•A ^ letter; WHEREIN The Scriptural Grounds and Warrants fof the Reformation of Churches by Way - of Covenant^ are fuccin&ly confidered and cleared. In Oppofition to fome, who, of late, have too boldly (and yet without Cenfiire) vented their heterodox Notions againft our folemn and facred National Covtz nants. _______ , ■; 22y a Wehcifier to a Covenanted Reformation. i Chron. 15. 12 — 15. And they entred into a Co- venant to feek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their Heart, and with all their Soul : — And all Judah rejoiced at the Oath :- — Gal. 5. 1 5. — "Tho 9 it were but a Mans Covenant,* yet if it be confirmed, no Man difamiulleth, or addeth thereto. Edinburgh, Printed in the Year MDCCXXVII. C * ) A LETTER, /Wherein the Scriptural Grounds and War- rants for the Reformation of Churches, by Way of Covenant* are fuccin&ly confidered and cleared* SIR, April 27. 1727. I Send you my Thoughts about the Scripture-war- rants for Nations entring into Covenants, partU cularly, for fup porting the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, as it was carried on Cove- nant-ways, and by League and Covenant with England and Ireland* I do indeed, to my Grief, underftand that our worthy Anceftors are found Fault with on that Head, by Perfons of fundry Denominations, arid at this Time, by fome, of whom better Things might have been expe- cted. Therefore, I fend you this, in Defence of our folemn and facred Covenants, particularly, the Form thereof: Taking it for granted, that the Matter of them is lawful and expedient ; as has been fuffici- ently proven, by many learned and worthy Authors. "What I here pretend untOj is to broach that great and important Purpofe, upon Grounds that bear Weight with me : And my Bringing it once upon the Field, may engage others better qualifie4 to treat the Contro- verfy from the Bottom. . 7 ti (?) ^ It is At this Time debated, whether the Church of Scotland, and afterward thefe of England and Ireland in Conjun&ion with them did right, and are to be ap- proven in the folemn Practice of entering into Covenant with the Lord, towards the advancing of the Reformati- on, in Opposition to the Enemies thereof. For Anfwer to this, \mo, I would offer tome little Abftraft of thefc Covenants, as to the Matter of them, ido, It will be iic to enquire into the Grounds and Warrants for natio- nal and folemn Covenanting. ^tio,To examine whether . the Obligation by thefe Covenants extend to Poller itr, and fo remaineth binding upon us. . 4/0, To confider th© Requifit.es for entring aright into Covenant. And ^U y The hainoiis Sinfulnefs of Covenant-breaking may be fearched into. And, Firfl 6 There is in our Covenants, a Confeflion of our Faith, in Oppofition unto the Papacy, and other Er- rors and Hereius : As this Church was gradually refor- med from them; whereof we have the Series in the Pre- face to our National Covenant, fhewing, that our Re- formation from Papery was fet on a Covenant-footing, and carried poportionally forward, as Light grew. (2.) A folemn Renunciation of all thefe, as of Popery, fo alfo of Prelacy, and its Appurtenances, being aconfiderable Part of Antichriftianifm ; with a profefTed Endeavour, thro'Grace, to root outErr or } Scbifm,Herefy, Super flition % Prcpbannefs,and robatfoever.is contrary to found Do&rin* and tbePorver ofCcdlinefs. (3«)To lay out our felves-for the Prefervation of that Pitch of Reformation,to which the Church of Scotland had been happily railed ; and to labour for bringing the Churches of England and Ire* land, to a bleffed Uniformity with them in Dc£krine y Worship, Discipline and Government, according to th# Woid ot God, and the Examples of the beft reformed Churches. (4.) > Herein, to -hold Hand to one another^ and againft Enemies thereunto, under whatforhever Dii- guife. (<50 To bear faithful and true Allegiance to the King's Majefty, in the Defence and Maintenance of Re- ligion^ and of the Subjects Liberties ; as aifo to pre- ItTYC the Freedom of the Nation, and the Priviltges A 2 «f ( 4 ) . of Parliaments. (6.) To maintain and defend this Church in all her Rights and Privileges, againft all who Ihall encroach upon, or