The Quarrel of the Covenant, License – Dedication
I Conceive theſe three Sermons may be of much uſe, for the promoting of the publike ſervice in taking the late ſolemn Covenant, both here, and throughout the Kingdoms.
Decemb. 5. 1643. JOSEPH CARYL.
THE QUARRELL OF THE COVENANT, WITH THE PACIFICATION OF THE QUARRELL. Delivered in three SERMONS on Levit. 26.25. and Jere. 50.5.
By Thomas Caſe, Preacher of the Word in Milk-ſtreet, LONDON; And one of the Aſſembly of DIVINES.
2 Chron. 23.16.
And Iehojada made a Covenant between him, and between all the People, and between the King, That they ſhould be the Lords people.
Nehem. 10.28.
And the reſt of the people, the Prieſts, the Levites, the Porters, the Singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had ſeparated themſelves from the people of the Lands, unto the Law of God, their Wives, their Sonnes, and their Daughters, every one having knowledge, and having underſtanding.
They clave to their Brethren, their Nobles, and entred into a Curſe, and into an Oath, to walk in Gods Law, which was given by Moſes the ſervant of God, and to obſerve, and do all the Commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his Judgements, and his Statutes, &c.
London, Printed for Luke Fawne, and are to be ſold at the ſign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard. 1644.
To the Right Honourable John Lord Maitland, and to the Reverend, Maſter Alexander Henderſon, Maſter Samuel Rutherford, Maſter Robert Baly, and Maſter George Gelliſpe, Commiſſioners of the generall Aſſembly of the Church of Scotland, to the Aſſembly of Divines in England.
Noble and worthy Commiſſioners.
THis Covenant, ſo unanimouſly, ſo religiouſly entred into, by the Honourable Houſes of Parliament, and Reverend Aſſembly, (Gods two faithfull Witneſſes now in England) as by your ſelves alſo, was afterward ſent to the City; where, amongſt the reſt of the Miniſters, I was to take my ſhare in preparing the people. The Work being ſo ſolemn and great, I bethought my ſelf how I might beſt ſerve this bleſſed Deſign; The time gave me ſome advantage, it falling in the courſe of my Miniſtry, to preach thrice between the Warning and the Taking. I engaged my thoughts (diſtractions will hardly allow me to ſay, Studies) wholly upon this Work; and (bleſsed be God) not without much encouragement: The readineſse I found in the People to cloſe with the invitation of God and Parliament, expreſſing it ſelf, not onelyonly in the multitudes, but in the affections of them that offered themſelves to this Service, made viſible in tears of joy.
Yet when I had Preacht my Sermons, and adm…red the Covenant, I found I had not done my work. Importunity preſt me to make my thoughts publike; and conſulting with the ne…ſ…itice of the multitudes of poor ignorant People, that want a Teaching Miniſter, while the Kingdom waits for the Covenant, rather then with mine own unfitneſſe, I was not diſobedient to the Motion: I had rather appear in my weakneſſe, then …nwillingneſſe to ſerve the publike good. Thouſands of the poor untaught people, will be glad of this help, the knowing will not deſpiſe it, if …; if otherwiſe, they ſhall trouble themſelves, more then me.
And now Right …noralde and Reverend, Theſe poor endeavours, ſuch as they are, make hold to preſent themſelves unto you: Streams do naturally run back into the Boſom from whence they iſſued. God hath pleaſed to …onour your Nation in making them the Firſt-fruits, and Pattern of a Through…. to Ʋs, and all the reſt of the …. This Covenant received its firſt life in Scotland, though it came to its firſt breathing in England. You ſent it not with more affection, then it was entertained with gladneſſe and joy, by our Worthy Parliament and Learned Aſſembly; and although with ſome ſmall Additions, yet ſuch, as did rather render it, more it ſelf, then vary it.
I ſhall not need to beg your Patronage for my Self or Labours, in promoting this Service, The Oath of God is upon you; whereby we are contented to confeſſe, what in your patheticall Letter to our Aſſemblie, you were pleaſed upon other reſpects to acknowledge, That your Aſſiſtance, is become your Debt, To all that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and perſuance thereof: To the payment whereof, Your ſelves are already come through a painfull and hazardous travell, to joyn your Learned Aſſiſtance, with our Faithfull Aſſembly; to which, your preſence addes both ſtrength and Ornament: while Thouſands of your Nation are preparing their Brotherly addreſſes, to pay the ſame Debt to the whole Kingdom, now almoſt in as great an exigence, as once the Gibeonites were, when their five Kings, with all their united forces were within few dayes march, to take a bloody and unnaturall revenge, for their entring into Covenant with Joſhua.
OnelyOnly, We beſeech you account it not our diſtruſt or jealouſie, if ſometime you hear us complaining with the Mother of Siſera, Why are their Charrets ſo long in coming; Why ſtay the Wheels of their Charrets?
We know the Mercy and Righteouſneſſe of Joſhuah dwels in your Boſoms, which cannot ſuffer you to deny or delay that Aſſiſtance to your Brethren, whom you have invited into the League and Covenant of God upon ſo fair and honourable termes, which Joſhuah durſt not deny unto the enemies of God and his people, Becauſe they had ſworn unto them by the Lord God of Iſrael, Joſh. 9.19. Although by a Serpentine wilieneſſe they had wound themſelves into that Aſſociation. Joſhuahs Conſcienciouſneſſe of that Obligation, carried Him and his Army all night to the reſcue of the Gileoniles, Joſh. 10.9. And truely, we doubt not, but your …enderneſſe of this Oath of God, between England and Scotland, had before this time brough in your prepared forces, to the ſuccour of your end …ngered Brethren, had not our Creature-conſidence, unthankefulneſſe, and other hidden Remor…s, hung at the Keel and Bottome of this Expedition.
The Searcher of Hearts, and Father of Mercies, diſcover, and remove the accurſed thing, whatſoever it is, That it may no longer obſtruct their timely approach, nor render it, when it comes, unanſwerable to our fainting Expectations. The Lord of Hoſts, bring in your Forces, and come in with them; his Terrour go before them, and his Glory be their Rereward; So ſhall they like a Mahanaim, the Hoſt of God, be a dread to the Enemies, a Reviving to the languiſhing hopes of Gods people, and a powerfull means to aſſiſt our Parliament and Armies, in the ſetling of that bleſſed Peace and Reformation; for which, both the Nations have Lifted up their Hands to the moſt High God.
Sirs, In the midſt of all theſe Calls and Expectations, pardon, and own me, if I humbly claim my ſhare for my Self, and poor Endeavours, both which, he cordially devotes to yours, and the Kingdoms ſervice, who is
Yours, In all Goſpel Offices, to honour and ſerve you, THOMAS CASE.