3. If the people of the lewes did swear a covenant with God, to keep the words of the covenant, to do them, Deut. 29. 9. 10, 11. To seek the Lord God of Israel with all their heart, and with all their soul, 2 Chron. 15. 12. and if they entered into a curse, and an oath, to walk in the Lords law which was given by Moses the servant of God, to observe and do all the Commandments of the Lord, and subscribed and sealed the covenant, with their hands, Nehem. 10. 1. v. 29. Then is it lawful for a Church to swear, and by oath subscribe an Orthodox confession. But the former is true, as the places alleged clear; Ergo, so is the latter. That which only may be doubted of, is the connection of the major proposition, because Israel did swear to nothing but to Moses written Law, which in matter and form was Gods express written word; but it will not follow, that we may swear a plot-form of Divine truth framed and penned by men; but the connection notwithstanding of this remaineth sure, because Israel did swear the Lords covenant, according to the true meaning and intent of the Holy Ghost, as it is Gods Word, and we also swear a National covenant, not as it is mans word, or because the Church or Doctors, at the Churches direction, have set it down in such and such words, such an order or method, but because it is Gods Word, so that we swear to the sense, and meaning of the platform of confession, as to the Word of God; now the Word of God, and sense and meaning of the Word is all one; Gods Law and the true meaning of the Law are not two different things. When a Jew sweareth to the doctrine and covenant of God in the Old Testament, in a Jewish meaning, he sweareth not to the Word of God, because the Word of God unsoundly expounded is not the Word of God; and though the Sadducees and Pharisees swear the five books of Moses, and the very covenant which Asa and the Kingdom of Judah did swear 2 Chron. 15. yet do they not swear the covenant of God, and that same which Gods people did swear 2 Chron. 15.
3. If the people of the lewes did sweare a covenant with God, to keep the words of the covenant, to doe them, Deut. 29. 9. 10, 11. To seeke the Lord God of Israel with all their heart, and with all their soule, 2 Chron. 15. 12. and if they entered into a curse, and an oath, to walke in the Lords law which was given by Moses the servant of God, to observe and doe all the Commandements of the Lord, and subscribed and sealed the covenant, with their hands, Nehem. 10. 1. v. 29. Then is it lawfull for a Church to sweare, and by oath subscribe an Orthodox confession. But the former is true, as the places alledged cleare; Ergo, so is the latter. That which onely may be doubted of, is the connexion of the major proposition, because Israel did sweare to nothing but to Moses written Law, which in matter and forme was Gods expresse written word; but it will not follow, that we may sweare a plat-forme of Divine truth framed and penned by men; but the connexion notwithstanding of this remaineth sure, because Israel did sweare the Lords covenant, according to the true meaning and intent of the Holy Ghost, as it is Gods Word, and we also sweare a Nationall covenant, not as it is mans word, or because the Church or Doctors, at the Churches direction, have set it down in such and such words, such an order or method, but because it is Gods Word, so that we sweare to the sense, and meaning of the platforme of confession, as to the Word of God; now the Word of God, and sense and meaning of the Word is all one; Gods Law and the true meaning of the Law are not two different things. When a Jew sweareth to the doctrine and covenant of God in the Old Testament, in a Jewish meaning, he sweareth not to the Word of God, because the Word of God unsoundly expounded is not the Word of God; and though the Sadducees and Pharisees sweare the five bookes of Moses, and the very covenant which Asah and the Kingdome of Iud•h did sweare 2 Chron. 15. yet doe they not sweare the covenant of God, and that same which Gods people did sweare 2 Chron. 15.