undermine the fame, under what Pretext foever. (7.) To be earned in the Caafe, in Oppofition to that deteflable Jndifferency and Neu- trality, which we therein iblemnly abjure. As may be feen at large in the Covenants, with the folemn Acknoro- ledgment of Sins , and Engagement to Duties , contained therein : Whence it is plain, all true Presbyterians will qheerfully own, that the Matter of the Covenants is juft and good. The Second Head is, To enquire into the Grounds and Warrants for National and Solemn Covenanting, I fhall, jft, Set down what's on either Hand yielded, by thefe who are fincerely of our Communion, as Presbyterians ; And then, bring the Matter in Difpute to a narrower Point. 1. It is granted, That there is a previous Divine Ob- ligation to all the forementioned Duties, lying upon us, according to our feveral Stations ; were it not fo, no Oath could bind us to them. An Oath cannot be a Bond oj Iniquity in any Cafe, and particularly, cannot bind to any Thing not founded upon the Lord's Word, in liis Worfhip, Service, and the Adminiu 1 ration of the Or- dinances of his Kingdom, Jfa. 29.13 .Col. 2. 22, 23. Mat. 15.9. 2?4 take it for granted, that our Church, and thefe of England and ir eland in Conjunction with us, having fuch a fair Occaiion and patent Door opened to them by a Chain of remarkable Providences, did well in profef- fing their Adherence to the Meafure of Reformation at- tained, and joining lftue for carrying it further ; and that the Interruption thereof was a very fad Difpenfa- iion. 3. That we ought to pray, that the Lord, of his free $rlercy through Chrift, would open a Door for the Retrival of that bleifed Work, according to what was profeffed, begun and carried on a good Length in thefe bleffed Days, with great Solemnity, under a plentiful E/fufxon of the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit 0/ God. The < » ; ^ hy The Qutftion then devolves precifely into thcfe two Points, lit, Whether it was ]ufi end right to interpefc a foletnnOatb in the Cafe ? 2dly, //'*&;* 0«if& oblige Po- ' fierity t As to the Fir ft, We hold the Affirmative : And forProof, I reafon from Deut. 26* 17, 18. wherein we read concerning the Lord's arouching/yrtfe/ to be Ms People, & their avouch- ing him to be their God ; whereof, 1 take our Covenants to be a clear and fweet Exemplification. The Lord condefcended to avouch the Churches of Britain and he- land, as aforefaid, to be his People, in Ways mod no- table and alluring, by raifing a reforming Work, to a lovely Pitch amongft them, under a great and plenti- ful Effufion of the Gifts and Graces of his Spirit, and a large Ingathering of many to Shilcb \ and they avouched him to be their God, fwearirg through his Grace, and in his Strength, to carry on the W 7 ork, according to his Word, and the Examples of the heft reformed Churches, If it be excepted,that the Avouching in the fore-mentio- ned Paffage was peculiar to the Old Teftament Diipen- fation. I anfwer, There is no Colour of Reafon in this Exception ; For, none will prefume to fay\ that the Lord's avouching or owning a People to be his People, was reftri&ed to the Old Teftament Difpenfation-, and, a People's avouching him to he their God, is fo mani- festly required thereby, as the Counter-part, that it were choaking even to Reafon, and yet much more to Religion, to call in queftion the Morality of the Duty, being juft the folemn Acknowledgment of a Deity, by owning his Truths and Ordinances,as in-bis Sight. The Relation of Churches to their Lord and Head, implies Covenanting in the very Nature of the Thing ; and What is done implicitely by all true-Churches, wasdone more explicitly, and with greater Solemnity, by the Churches of Scotland, England and Ireland, in the Co- venant. Do not all true Churches, in fome Form or other, bind themfelvs to the Truths, Worftiip, and Way of God, and fo covenant with him materially/* Second, We have divers Inlla'ncts-of folemn and Nati- onal Oaths upon Record in the Word, h were too long A3 and ( 6 > and laborious a Task to review each of them. I choofs rather to fet them down in Bulk, and offer Tome Remarks about them in general, ^£.9.38. and 10. 