The National Covenant, Title page – Dedication
THE Nationall Covenant. Or, A DISCOURSE ON THE COVENANT. Wherein Alſo the ſeverall parts of the late PROTESTATION are proved to be grounded on Religion and Reaſon: With ſundry Motives and Directions, tending to further our keeping Covenant with God. Which may be of ſpeciall uſe in theſe times.
By THO. MOCKET, M. of Arts, and Preacher of the Word of God.
If a man vow a Vow unto the Lord, or ſwear an Oath to binde his ſoul with a bond, he ſhall not break his word, he ſhall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth, Numb. 30.2.
When thou voweſt a Vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleaſure in fools, ECCLES. 5.4.
foreign Greg. Nezian. Orat. 53.
Non te voviſſe poeniteat, imo gaude: Foelix neceſſit as quae in meliora compellit. Aug. in Ep. ad Armenta.
London, Printed by J. R. for Chr. Meredith, at the ſigne of the Crane in Pauls Church-Yard. 1642.
To the Honorable, the Houſe of Commons Aſſembled in Parliament. foreign.
Honourable and right worthy Patriots:
IF I might preſume ſo far as to ſpeak or write to ſo great and judicious an Aſſembly, as you are known to be, I would in the firſt place, with all humble and hearty thankfulneſſe to Almightie GOD, the KINGS MAJESTY, the Right Honorable PEERES, and You the Knights and Gentlemen, now moſt ſeaſonably aſſembled in Parliament, acknowledge the many great and worthy things that have been done by His Royall Majeſty, the Noble Peeres, and your ſelves for the publike good. See the Remonſtrance, publiſhed Dec. 15. 1641.Who have eaſed our backs of that illegall burden of Ship-money, Coat, Conduct-money, and other military charges. Suppreſt all Monopolies, Taken away arbitrary government, the root of theſe evils. Much quelled evill councellours, and other malignant perſons, by execution of juſtice on ſome, impriſoning others, and cauſing others to fly, out of the conſciouſneſſe of their own guiltineſſe, Setled a trienniall Parliament in ſtead of a trienniall Viſitation, and provided for the continuance of this, till all our grievances are heard and redreſſed, and all evils be removed, which is of unſpeakable conſequence, becauſe they ſecure a full operation of the remedy, and afford a perpetuall ſpring of remedies for the future. Put down the High Commiſſion Court, which in ſome reſpects (through the abuſe of ſome, and over-ruling of others, was made too like the Spaniſh Inquiſition, which ſuſpended, ſilenced, and outed many of the moſt able and godly Miniſters ont of their livings and freeholds, and ſo undone many a whole family; a Court, which indeed at firſt was erected to ſuppreſſe Papiſts and Popery, as the Spaniſh Inquiſition was to curb the blaſphemous Jews, but was now, as that, turned againſt pious Proteſtants; Have put down the Star-chamber; Taken away other Courts, the forges of miſery, oppreſſion and violence; Diſmounted the Canons that were mounted to batter down the power of Religion, together with the late curſed Oath; Damned the Oath ex officio, by means whereof they tortured many conſciences with ſtrange quaeries and forcing unnaturall ſelf-accuſations. Freed Church-wardens from a dangerous oath. Limitted the immoderate power of the Councell Table. Puniſhed and terrified ſome Miniſters and others that were of ſcandalous life, or Authors of Innovations in doctrine & ceremonies. Reduced the Forreſts by good Laws to their right bounds. Reformed the incroachments and oppreſſions of the Stanery Courts. The extortion of the Clerk of the market. The compulſion of the Subject to receive the order of Knighthood againſt his wil, or paying fines for refuſall. Recalled the baniſhed Exiles that had undergone the brunt, the chief let in the Prelats way to Rome. Setled a happy peace betwixt us and our Neighbour Nation, which the malignant Enemies of both, endeavoured to imbroile in civill wars which are grevious, yea which is worſe, of Proteſtants againſt Proteſtants, one ſervant againſt another, and one brother againſt another, till both were conſumed. Removed the Biſhops from voting in Parliament, and all Clergie men from temporall offices, which like a falſe byas in a bowle, wheel'd them quite out of the way of preaching. Voted down Deans and Prebends, which were (many of them) too like the drones that eat up the hony which the painfull Bees ſhould live on. Opened the Preſſes for publiſhing the good and profitable labours of the godly, and inhibited popiſh books and Pamphlets tending to reconcile us and Rome, or rather to reduce us to Rome. You have ordered the removall and abolliſhing of ſcandalous pictures and images and other Innovations in the Church. The due ſanctification of the Sabbath, cryed down by the Popiſh and prelaticall partie in their preaching, printing, and practiſe. Given libertie to tender conſciences, burthned with unneceſſary and ſcandalous (at the beſt inconvenient) Ceremonies, godly Miniſters to exerciſe their miniſtery, to which God and man hath ſet them apart, ſo that many thouſands may heare the joyfull ſound again in their eares who were deprived of ſuch bleſſed ſilver Trumpets, in ſtead whereof they had but Rams hornes, (too good a compariſon for many of them) which many times ſounded