Instruct. 1. and 2.

THat all Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament, doe [...] speciall care speedily to send downe into their severall Counties, a competent number of the copies of the Vow and Covenant, unto the Deputy Lievete­nants and Committees of Parliament, in their severall Counties and re­quire a Certificate from them of the day when they were received, &c. And that the said Deputy Lievtenants and Committees doe within six dayes at the utmost, disperse the said copies unto every Parish Church or Chapell in their severall Counties, &c.

Obser. 1. That these Instructions are not acknowledged to be made or enjoined by either or both Houses of Parliament, only in the frontispice of the paper, wherein they and the Oath are Printed, wee finde an Order mentioned as made by the Lords and Commons, for the Printing and publishing these Instructions to the whole Kingdome. Which to my appre­hension imports, that some private men, or some Parliament men in a private way framed them, and so presented them to the Lords and Commons for their approbation to the printing and publishing of them: and that is all the true power and au­thority they as yet carry in them. But I assure you, whosoever they were that contrived them, they flew very high in their presumption, to make all the Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament, to bee the first Officers in that disparch. I should thinke that where such as they are required to doe ought, there should be at least a Be it enacted by our Sovereigne Lord the King, with the consent of the Lords and Commons, &c. pre­fixed [Page 2] before it, and had the King and the Lords with the con­sent of some of the Knights and Burgesses imposed such an of­fice upon all Knights and Burgesses in Parliament, it would have gone neere to have beene voted an high breach of their priviledges. It were therefore well worth the knowing, who it is that hath gotten this new Sovereignty over all the Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament.

Obser. 2. That the Knights and Burgesses chosen by the se­veral Counties to keepe off all pressures and burdens from them, are heereby made the prime instruments of laying the forest and heaviest burden on them that ever was laid on them since the burdon of the six Articles. Thus doth God, when a­ny trust in the shadow of brambles, not only suffer those bram­bles to plucke off their fleeces and teare their skinnes, but often­times causeth fire to come out of those brambles to devoure them, and the tallest Cedars of Lebanon that are neere them. Did the Knights and Burgesses of the severall Counties seri­ously consider, how many soules will be hazarded by taking this oath thus conveied unto them (as some by taking it doubt­ingly, others by taking it ignorantly, some by taking it pre­sumptuously, others by taking it desperately, and all by taking in sinfully and irreligiously,) they would beware how they had any further hand in this businesse, knowing that they have e­nough to answer, for what they themselves have sworn, with­out bringing upon them the guilt of others fwearing and for­swearing in this dreadfull maner.

Obser. 3. That if any of the Deputy Lievtenants and Com­mittees of Parliament in their severall Counties (such ministers of Justice as were never heard of in any County till this pre­sent Parliament) should have so much bowels and compassion towards the soules of poore people, as to desire to give them some reliefe against this oath, or some respite to bethink them­selves [Page 3] better of it, ere it be tendered to them, they cannot af­foord any ease or time to any soule without danger to them­selves. Should a man compare the liberty granted in former times unto others, through whose hands oathes were to passe, ere they were taken, with the liberty alotted to all those through whose hands this oath is to passe, hee would hardly believe, that the liberty of the Subject is so maintained in any respect, as is pretended, no not in respect of mens consciences, their most precious liberty: nay the liberty and respite granted for the tendring and taking of the late Canonicall oath so much and so justly spoken against, was most gracious and conscien­cious to what this is.

Instruct. 3. The Ministers of the severall Churches or Chapels are to give publicke notice upon the first Lords day after the receipt of such copies &c. What day the said Vow and Covenant shall be taken, the time not to exceed the seventh day after such notice.

Obser. If the copies come to the Ministers hands on the Sa­turday night, hee shall have but very small time, till the next day, to consult with God, the oath, and himselfe, whether it be lawfull for him to invite his people to make such a covenant or not: much lesse hath hee any convenient time to fit and prepare his people for so solemne a businesse. Then if the Mi­nister chance to be a forward man in the promoting it, (as there are not a few forward promoters of Parliament Orders, bee they what they will be) hee may appoint the next day after for the taking it; and cannot, if hee would, deferre it above seven dayes, (the people must not be suffered to chew too long upon it, lest in stead of swallowing it, they nauseat or distast it;) and alas, what resolution or satisfaction in point of conscience, can poore soules, that shall scruple ought in this Covenant, get within so-short a space? You know the fashion of most Coun­try people; they will hardly spare a day to consult the Physi­tion [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 4] in a dangerous disease, till the market day come, that they may doe that and their other businesse together: and tis to bee feared too many of them will as hardly spare a day to consult the Divine, in this desperate case, till the Lords day come, that they may goe to their Church, and to their Minister both at once. Besides, it may be those Ministers whose judgement they desire to heare, are imprisoned, or flying up and downe for fear of imprisonment, many miles from them; and ere they can goe or send to them, their alotted time will be expired: or it may happen that those Ministers, or other knowing friends, to whom they addresse themselves neere hand, may bee so far from satisfying their doubts, that they may cause more to arise in them: yet take it they must within so few daies. Their Mi­nisters themselves, that have the charge of their soules, and must be answerable soule for soule, cannot grant them longer time though it were to save their soules from perishing.