29. Dsut. 29. 1, 2 ri2, 13, I4> 15* 2 Cbron. 15. 12, 13, 14, 15. and 29. 10. and 34. 31, 32. Each of thefe and much more all of them, and the like, evince the Pofition I am now inftruiiing. And with Relation to them, I offer the following Remarks; (1) Howfoever the Ceremo- nial Law was included, as Tome Part of the Matter fworn unto in thefe Old Teftament Covenants, binding Ifrael. to the Worfhip then inftituted, fuitably unto the State of the Church before the Meiliah his Coming in- the F.lefti ; yet the Scope, Ground and Nature of the Obli- gation, being Moral, cannot be reftri&ed to that Difpen- iation. We are in all Ages bound to instituted Worfhip, and to a keeping the Ordinances of Chrift pure and en- tire ; and in our Covenants,, by which a folemn Oath i§ interpofed, the Obligation is the more ftrongly £xed. (2.) In thefe forementioned Oaths and Covenants, the chief Matter, Occaiion and Calls were Moral,' as will appear at firft Glance ; Namely, That in preffing Straits, upon imminent Dangers, in Returnings to the Lord after great and long continued Defe&ions to Ido- latry, and other grofs Immoralities, they obliged them- felves by foleiun Vows and Covenants to ferve the Lord, and to fet in Order, what had been out of Courfe in his Ordinances. Sure none cairreafonably fay,That theMoral tas indeed the whole of the Old Teftament Covenants were Moral) was peculiar to the Old Teftament ; and Swearing, being in its Nature a moral Duty,can make no Alteration in the Cafe,as {hall afterwards be {hewed more particularly. (3.) For 'tis clear, that the Covenant in the Daysof K.ipg^(/tf,as to its Matter,was Moral, \\%,Io feek the J»ord God of their Father s,roith all their Heart, and with all their Soul. This, none will confine to the Old Teftament ; and it was ajfo enforced by the penal San- ation of Death, i« Cafe of Defe&ion into the former I- dolatries. Hence, I humbly think, our worthy Refor- mers ought not ro be rafhly blamed, whofe Sentiment . Was, That the chief Promoters of 'Popifh Idolatry defer* v4 ( 7 ) 6 «* Ved Death 5 as is alfo contained in the Penal .Statutes a- gainft Popery, enafted by Parliament, Bur, I enter not into any Difquifition about that Matter, as not belong- ing to my prefent Defign. (4.) And with Relation to the Covenant, entred into by King He^ekiab and the People, it was alfo clearly Moral 4 ; and the Words are pointed to that Effect j It is in mint Heart (laid he) U male a Covenant roitb the Lord, God cf Ilrael ; that bis fierce Wrath may turn away from us* It cannot be laid with any Shadow of Ground, That this was peculiar to the Old Teftament ; For, here there was nothing of a Ceremonial or judicial Nature peculiar to the feres* And I think it remarkable, that the Record concerning a Turning away of the Lord's Wrath, was in the like Circumftances cffe&ually verified amongft us, only of free Mercy through Chri(t,in regard our Riling and prof- pering in all valuable Regards, held Pace with our Co- venants ; and Faithfulnels to the Lord, thro' his Grace, in the Obfervance of them. As alfo, we fell and were laid dill lower and lower by our Breaches of them : From which (as it was faid of old concerning the Iniquity of Baal-peor) roe are net purged to this Day, All this I might inftruft by Fads, but that it would be too long. And, (5.) Touching the Covenant in King 'foajh his Days, t5V. W T e have therein a divine and excellent Pat- tern of the Allegiance which Kings and People owe to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords ; and alfo of the Allegiance due from Subje&s to their Sovereigns a- mongft Men. The W T ords, 2 Kings it. 17. are very exprefs, Jeho\adab made a Covenant bctroeen the Lord, and the King, and the People, that they jivuld be the Lord's People, betroen the King alfo and the People : Hereof I take our Covenants to have been #>clear and pleaiant Exemplification. id, I reafon rrom Vows, which are undoubtedly of a Moral Nature, and owned to be fuch, in our Standards. See Larger Catecbifm, Expofition of the Second Com" mandment. No Doubt, concerning the Moral here, can be moved about a Perfon'sV owing, providing thefe Vows fce otherwife right in Matter and Manner. ^r;i'sVow is ( 8 ) a? fweet and plain to this Pur pole, as may be feen Gen. 28. 