as terrible an alarum in their eares, as they ſometimes did to them of Jericho. You have procured from His Royall Majeſtie a Monthly Faſt, publiſhed by His Majeſties Proclamation, in which like the New Moones Faſt or Feaſt of Trumpets, the ſilver Trumpets of the word are ſounded, and the ſacrafice of prayer, praiſe and almes are offered up unto God. Publiſhed a much deſired Order for ſetling of Church-government and Liturgie, your provident care for the relief of bleeding Ireland. The Bill againſt Pluralities and non-reſidency, order for weekly Lectures and diligent preaching. Great care for the ſafety of the Land. For the full diſcovery and removall of ſcandalous Miniſters, the ſhame of the Realm and Religion. For haniſhing Prieſts and Jeſuits. And for ſecuring the Papiſts, the profeſſed Enemies of King and Kingdom, Church and State. The happy concurrence of the Right Noble Peers, with the truly honourable Houſe of Commons in their Honourable proceedings. The happy and timely diſcovery of many grievous ſnares, Pits were digged for the Righteous, gallowſes provided for Mordecai's, becauſe they would not bow to Hamans; done of lyons for Daniels, becauſe they would not leave praying; fiery furnaces for the three children, becauſe they would not worſhip the golden Image; dungeons for Jeremy's, becauſe they would preach the truth with boldneſſe. Mr. Cal. Feb. 23. in his Serm.broken by your great vigilancy and induſtry and the prevention of many moſt deperate deſignes againſt this Kingdom, ſo that our Iſacks are delivered and the Rams are caught in the buſh, and as the wiſe man ſaith, *Pro. 11.8.The Righteous is delivered out of the trouble, and the wicked cometh in his ſtead. And to name no more the renewing of our Nationall Covenant, ſo prudently made and commended to us by your Honorable Houſe) to bring back again all Iſrael to worſhip the Lord their God in Jeruſalem, who were too many of them making a Captain and turning back again into miſticall Egypt, which Covenant gave the riſe to this enſuing plaine, unpolliſhed diſcourſe (fitted and intended only for a country Auditory, where it is a commendation to ſpeake in the moſt plain and vulgar terms) which in all humility I preſent unto you (worthy Patriots) not as Patrons, Homo ſum, errare poſſum haereticus eſſe nolo.for if it be the truth of God, as I truſt it is, he is the Patron of it and will defend it: if any errour be found in it, I diſclaim it, and think the work it ſelf too ſlenderly performed, for ſo judicious perſons as you are known to be, but only, as his hand full of water to a great *Artaxerxes.Prince, the widdows mite, a little goats hair, as a Teſtimony of my humble obſervance and thankfull acknowledgement of the unweatied labours, continuall care and zealous endeavours of the Noble Peers and your ſelves for the publick good, as alſo for the particular favour of divers worthy Members of your Houſe towards my ſelf.
And ſurely if it may ſeem good to your grave wiſdomes, to procure and adde theſe things to all the reſt, which are humbly deſired by very many thouſands: To out dumb and ſcandalous Miniſters, ſetle able, godly Paſtors over every Congregation in England and Waies, and comfortably provide for them who (many of them eſpecially in theſe evill times) lye under much diſcouragement and diſtraction through a miſerable incompetency. And provide, That Prieſts and Jeſuits be quite baniſhed the Land. That Papists be fully diſarmed, and conſiderable perſons be fully ſecured, and all the Laws duly executed upon them. That Notorious offenders in Church & Common-wealth whatſoever they be, the Achans that hinder the endeavour of Joſhua and Iſrael, be cenſured and puniſhed according to the qualitie of their crimes. That Idolatry and Superstition, eſpecially the abominable Maſſe be totally rooted out of this Kingdom, for what peace ſo long as the whordomes of Jezabell remains in this Land. That evill Councellors, Rome, Iezabel myſticall, Revel. 2.20. and 18.5.the raiſers and fomenters of the great troubles and diſtempers of the Kingdom, and of the abſence of His Royall Majeſtie from His Parliament, &c. (which all good Subjects are greatly greived to heare) be removed from His Royall Perſon. That diſtreſſed Ireland, whoſe condition is much to be lamented, be ſpeedily relieved with an ample ſupply, where, as here, the blood of many thouſand ſoules cry to Heaven for vengeance, and to you for help againſt the mighty. That the peace of the Kingdom, that the power and priviledges of Parliament, the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject be firmly ſetled. That conſiderable places be fully ſecured by approved men, & ſo trading quickned, to the relief of many thouſands that now languiſh greatly under want. That the bleſſed work of Reformation, with all good ſpeed, go on & be perfected. Vnneceſſary things and Ceremonies be removed. That the Hyerarchy, if it may be proved to be the root of much evil in Church & State may be eradicated, and a Church-government ſetled according to the rule of Gods word. That the Sacrament by ſome good proviſion may be kept frō being polluted by unworthy perſons, and all Ignorant perſons be compelled to learn the grounds of the true Proteſtant Religion. That all ſcandalous Pictures and Images and all other Monuments and Reliques of Idolatry and Superſtition, and particularly Croſſes by the high wayes and in ſuch like places, be (according to a former order of Queen Eliz. injunction) abolliſhed, Injunct. 