A81214:104
The nature, solemnity, grounds, property, and benefits, of a sacred covenant. Together with the…
The nature, solemnity, grounds, property, and benefits, of a sacred covenant. Together with the duties of those who enter into such a covenant. Delivered in a sermon at Westminster, at the public convention, (ordered by the Honourable House of Commons) for the taking of the Covenant, by all such, of all degrees, as willingly presented themselves, upon Friday, Octob. 6. 1643. By Joseph Caryl, preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns-Inn.The nature, solemnity, grounds, property, and benefits, of a sacred covenant. Together with the duties of those who enter into such a covenant. Delivered in a sermon at Westminster, at the publique convention, (ordered by the Honourable House of Commons) for the taking of the Covenant, by all such, of all degrees, as willingly presented themselves, upon Friday, Octob. 6. 1643. By Ioseph Caryl, preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolnes-Inne.
London: printed by E.G. for John Rothwell, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sixthly, walk industriously and diligently in this Covenant. You were counselled before to stand to the Covenant, but take heed of standing in it; stand, as that is opposed to defection, but if you stand ⟨p. 41⟩as that is opposed to action, you are at the next door to falling. A Total neglect is little better then total Apostasy.
Sixthly, walke industriously and diligently in this Covenant. You were counselled before to stand to the Covenant, but take heede of standing in it; stand, as that is opposed to defection, but if you stand ⟨p. 41⟩as that is opposed to action, you are at the next doore to falling. A Totall neglect is little better then totall Apostacy.
We have made a perpetual Covenant, never to be forgotten, as was showed out of the Prophet. It is a rule, that words in Scripture which express only an Act of memory, include action and endeavours; When the young man is warned to remember his Creator in the days of his youth (Eccles. 12. 1.) He is also charged to love, and to obey him. And while we say, this Covenant is never to be forgotten, we mean, the duties of it are ever to be pursued, and (to the utmost of our power) fulfilled. As soon as it is said that Josiah made all the people stand to the Covenant, the very next words are, And the Inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the Covenant of GOD, the GOD of their Fathers. 2 Chronicles 34. 32. They stood to it, but they did not (like those Matthew 20. 6.) Stand all the day idle; they fell to work presently. And so let us. Having laid this foundation, a sure Covenant, now let us arise and build, and let our hands be strong. Do not think that all is done, when this solemnity is done. It is a sad thing to observe, how some, when they have lifted up their hands and written down their names, think presently their work is over. They think, now surely they have satisfied God and man, for they have subscribed the Covenant.