20, 21, 22. and diverfe other Pailages may be com- pared, as Pfal. 76. 11. and 132. 2. Eccl. 5. 4. tyna 1. 16. and 2. 9. Afa/. 1. 14. As to a Community, in Cafe any Exception be moved on that Head, I think it plain that a rightly conftituted Church is, in the very Nature of the Thing, a confederated Body devouted totheLord > and engaged to one another explicitely or implicitely; which with great Solemnity was done by Oath in tbefe Lands, and may be juftly reckoned their Glory : Befides the fealing Ordinances carry Solemn Engagements to be the Lord's ; The ftri&eft Ties and moil i'olemn Vows are entred into by Communities, in the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. » 3d, ^wearing (duly regulated) is a fpecial Part of Moral Worfhip, and (o cannot be confined to the Old Teftament Difpenfation ; we find it alto connected with Duties uncontrovertibly Moral. Deut. 6. 13. Tbop Jbalt fear the Lord, and cleave to him ; And N. B. fwear by bis Name. It is alfo of a "Weight To very great, that the whole of religious Worfhip is comprifed under it. Moreover, (which is peculiarly to be obferved ) We have prophetical Accounts concerning Swearing in the Old Teftament, which plainly relate to the State of Churches under the New : The following Texts of Srripture, which are manifeilly Moral in their Nature, and alfo prophetical, concerning what Ihould come to pafs in the New Teftament Church : Sucfi as, J fa. 1 9. i8. and 45. 23. and 44. 5. which may be viewed : I need not transcribe them. 4-tb, It is to be confidered, that the Ordinances of Gbrift, the Dodrine* Worfhip and Church-Government taught in ^e Lord's Word,are aTruft committed to the Church,andto Perfons of all Ranks therein,according to their feveral Stations and Capacities. The Words in our Catecbifms are clear, In the fecond Commandment, it is required of All, That We keep pure and intire fucb religious Worfhip and Ordinances as the Lord bath ap- pointed in bis Word: None call in queftion the Rights tfSvP&isrs, to-ieauire, in Things of Weigh^the Oaths «f ( 9 > <"» af thefe whom they intruft, That they {hall be faithful to that Truft. This is founded on Reafon, and ufual in pioft Nations: And, with RefpeA to our Cov mants, what are they ? but only an Oath interpoled, for binding us the more ftrongly and effectually to be faithful unto that great Truft we have from the Lord. • Againft all this,it is excepted > Thatpz*6//Vfe national and jolemn Swearing was peculiar to tbeQldTeflawentDif- penfation, and juitetb net the State of the Churches under the New, &c. To which, I anfwer, imo> That,the War- rants, asforefaid, which are prophetical or w'.at mail be done under the New Teftament, take off the Strength of this Objeftion. 2do, As was before obie?ved, the very Nature of a well-conftituted Church, implieth an En- gagement to be faithful to the great Truft o£ inrtitute4 Ordinances and Worihip, both to the Lord, and to one another for mutual Alliance: And our Covenants im- ply no more than the Solemnity of an Oath in tbe Cafe. %tio, Confidering the circumftanced Cafe in thefe Lands; the divineCall unto the moral Duty of Swearing,was very clear, in regard our Reformation, begun by a very few, was carried on in the Midft of many powerful Enemies, who, by all poflible Means, fought to crufh it,both in the Bud, and ia all the Parts of its Advance; wh^ch. rendered Oaths and mutual'Bonds mod neceifary for keeping that blelfed Company faithful to God, and to one another; while their Enemies laid out themfelves, by all poifible Arts, Threats, Terrors and Allurements, to divide and break them : If ever, in any Matter of Moment, an Qath was neceifary, it was mod needful in thefe difficult and dangerous Jun&ures. ^to y I fincerely think, That ■ the Verification or Accomplifhment? of the prophetical Scriptures in the Old Teftament, which have* their Af- pecl: upon the New, is plainly expreft, 2 Cor. viii. 5. where we are taught, That they who were received into Gh urch-fociety, gave tbemf elves ts tbe Lord, and un- f ; tbe Overfeers of tbe Churches