23.which occaſion much Superſtition, eſpecially in theſe parts, by reaſon of the ignorance of very many, chiefly when they carry their dead by any of them. That whereas there is a great cry and grievous charge againſt the Liturgie of the Church and the Vſers of it, that it cannot be lawfully uſed, yea that it is Superſtitious, Antichriſtian, Idolatrous, and what not? whereby the conſciences of many good and well-affected people, are much troubled, if it may be proved, if not, yet that whatſoever ſhall be proved to be either Superſtitions, unlawfull, and may give juſt offence to tender conſciences, or unneceſſary, your grave wiſdom with the advice of the learned and godly Divines, would be pleaſed with all convenient ſpeed to remove it, and provide that the people might have a ſure rule to walke by in their worſhip of God, that their minds may be ſetled and conſciences quieted to a cheerfull obedience, which would be a great inducement to many to joyne with us, who otherwiſe, I feare, will hardly ever be perſwaded. That Arminianiſme and Socinianiſme, the enemies to free grace, and Romes Coy-ducks to bring in Popery be truly and thoroughly ſuppreſt. That Church Papiſts, the moſt dangerous enemies and underminers of Church and State, may by ſome good proviſion be diſcovered. That You would procure that ſcandalous and Popiſh Magiſtrates that regard not the Execution of Juſtice, be removed, and approved juſt men fearing God and hating covetouſnes and unrighteouſneſſe, be placed in their rooms. That Contemners of your former good Orders be puniſhed. Wakes and unneceſſary Alehouſes and Playhouſes, the very nurſeries of vice and randevouz for all prophane wretches, be ſuppreſſed. That the joynt conſent and happy concurence of the Noble Peers with your Houſe, may be ſtill continued. Eſpecially that they and you would uſe all poſſible means and ſpeed, that His Royall Majeſtie may have a right underſtanding of your juſt deſires and proceedings, and would with the Prince be graciouſly pleaſed to reſide neerer to His Parliament.
All which I mention not to ſhew you what to do, impute not ſuch folly to your humble ſervant, but in all humility to ſpread before your wiſdoms, what is by many thouſands heartily deſired and humbly craved, according as in your pious and deepe wiſdom, ſhall ſeem moſt agreeable to the rules of piety, true chriſtian-prudence and policy, which ſurely will compleat the bleſſed worke of Reformation begun, make this a moſt flouriſhing Church and State, amiable to our God, glorious to our friends, terrible to our enemies, and make you and your Poſterities renowned while this is a Nation.
And becauſe your difficulties be very many and great, therefore heare a word of encouragement from him who greatly honours you and your Aſſembly, and whoſe duty it is ex officio ſpeciali, to teach, inſtruct, exhort, reprove, &c. The cauſe you are about is eminently good and of great importance, God and all good men are on your ſide, and though your adverſaries be many, mighty and politick, yet God, your Maſter whoſe worke you are about, is ſtronger and wiſer then they all, and one Jacob can do more with God for you, then 400. Edomites can do againſt you. And Honoured Worthies you have found God going along with you ſo, ſcattering your enemies, and furthering his worke, even by their wicked plots and oppoſitions, that you ſhould now greatly diſhonour God and the cauſe, if you ſhould ſuffer any thing to diſcourage you, or make you feare the perfecting of the long and much deſired worke of Reformation in its due time, only if Religion and the worſhip of God, and the diſcipline of Jeſus Chriſt be firſt ſetled, then other evills how great ſoever will vaniſh away, till then it cannot certainly be expected.
It is true, it is not poſſible it ſhould be done in a trice, the greatneſſe and exactneſſe of the work, the great deal of rubbiſh in the houſe of God, both wretched perſons and things; and the great oppoſitions which great and good works meet with, muſt of neceſſity make the work long. Wherefore, Noble Senators, arme your ſelves with patience and reſolution, alwayes look as upon the work with one eye, ſo at Gods glory and the publick good and upon Gods power, wiſdom, goodneſſe, promiſe, and faithfullneſſe with the other, and doubt not of a deſired iſſue in due time, which is the humble and hearty deſire of him who is reſolved, to his utmoſt power, and to the laſt breath (God inabling) by all means lawfull to maintain and defend the true reformed Proteſtant Religion, againſt all Popery and Popiſh Innovations, the Kings Majeſties Perſon and Royall Poſterity, the power and Priviledges of Parliament, together with their perſons in all their juſt and good proceedings, the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject, &c. againſt the enemies of God, the King and State, and ſhall till death remain
Your dayly Orator at the Throne of Grace, THO: MOCKET. London Auguſt 3. 1642.