A81214:81
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.
And this Covenant is the bond of a twofold union. First, it unites us of this Kingdom among our selves, and this Kingdom with the other two. Secondly, it makes a special union of all those, who shall take it holily and sincerely throughout the three Kingdoms, with the One-most God. Weak things bound together are strong, much more then, when strong are bound up with strong; most of all, when strong are bound up with Almighty. If in this Covenant we should only join weak to weak, we might be strong. But (blessed be God) we join strong (as creatures may be accounted strong) with strong. The strong Kingdoms of England and Ireland, with the strong Kingdom of Scotland. A threefold cord twisted of three such strong Cords will not easily, if at all, be broken. They which single (blessed be God) have yet such strength, how strong may they be when conjoined? As the Apostle writes to his Romans (c. 6. 19.) I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of our flesh: So I speak now after the manner of men, concerning the strength of our flesh (outward means) in these Kingdoms. For as the Apostle Peter speaks in like phrase, though to another occasion, (2 Pet. 3. 9. the Lord is not slack concerning his ⟨p. 26⟩promise, as some men count slackness. So I may say, no man, no Kingdoms are strong to any purpose, as the Lord counts strength.
And this Covenant is the bond of a twofold union. First, it unites us of this Kingdome among our selves, and this Kingdome with the other two. Secondly, it makes a speciall union of all those, who shall take it holily and sincerely throughout the three Kingdomes, with the One-most God. Weake things bound together are strong, much more then, when strong are bound up with strong; most of all, when strong are bound up with Almighty. If in this Covenant we should onely joyne weake to weake, we might be strong. But (blessed be God) we joyne strong (as creatures may be accounted strong) with strong. The strong Kingdomes of England and Ireland, with the strong Kingdome of Scotland. A threefold coard twisted of three such strong Coards will not easily, if at all, be broken. They which single (blessed be God) have yet such strength, how strong may they be when conjoyned? As the Apostle writes to his Romans (c. 6. 19.) I speake after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of our flesh: So I speake now after the manner of men, concerning the strength of our flesh (outward meanes) in these Kingdomes. For as the Apostle Peter speakes in like phrase, though to another occasion, (