by tbe Will of God. I confefs, that an Oath is not here mentioned in exprefs Terms, yet it is contained materially: And this having bees the inftituted Order pbferved in the JpoftoitcS Churches ( io ) Churches, and fo binding upon us, containeth in Sub- ^ance,what is pleaded in Behalf of our Covenants, whichi 1 mport the Nations their devouring themfelves unto the Lord, fubmitting to his Ordinances, and engaging themfelves to be faithful to that Truft. If, notwith- standing we be ftitt urged to adduce Precedents under the New Teftament \ I only add, That if this Argument prove any Thing, it proreth too much, and therefore can inftru<$ nothing: It may be alledged (wtych the-4- nabaptijis do) That we have no dire& Example of Infants baptized under the New Teftament, nor of lawful Wars, nor of Chriiftians their being inverted with the Office of Magiftracy. But there is no Ground for concluding the Unlawfulnefs of thefe Things on that Account : For, theNew Teftament fuppofes and confirms what is taught in the Old. We have iufficient Grounds for them in, the Word*, and whether under the Old or New Tefta- ment, it is one upon the Matter, the Church in Ef- fentials being the fame, and the Old Teftament is our Rule as well as the New. Igo onto the Third, vi\. Whether or not our Covenants oblige Pofterity? Here alfo, weholdthe Affirmative. This I think may be foon and eafily difpatched, i/?, We find Kianylnftances under the Old Te^ament of Oaths exprefly obliging the Pofterity; and of awful Inftances,inftrufting, That the Lord punifhed the Pofterity for breaking thefe Oaths into which their Anceftors brought them : I fhall mention, as before, fome Scriptural Paifages, from each whereef, this Truth may be evinced. See JDeut: 29. from the 24,and onWard,i Kings 9.8,9. 2Cbr»n'7-22* Jer: 22. 8. and in particular, 2 Sam: 21. 1, 2, 3. Oc. where the Breach of an Oath (that feamed very exceptionable) made to the Giheonites, was juftly punifhed in the Remains of Saul's Family. Compare ]oJh. 9. through- Ait. In Sum, the Defe&ions of the Old Teftament Church (as of ours alfo) were reducible to the fad Head of Covenant-breaking, upon which the Pro- phets of the Lord, in their feveral Meffages, did much infill: : And many Acknowledgments of this Tenor we have Scattered through the Word j as in Pfal 78* ancf 105, C " ) lo 1 ). and 1 06. with diverfe other Places not neceflary %o be mentioned. If in any Cafe, lawful Oaths do oblige rity, it muft efpecially take Place, where God himfelf condefcendeth to be the Party, upon the one Hand, (may it be expreft with due Reverence) and the Community hath the Honour to be the other. id> I argue from a Maxim generally acknowledged, That in the Matter of Oatns and Covenants, into which a Com- munity enters, the Society is to be confidered as a Per- fon ; And hence, fo long as the Community (lands; the reipective Oaths fin T kings jult and lawful) continue to oblige : Were it not ^ the Faith of fuch Contra<£is betwixt States and Kingdoms, as to Peace, War, Com- merce, and whatsoever elie may be the Matter of them, Would be quite enervated ; For the Perfons themfelves, who engage into the refpe&ive Oaths, may foon be car- ried off. It were a ftrange Pofition, and is, for whal I know, condemned by all Nations, that a Society cannot be bound by any Qath longer than the Perfons fubfift, >vho firftentred into it : What Confufions, this would bring in upon Kingdoms, States and Churches, is fa manifeft, that 1 need not deduce the Matter. 3d, I yt, y take the Ordinance otBciptifm to bear fo much, wherein, as I underftand it, the. Engagements of the Parents de- rive to the baptized Infant.; npt only from the Duties, themfdves, being of a moralNature, but alfo upon the Account of the Parent's Oath or folemn Engagement; and when the Children arrive at the Years of Difcre- fion, it is the Duty of their Parents to acquaint them, That thefe Vows ly binding upon them, which the Parents undertook in their Stead, becaufe ofthe Infant's In:apacity, while in. an Infant-State. Sj, I think, is this Sacrament understood by the Reformed Churches. I proceed to the Fourth, vi%* To aflign the Requifites of entring a- right into Vows and Covenants, which we have fumm'd up, ]er. 4. 