Instruct. 4. and 5. For feare lest at the day appointed some should slip from taking this Oath, or shuffle it over in the taking: tis Ordered, That the Constables in every Parish, shall bring to the Ministers of the Parish, the names fairely written of all men above the age of fifteene, residing with­in their severall Parishes: and a Register Boo [...]e is to bee provided by the Churchwardens, wherein the Covenant is to bee faire written, and every mans name or marke, that takes it, subscribed, after he hath taken it with an audible voice, in the presence of the Ministers, Churchwardens, Side­men, and Constables of each Parish, or two of them, at the least, jointly with the Minister.

Obser. Poore wretches! must the first Sacrament that ma­ny of them take after their Baptisme, be a Sacrament to sweare themselves up to doe that, which in their Baptisme they pro­mised and vowed not to doe? Alas for them! le [...] one of fif­teene or sixteene years be examined through the severall parti­culars of this Vow and Covenant, what he knowes of them, [Page 5] hath done in them, or intends to doe concerning them; and who would not take his word, so far as he is able to give an ac­count, without putting him to his oath? When the Oath of Allegiance was by the King and Parliament to be taken by the Subjects, upon the discovery of as great a plot certainly, as this now so much talked of, viz. the Powder Treason, as they did not in all that oath require any to sweare that they had no hand in it, so, in requiring them to sweare what they did by way of promise for the future, they thought it fit to require none to take that oath under the age of eighteene yeares, though hee were convict or indicted of or for any recusancy; supposing (as by the Statute in that case appeares) that by that age they ought to know what belonged to so solemne an oath, and be­ing then of a convenient age to have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, they concluded they ought to have received it if they had not: but for our younglings in these times (to such maturity of knowledge and judgement are we growne a­bove our fathers) they must be put to take a solemne oath, and enter into a vow and covenant at the age of fifteene, and that such a one as their fathers though of fifty and upwards, do not understand, nor ever heard of the like, for so much as they do understand. And unhappy Ministers, they to whom Chri [...]t hath given such speciall charge, as they love hi [...] [...] his Sheep and his Lambs, they of all others [...] according to those instructions, call to (or stand by as invit [...] whilest others call) those Sheep and Lambs to swallow do [...] that, which will not onely (like that bitter water, [...] the curse in the case of jealousie, too much resembling [...] [...]esent case Num. 5.) cause their bodies to rot, but also [...] some waters that David so sorely complained of [...]) enter in unto their souls, and endang [...] their perishing Chrysostome, as I remem­ber, declames exceedingly aga [...] [...]he tendring oaths to the [Page 6] people by Ministers, for that there is so great perill in taking them; but now Ministers must either tender a most perilous oath (to say the least of it) to their people, or runne the perill of the high displeasure of the two Houses of Parliament, what­soever else betide them. God of his goodnesse stand by his Ministers and encourage them to stand for his Sheepe and his Lambs, that they be not caught in this snare, and not to stand by them, looking on, and helping forward their insnaring.

