A81214:52
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.
First, A Covenant must be grounded on reason; We must show cause why. God often descends, but man is bound to give a reason of what he doth. Some of Gods actions are above reason, but none without reason. All our actions ought to be level with reason, and this with common reason, for it is a common act, That which men of all capacities are called to do, should lie in the reach of every mans capacity. Observe
First, A Covenant must be grounded on reason; We must shew cause why. God often descends, but man is bound to give a reason of what he doth. Some of Gods actions are above reason, but none without reason. All our actions ought to be levell with reason, and this with common reason, for it is a common act, That which men of all capacities are called to doe, should lie in the reach of every mans capacity. Observe
Secondly, A Covenant must be grounded on weighty reason; There must be much light in the reason (as was showed before) but no lightness. Because of all this, saith the Text, there were many things in it, and much weight in every one of them.
Secondly, A Covenant must be grounded on weighty reason; There must be much light in the reason (as was shewed before) but no lightnesse. Because of all this, saith the Text, there were many things in it, and much weight in every one of them.
And the reasons in their proportion, must at least be as weighty as the conditions. Weighty conditions will never be balanced with light reasons. If a man ask a thousand pounds for a Jewell, he is bound to demonstrate that his Jewell is intrinsically worth so much, else no wise man will come up to his demands. So when great things are demanded to be paid down by all who take ⟨p. 15⟩