2. I refer to Commentators, for the Expo- yo jition ofthe PafTage, and ftiall only touch the following Requifites and Cauticjis therein comprifed : And I prc- fums ( 12 ) fume, the impartial Confideration thereof, will be of Ufe for anfwering the ftrongeft Objections. i. Oaths efpecially religious Ones, muft be taken with Understanding. The Matter, the Call thereunto, with whatfoever elfc pertaineth to them, muft be understood. While Doubts remain, and the Mind is not difintanglcd from thefe Thickets, the Perfon cannot fwear in Faith : And, wbatfiver is not of Faith is Sin, Rom: 14. 23. Elie^er, Abraham's Servant, and the Spies fent to fearch the Land of Canaan, took not the required Oaths, until the material Queftions they pro- poieo' about them were fat isfyingly anfwered > Gen: 24. 1, 2, 3, 4« ]oJk: 2. from the 12. And I muft fay, con- fidering the vaft Pains our worthy Progenitors were at, for explaining every Point belonging unto the fore- mentioned Oaths, with the diligent Attention and weighty Concern which were upon the Spirits of Peo- ple about them ; as alfo, the clear Light,which did fhine in thefe bleffed Days, and the plentiful Eifufion of the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit of God ; It is not to be thought, that fo many rufhed ignorantly, or without a due Concern upon them, as fome do now uncharitably ailed ge : But, whatever be of that Matter, the Fault was upon the Part of the Ignorant, and impeacheth not Du- ty in the Cafe. 2/#, Lawful Oaths, whether more private or folemn, muft be gone into heartily, and willingly : The Mat- ters which concern Religion, Heart and Sanctuary Re- formation, may not be Fruits of Conftraint. More- over, to fwear from the Influence of carnal and felfiih Ends, mainly with a Deflgn to advance fome worldly Interefls, is a Juggling with God and Man, in the moft folemn A EecU a» 2. I had good and and certain Accounts of Chriflian Forbearance, and Tendernels ufed in thefe Cafes, with Relation to our Covenants, by fome of the brighteft Lights in the/e Times; But, whatever has been of that Matter, I un- dertake not the Defence of all the Managements : Sinful Men may not pretend to be unblemifhed in the bed of C antes. 3^, It were a moft Unwarrantable Stretch, and a mur- dering Delufion, for one to conclude his gracious Eftate, from his going into a religious Oath, for the carrying on of Reformation. Howfoever important the Duty be, when rightly qualified ; yet 'tis fomewhat elfe 3 and quite of another Nature, that conftitutes a real Chriftian ; as might be declared, were it needful. They may with great Alacrity, the one Day, cry, Hofanna, to the Son of David, who will be as Bufy afterward in redou- bling their Cries, Crucify bim^ Crucify bint, Mat. 21. throughout, and 27. 22. Pfal. 78. 34, 35, 36, 4th, It fufficeth not, to give juft Accefs to fealing Ordinances, without any further Inquiry or Trial, that the Perfon hath taken a religious Oath as aforefaid, in regard he may be deftitute of the neceftary Qualities effential to a true Believer. I charitably prefume, our worthy Ancestors were guided to due Caution herein. <>tb, It carrieth no Prejudice to our Covenants, that therein we lwear to maintain our Civil Liberties : The Church and Common- wealth are not thereby confoun- ded by an unwarrantable Mixture ; In regard fuch Li- berties are alfo a Part of the Truft given to Communi- ties ; and a fwearing Faithfulnefs thereunto, is juftly efteemed a Part of Religion. 6th, The great Matter then and Hinge, upon which all turns, is, The Vowing and Swearing in Faith, nol entertaining Profpe&s from or for Self, but having the Eye upon God in Chrift only j as 'tis well exprefs'd in the Covenants themfelves ; yet hereby the Duty is not Confined to Believers only. As to the Fifth and Lad, vi\. To dete& the hainous Sinfulnefs of dealing falily in the great and weighty Matter of O- venaqts ; \ offer a few Remarks, without affedtfng any Method, ( H ) ^Method, (i.).As it was with the Lord's People of old, fo it hath^bcen and is with us, One main Spring of al! •nr Defections is, our Trufting to an Arm of Fleih, Jer. 17. 