A78965:26
The great danger of covenant-refusing, and covenant-breaking. Presented in a sermon preached before the…
The great danger of covenant-refusing, and covenant-breaking. Presented in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable Thomas Adams Lord Mayor, and the Right Worshipful the sheriffs, and the aldermen his brethren, and the rest of the Common-council of the famous City of London, Jan. 14. 1645. Upon which day the solemn League and Covenant was renewed by them and their officers with prayer and fasting at Michael Basinshaw, London. / By Edmund Calamy, B.D. and pastor of Aldermanbury London.The great danger of covenant-refusing, and covenant-breaking. Presented in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable Thomas Adams Lord Mayor, and the Right Worshipfull the sheriffes, and the aldermen his brethren, and the rest of the Common-councell of the famous City of London, Jan. 14. 1645. Upon which day the solemne League and Covenant was renued by them and their officers with prayer and fasting at Michael Basinshaw, London. / By Edmund Calamy, B.D. and pastor of Aldermanbury London.
London: printed by M.F. for Christopher Meredith, 1646
The great danger of Covenant-refusing, and Covenant-breaking.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Because of the proneness that is in all men (even the best of men) to break covenant with God. A Covenant indeed is a golden Girdle to tie us fast to God; it is a joining and gluing our selves to the Lord. The word [Greek or Hebrew] which signifieth an Oath, comes from [Greek or Hebrew] which signifieth a Hedge. An Oath and Covenant is a strong hedge to keep us from breaking out into disobedience. It is an entering into bond to become the Lords; it is a binding our selves apprentice to God. Voluntas (saith Aquinas) per votum immobiliter firmatur in bonum. But yet notwithstanding, the nature of the best man is very apt to break these bonds, and to run away from his great Lord and Master, to suffer this Hedge to decay, and this golden girdle to loosen and untie, and to disjoin and unglue himself from God. And therefore it is not only commendable, but very necessary (and for this cause you are met this day) to enter into bond the second time, to bind and enrol your selves again unto the Lord; to make up this hedge, to tie this golden girdle yet faster, and to join and glue your selves once more unto the Lord in a perpetual Covenant never to be forgotten. It is reported of Bishop Hooper, that ⟨p. 3⟩when he was at the stake to be burnt, the Officers offered to tie him to the stake: but he said, You need not tie me, for that God that called me hither will keep me from stirring; and yet because I am partly flesh, I am willing you should tie me fast, lest I should stir. So may the best Christian here present say: Lord I am carnal, sold under sin, I have broken those golden cords of the Covenant with which I have tied my self unto thee. Though I am spirit, yet am I flesh also: And therefore I come to bind my self anew. As Delilah dealt with Sampson, &c. so do I desire to deal with my self, and to tie my self yet faster and faster to God, if by any means I might be kept firm to him.
4. Because of the pronenesse that is in all men (even the best of men) to break covenant with God. A Covenant indeed is a golden Girdle to tye us fast to God; it is a joyning and glewing our selves to the Lord. The word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 which signifieth an Oath, comes from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 which signifieth a Hedge. An Oath and Covenant is a strong hedge to keep us from breaking out into disobedience. It is an entring into bond to become the Lords; it is a binding our selves apprentice to God. Voluntas (saith Aquinas) per votum immobiliter firmatur in bonum. But yet notwithstanding, the nature of the best man is very apt to break these bonds, and to run away from his great Lord and Master, to suffer this Hedge to decay, and this golden girdle to loosen and untye, and to disjoyne and unglew himself from God. And therefore it is not only commendable, but very necessary (and for this cause you are met this day) to enter into bond the second time, to binde and inroll your selves again unto the Lord; to make up this hedge, to tye this golden girdle yet faster, and to joyn and glew your selves once more unto the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten. It is reported of Bishop Hooper, that