lovebewith- 
 DUtJDiffimulatibn, love him for himfelf, not 
 for "his Gifts, his Word for its Purity, and 
 
 then 
 
•1 
 
 ( 39 ) 
 then no fear, Cant. VIII. 6. 7. Many Waten 
 cannot quench Lo-ve, 'neither com the Floods 
 drown it,ii your Love to the World be re- 
 all, and only love in appearance to Chrift, 
 thou will let Chrift go and hold the World, 
 hard in a lifting Time. %dly, Get thy felf 
 flieltered in the Protection Chambers of the 
 Attributs, andPromifesof God, Ifa. 26. 20. 
 Come my 'People enter thou into thy Cham- 
 bers, and hide thy felf until! the Indignation he 
 ever pa ft, come by Repentance Faith and Obe- 
 dience to ttie.comman \ keep an uninter- 
 rupted courfe of Obedience, and God's Pro- 
 tection ihall be perpetual, Pfal- 105. God's 
 Mercies never"" end to them that fear 
 him, that keep his Covenant and Ms Tefti- 
 monies, Ifa . XLI. 10. yea 1 will help thee. 
 4._Get Chrifc to be furety for thee. Pfal. 
 CX1X. 122. Tray Lord be jurety for thy Ser- 
 vant for good that 1 fall 'riot to the Ground in 
 .the jftingTimes. 5. Lacovr to keep Con- 
 ference clear, thisfupported!JW., when fnt- 
 cd before his Judge, AGs, XXIII. 1. Men 
 and ^Brethren I have lined in a good 
 Corfcience, and in all good Conference, < 
 in all good Corfcience, yea in all good Qonfci- 
 ence before God to thisTJay, they may Condemn 
 but God and foe Corfcience fmeeily J^Mf% 
 6. Get the fear of Man rooted out of thy 
 Heart, and the fear of God planted in it,- 
 Ifa. VIII. r2, 13. Fear not their Fear but Sanc- 
 tify the Lord of Hoft and lei him be your Fear, 
 
 end 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 4M<1 hejhall he to you a Sanctuary, for the fear 
 of Man will make you fall in the Snare \ and 
 m.ike Mendeftroy themfelvesto efcape that trou» t 
 hie, that may le they would never have met 
 with, and although they had, would have 
 been for their good. 7. Get the Heart loot- 
 ed from the World, what made Judas fall, 
 and X>em%s forfake God, but the World. 
 2 Tim. IV. 10. Demas hath forfaken us having 
 loved the prejent World, and Judas fays* 
 What mil you give me and I will betray him to 
 you t If you give me the World I will fell 
 you my Part of Heaven and the Saviour, 
 but I will not do it, except I get the World, 
 I need never bid you ftand in a lifting Time, 
 except firft your Hearts be loofed from the 
 World. 8thly, Live within fight of an In* 
 vifible God, Heb. XI 27. He endured feeing 
 him that islnvifible, fee what he is in him- 
 felf, and what he is to you t and what he 
 hath been to you formerly, PftI XLIL 
 6, My God my Soul is caftdorwnin me, hut I 
 mil remember thee from the Land, of Jordan, 
 and the Hill Mifar, where formerly I expe- 
 rienced thy help, Mai. I. Provide for a Jifting 
 Time, for if you fall there, all your Prayers, 
 Fearing, Covenanting, Communicating are 
 loft and your own Souls and altogether. Ez 
 XXXIII. 17. All your Righteoufiiefs that you 
 have done, jh all not her erne mkred, but for the 
 Sin you have committed yejhal die ; as Gideon' $ 
 one Ballard deitroyed his Seventy Sons. 2. 
 
( 4* ) 
 
 If thou haft made diligent Preparation, tho J 
 thou be fore fhakea yet thou fhall re- 
 cover again, Pfal. XCIV. 1 8. When Ijaid 
 .my Foot Jlippetb then thy Mercy held me up, 
 jcetcr tho' fore fliaken, yet being before 
 hand provided of Grace, and a God; re- 
 covered again his Faith did not totaly and 
 finally fall, and then tho' the Lord fift the 
 Houfe of Scotland, as Corn isfiftedin a Sive 
 the leaf! Believer fliall not be loft, nor the 
 leaft Grain of true Grace fall to the 
 Ground. 
 
 Now the God of all Grace prepare you 
 J.or lifting Times, ftabliih ftrengthen and 
 comfort you^ and to his Name be Praife. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
( It > 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 T> EADFa C«rea ^following EmJJH 
 
 Tenuis P- 35- 1 ; ,J VhSit r/Ghrifts, p 6. ! 
 
 : n 8.- ; .1.26.for athronesr. Thrones. J 
 ifl i\. for Day r. Days- P-iorlB'ft