5,6. Jfrael was full of Self-confidence ; Often did they repeat their Promifes to do all that the Lord required, Exod. 19. 8. and 24. 3. Deut. 5. 27. Jcjhc 24. 21. But alas ! there was not fuch a Heart in them: This, as to the Generality, was an empty Flourilh ; Their Hearts were not right with him \ and hence, they were not ftedfaft in his Covenant. This was their Bane,* and it is ours, Pfal. 78. 37. (2.) The Hainoufnefs of our Covenant-breaking will appear further from our Church-Hiftory. We went out from Popery ; and our Reformers undertook their great Atchievements, not by humane Politicks, but from a powerful and efficacious Work of Grace upon their Spirits, and the Hearts of ttiany who joined them. The feveral Parts of that Reformation in Dotlrine, Worjhip and Government, were again and again confidered, having been often by Fad- ing and Prayer laid before the Lord for Light and Con- duct : Arid facially our Presbyterial Government was brought under the Cognizance of feveral General AJjem- hlies, and therein examined, to adjuft it according to the Word ; Time was given, during the Intervals, un- to every One concerned, to confider and try each Part: They were alfo earneftly aefired, and full Freedom was allowed unto them, to propofe their Exceptions, or Ob- jections, in open Ajfetnbly or otherwife : When, after thefe excellent and unexceptionable Methods, Perfons ©f all Ranks bound themielves by 0?th, in the Lord's Strength, to be faithful to fo great aTruft, and helpful to one another therein ; 3 Tis ftrange the Practice fhould be quarrelled. The Command is fweet and clear, Rev, 3. 11. Hold fafl that which thou baft, that no Man take thy Crown. And the Exhortation, 2 John 8. Look to your felvesy that we Jofe not theje Things which we have wrought. Compare Rev. 2. 25. In Truft^ among Men, Oaths are found neceflary ; and (hall they be exceptio- nable only in the Truft we have from the Lord ? (3.) The kappy State of Matters, a6 to the Concerns of ttJ ChrilTs ( M ) Chrift's Kingdom, in our Covenant Times, challengeth fpecial Confideration in its own Place, and aggravateth our Breaches thereof. The Ordinances, both of Do- &rine and Government, were then in their Prime; Open Wickednefs was reprefled, how foon it fet up its Head ; and Satan's Kingdom brought to a low Pafs, thro' a plentiful Ingathering of the People to Shilob ; Many were converted, and others confirmed. A Dif- penfation of the Goi])el was mod engaging, as beautified with the Luftre, and fweetned by the Relifh of Heaven ; We were then fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun y and, terrible as an Army with Banners, Cant. 6, 4—10. Thus our gracious Lord condefcended to append his Seal to his own Work, as of old his Glory filled the Ta- bernacle and Temple, when finifhed, according to the Pattern he had fhewed, Exod. 40. from the 34. and 1 Kings 8. 10, 11. and throughout. (40 It ought to be pondered, That the Obligation of thefe Covenants was the Cafe of Confeflion dated in this Church during a Jong Traft of cruel Perfecution ; many of the Lord's precious Servants and Saints were plundered, harrafTed, and put to Death, upon the Account of owning and adhering to them, during that Time of fufFering for th« Covenants and Caufe of God. As the Difpenfing o£ Ordinances was moft remarkably bleffed, tho' under the Crofs ; fo our Confefibrs and Martyrs were fignally coun- tenanced in their bearing Teftimony thereunto, and owning the Obligation of our Covenants with their lad Breath, and fealing the fame with their Blood. It is dangerous Prefumption for any to fpeak difrefpecVully of them, or their dying Teftimony, Row. 10. 10. Mat* 10. 32. Mark 8.38. Pfal 116. 15. To conclude, 1 only add, That the Lord is righteous in whatfoever Strokes he hath inflicted or m'-y furtr.er lay upon us, confiderirg how deeply thefe Lands are involved into the dreadful complex Sir of Covenant- breaking : This would open a large Field, and lead ir.ta a fad Hiftory of the Defections of the Churches in thefe Lands, and of our Mother-Church in particular ; but I smernot upon that ^ctenfivcand melancholly Subject. See,