It is well worthy all Ministers consideration at this time, that the tendring and countenancing this oath is recommen­ded particularly and principally to them, who untill this Par­liament were never wont to be called to any such imployment, at least not so generally, as now they are. It may be God suf­fers this to set before Ministers eyes their late over forward­nesse in imposing a new oath upon their fellow Ministers, and others; and if so, I pray God open their eyes that they may see it; or, which I rather thinke, God is resolved to have Ministers now brought to the test or tryall, whether they of all others love his truth or people entrusted with them, so well, as to dare to be valliant for either: and therefore to prevent all excuse, he will have every Minister, that hath any people committed to hi [...] then to be present when this truth-opposing, soul- [...]azar­ [...]ing covenant is to be tendred to the people, that so hee may prove their courage, whether like magnanimous David kee­ping his fathers she [...]p, they will adventure to encounter with a Lion and a Beare, 1 Sam. 17. rather then suffer one Lambe to be devoured; or like the slothfull coward in the Proverbs, will not thinke it a fair excuse, to say, There is a Lion without, I shall be slaine, &c. and so fit still or runne away▪, and leave their whole flocks to the prey and spoyle of cruell beasts ready to devoure. A good shepheard (saith our great Shepheard) will give his life for his sheep, much much more his living, [Page 7] much more his liberty. And never had good shepheard in this Kingdome such an opportunity to shew his goodnesse in ad­venturing for the safety of his sheep, as at this present; when his very resusing to countenance and assist the destroying of them, may save both them, and himselfe from destruction; for if the Minister refuse to joyne with two of his Parish in the ten­dring of this new oath, all the Parishioners may bee excused from the taking it, till some new order bee made by the two Houses to supply that defect, and by that time God may please to provide some other reliefe. And here I am [...]ld to bee a monitor in particular to those Ministers, who were so [...] cour [...]gious in refusing and petitioning against the late Ca­nonicall oath; let them of all others take heed that they do not destroy those consciences now, which they pretended so zea­lously to preserve then, and with them many thousands more committed to their charge. And for the provision of a Regi­ster booke to record every mans name that shall take this oath, me thinks that strictnesse should rather [...]ar many from taking it, then seduce any to it, considering what a dreadfull and hor­rible record that may prove against the takers when ever the King shall be reestablished in His Throne, which is to be ho­ped, through Gods mercy to this Nation, will not be long.

Instruct. 6. In case my residing in the Parish should faile of taking this oath at the first day appointed, the Minister is required to appoint another day speedily▪ after, and the Churchwardens or some other for them are to goe to their houses and give them personall notice, and if they be not at home to leave the notice with some of the house, and if they come not to take it at that time, they may be returned for refusers of it.

Obser. The starting aside then, or obscuring themselves for a time will advantage but little, only there is one clause in this Instruction which is somewhat favourable to such, and that is the last: That if they come not and take it on the second day appointed, they may be returned for refusers, if the returners [Page 8] please. But I beseech you, what if any man have a just occasi­on to absent himselfe from his place of residence a compleat month together, just, and at that time when the oath is to be taken, so that notice cannot possibly be given him within the time limited by the instructions; whether shall he be taken for a refuser or not, and this may chance to be many an honest mans case, and should be mine, were I not confident of cou­rage enough, through Gods strengthning me, not only to de­ny the taking this oath, but to professe my detestation of it, and to suffer whatsoever shall be inflicted for making such a profes­sion. In the intrim, I cannot but observe what care and paines is taken to gaine proselites, when tis to make them twofold more the children of hell then they were: who can shew when there hath been such care taken to bring men into the Church, who have separated from it, or to bring any that are yet within the Church, to renew their covenant with God in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and to communicate with the congregation in other sacred, though now despised Ordi­nances of God. But with such care and circumspection doth God suffer the tendring this horrid oath to be managed, that he that feareth an oath may bee the better knowne from him that sweareth.

Instruct. 7. It is Ordered, that the Ministers and Church­wardens, shall within twenty dayes after their receipt of the copies of the Vow and Covenant, make a true certificate of the names of all such within their Parishes as doe not take it, unto such persons as shalbe appointed for that purpose.

Obser. Tis presumed you see that all Ministers and Church­wardens will certainly take this Oath themselves, and as cer­tainly betray all their poore Parishioners and neighbours, by a Certificat: for otherwise they would have provided, that some others in every Parish should make this Certificate, in case [Page 9] these should refuse or neglect to do it: or perhaps they thought that there are false brethren enough in every Parish to do that, and to enforme against those that shall be faulty or slacke in prosecuting this or any other of these Instructions. Indeed in one clause of this 7. Instruction, they seem to doubt somewhat of some Ministers forwardnesse in the businesse, whether they would so speed it, as to send in the Certificate within the 20. dayes prescribed, and have made a kinde of proviso in that case, but for the taking the oath, and making a Certificate of those that doe not take it, and observing other instructions re­commended unto them by their order, they would have us be­leeve them to be such for piety and justice, at least that they themselves thinke them such, as no Minister, now they have purged the Church of so many scandalous & malignant Mini­sters, will once sc [...]uple them. Here then again, the Ministers if they dare be so honest and stoo [...], have another advantage to preserve their people for a while, and if the Churchwardens should send in no certificate at all there is no order as yet, for any to returne their names.

Instruct. 8. That all that doe not take this oath be forthwith dis­a [...]med, &c. but perhaps that is done already, and what then? why if it can be proved by any one, unlesse that they had in their custo­dy any armes whatsoever, at the time of the making of this cove­nant, or at any time since, wh [...]ch they sh [...]ll not then deliver to th [...]se appointed to seise the same, then they shall be forthwith committed to prison without bail or manuprise.

