That,1 Breaking Covenant, though with wicked men, is a very great wickedness, God will be revenged for it. I have heretofore spoken of falseness, and falseness in Covenant, and Promises, and shown you the example of Saul and Zedekiah, therefore I shall not look back to those things. God ⟨p. 366⟩loves humane societies,2 which cannot be preserved but by faithfulness; Faithfulness (it's the speech of a Heathen) it's the common safety of all men. I remember I have read of the Romans that they did so esteem of Faithfulness, by the light of Nature in Covenants,3 that they accounted Faithfulness to be a Goddess,4 and they built, and dedicated a Temple unto fidelity as to a Goddess, in which Temple all their Leagues, Truces, Covenants, and Bargains were sworn, which were so Religiously observed, that whosoever broke them, was to be held as a cursed and damned creature, unworthy to live in humane societies. And the Egyptians would punish Perjury with death. Among the Indians the fingers and toes of Perjured persons were cut off.5 And I have likewise read when Tissaphernes the Persian warred against the Grecians, 6he broke Covenant with the Grecians. 7Now Agesilaus when he saw that they had broke their Covenant, he rejoiced at it greatly, saying thus,8 For (saith he) by this means he hath made the gods to be his enemy, and our friend; wherefore let us boldly give him battle. We know how our enemies have broken their Covenants from time to time, and their Conditions that they have made themselves, yea, even lately in that Town that we hear such good of now, that we hope the Lord is even revenging himself upon them for breaking Covenant even in that very place. Now my Brethren, that even Heathens themselves are convinced of this great evil, that is so dreadful an evil; what cause have we to lay our hands upon our hearts this day in respect of that part of our Covenant, that concerns one another, for certainly since the time of our solemn Covenant there was never more treachery than there hath been in England, and in Scotland too, there hath been as much treachery since that time as ever yet was, since either of them were a Nation; we have been false one to another so far as it relates to our selves.
That,1 Breaking Covenant, though with wicked men, is a very great wickedness, God will be revenged for it. I have heretofore spoken of falseness, and falseness in Covenant, and Promises, and shewen you the example of Saul and Zedekiah, therefore I shall not look back to those things. God ⟨p. 366⟩loves humane societies,2 which cannot be preserved but by faithfulness; Faithfulness (it's the speech of a Heathen) it's the common safety of all men. I remember I have read of the Romans that they did so esteem of Faithfulness, by the light of Nature in Covenants,3 that they accounted Faithfulness to be a Godess,4 and they built, and dedicated a Temple unto fidelity as to a Godess, in which Temple all their Leagues, Truces, Covenants, and Bargains were sworn, which were so Religiously observed, that whosoever broke them, was to be held as a cursed and damned creature, unworthy to live in humane societies. And the Egyptians would punish Perjury with death. Among the Indians the fingers and toes of Perjured persons were cut off.5 And I have likewise reade when Tissaphernes the Persian warred against the Grecians, 6he broke Covenant with the Grecians. 7Now Agesilaus when he saw that they had broke their Covenant, he rejoyced at it greatly, saying thus,8 For (saith he) by this means he hath made the gods to be his enemy, and our friend; wherefore let us boldly give him battel. We know how our enemies have broken their Covenants from time to time, and their Conditions that they have made themselves, yea, even lately in that Town that we hear such good of now, that we hope the Lord is even revenging himself upon them for breaking Covenant even in that very place. Now my Brethren, that even Heathens themselves are convinc'd of this great evil, that is so dreadful an evil; what cause have we to lay our hands upon our hearts this day in respect of that part of our Covenant, that concerns one another, for certainly since the time of our solemn Covenant there was never more treachery than there hath been in England, and in Scotland too, there hath been as much treachery since that time as ever yet was, since either of them were a Nation; we have been false one to another so far as it relates to our selves.
- 1Obs. 4.
- 2Fides commune hominis praesidium:
- 3Cicero.
- 4Fidei templum struxit Numa, sanctissimumque esse jusirandum voluit per fidem.
- 5The Egyptians.
- 6Tissaphernes.
- 7Agesialaus.
- 8Applicat.
