The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

I say not from this place, that it is necessary, that all subscribe with their hands a covenant, because I think only the Princes, Levites, Priests and heads of families did subscribe the covenant, Nehem. 9. 38. but Nehem. 10. 28, 29. The whole people, all who had separated themselves from the Lands sin, and their strange wives, even their wives, ⟨p. 135⟩their sons, their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding. V. 29. They clave to their brethren, their Nobles and entered into a curse, and into an oath to walk in Gods Law. If it be replied, that there was in Israel no written covenant drawn up by a man, and put in a mans stile, language, method, and frame, they did swear to keep Moses his Law. I answer, when we swear a covenant, our faith doth not rely upon words, characters, stile of language, or humane method, or any humane respects, but upon the truth of God, in that platform; and suppose we should swear and subscribe the Old and New Testament translated into our vulgar Language; we do not swear to the translation, characters, and humane expression; but to the matter contained in the translation; and that because Jehovah our Lord hath spoken it in his Word. And if this be a good argument why we cannot swear a platform, then should none swear a covenant at all, or make any holy vow, but those who understand the original Languages in Hebrew and Greek; and yet the characters and imprinting is humane even in the original, so all religious covenants and oaths should be unlawful.

I say not from this place, that it is necessary, that all subscribe with their hands a covenant, because I thinke onely the Princes, Levites, Priests and heads of families did subscribe the covenant, Nehem. 9. 38. but Nehem. 10. 28, 29. The whole people, all who had separated themselves from the Lands sinne, and their strange wives, even their wives, ⟨p. 135⟩their sonnes, their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding. V. 29. They clave to their brethren, their Nobles and entered into a curse, and into an oath to walke in Gods Law. If it be replied, that there was in Israel no written covenant drawne up by a man, and put in a mans stile, language, method, and frame, they did sweare to keepe Moses his Law. I answer, when we sweare a covenant, our faith doth not relie upon words, characters, stile of language, or humane method, or any humane respects, but upon the truth of God, in that platforme; and suppose we should swear and subscribe the Old and New Testament translated into our vulgar Language; we doe not sweare to the translation, characters, and humane expression; but to the matter contained in the translation; and that because Iehovah our Lord hath spoken it in his Word. And if this be a good argument why we cannot sweare a platforme, then should none sweare a covenant at all, or make any holy vow, but those who understand the originall Languages in Hebrew and Greeke; and yet the characters and imprinting is humane even in the original, so all religious covenants and oathes should be unlawfull.