A81214:26
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.
The Tenor of the covenant now tendered, speaks ⟨p. 4⟩thus respecting the persons. We Noble-men, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons, of all sorts, in the Kingdom of England, Scotland, and Ireland &c. And doth not this indistinctly admit all, and all, of all sorts? I answer, No. For the words following in the Preface show expressly, that only they are called to it, who are of one reformed Religion; which shuts out all Papists, till they return. And the Articles pass them through a finer Sieve, admitting only such as promise, yea and swear that through the grace of God, they will sincerely, really, and constantly endeavour the preservation of the reformed religion, against the common enemy in the one Kingdom, the reformation and extirpation of what is amiss in the other two; as also in their own persons, families and relations. They who do thus are choice persons indeed, and they who swear to do thus are (in charity and justice) to be reputed so, till their own acts and omissions falsify their oaths. Thus our Covenant makes an equivalent, though not a formal or nominal election of the persons.
The Tenour of the covenant now tendered, speakes ⟨p. 4⟩thus respecting the persons. We Noble-men, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospell, and Commons, of all sorts, in the Kingdome of England, Scotland, and Ireland &c. And doth not this indistinctly admit all, and all, of all sorts? I answer, No. For the words following in the Preface shew expressely, that onely they are called to it, who are of one reformed Religion; which shuts out all Papists, till they returne. And the Articles passe them through a finer Sieve, admitting onely such as promise, yea and sweare that through the grace of God, they will sincerely, really, and constantly endeavour the preservation of the reformed religion, against the common enemy in the one Kingdome, the reformation and extirpation of what is amisse in the other two; as also in their owne persons, families and relations. They who doe thus are choice persons indeed, and they who sweare to doe thus are (in charity and justice) to be reputed so, till their owne acts and omissions falsifie their oathes. Thus our Covenant makes an equiualent, though not a formall or nominall election of the persons.