Obser. Here is an instruction with a witnesse, any one mans testimony, though a Knight of the Post, or a Gentlem [...]n [...]rom the whipping post, that shall but say, that I had any thing in my house, that he or I know not who else, shall please to call Armes (suppose a birding peece, a stonebow, a pikestate, a pitchforke, a bodking, or a ring, especially with a coat of arms [Page 10] on it) and did not deliver it up to the appointed seisers, shall be of power sufficient to authorise those seisers or any man else, for ought I can see in the instructions to the contrary, to seise upon my person, and clap me into prison without bail or ma­nuprise. Oh the miraculous liberty of the Subject, when not only the Lawes of men are cast off, and laid aside, but the ex­presse Law of God himselfe is made of none effect through [...]; that requi [...]ing, Deut. 19. 15. That one wit­ [...] [...] up against a man for any iniquity or for any [...] [but that] at the mouth of two or three wit­ [...] the [...] shall be established. Whereas here it is or­d [...]d, that any one witnesse rising up against a man, and that ne [...]her for any sinne, nor for any iniquity, shall be of validity to deprive any man of that liberty which many a foule crime cannot legally debarre him of. Here is also an admirable de­vice to plunder all Cutlers and Armorers of all their lively­hood at once, and had it beene thought on in time, it might have stopt some of their clamouring for want of their monyes promised them for swords, pistols, and other Armes. And I hope now, Popish Recusants will not take it ill to be disarmed of all their Armes by act of Parliament, when an instruction shall disarme all pious recusants of an impious Covenant▪ Look to thy selfe O Israel, the Philistimes had once like to have rui­ned thee with this very tricke, when in the day of battell there was neither sword nor speare found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Ionathan, 1 Sam. 15. and tis no very hard matter to cut a mans throat when hee hath nothing wherewith to desend himselfe.

Instruct. 9. That no souldier entertained shall receive ann pay from the State, untill they have in the presence of their Comman­der, and some Minister taken the Vow and Couenant.

Obser. A most rare antidote against the infectious complai­ning [Page 11] of the Parliament souldiers for want of pay; they must now pawne their soules, as they have a long time ventured their bodies, and swear a little deeper then any Cavaliers dare sweare ere they get a penny of all their arreere: and when they have sworne, the same Minister that encouraged them to take this oath, or tendered it to them, can, and tis likely will upon better grounds assure them that after they have taken it, they are obliged thereby to goe on in that service, though they never receive any pay at all. There is not here as you see, any hope left for any to evade either the taking this oath or the being throughly tryed and knowne, whether hee will take it or not. And if it he not taken you may descry a likelyhood of mischiefe enough intended to the refusers, and if it be taken, what woes, what miseries, what judgements, what torments of soules and consciences, either here, or hereafter, or both the ta­kers thereof will plunge themselves in, or make themselves liable unto, no tongue can expresse, though there is enough expressed in a few words by two of the Prophets, Malacie and Zacharie, to make any takers of this new oath to tremble at the very reading of it, con­sult the words, I beseech you, Mal. 3. 5. and Zac. 5. 2, 3, 4.

Into what a sad condition then, will the imposing this new Co­venant cast thousands, and ten thousands of poore soules through­out rhis miserable Kingdome? Fear and the pit, and the snare (as once the Prophet Esay spake) are upon thee, O inhabitant [of this Nation.] He that flyeth from the noise of the feare, shall fall into pit, and he that commeth up out of the middest of the pit shall bee taken in the snare. If men doe not take this oath the feare of being plundered, imprisoned, and utterly ruined in their estates, will seise upon them, there is the feare; if they do take this oath, the guilt of Gods displeasure against rebellion, treason, and perjury, that swal­lowes them up, there is the pit: and whether they take it or take it not, they themselves are taken, there is the snare. Now hee that flyeth from the noise of that feare, so as to rush into the new cove­nant [Page 12] (as multitudes are likely to doe) he cannot but fall into the pit of Gods displeasure, and if then through Gods mercy, one deep calling upon another, he chance to recover out of that pit by con­fessing his sin, and humbling his soule for it, and so returne to his former duty towards God, and his Vicegerent, then he is sure to be maligned and persecuted (perhaps more then if he had never ta­ken this oath) by them that persist in their iniquity, and whatsoever he doth, he is sure to be undone. Oh the matchlesse cruelty of this mercilesse Oath. In all former Orders and Ordinances they did but angle for us, as the Prophet complained of some Hab. 1. 15. my meaning is, they caught but here and there one of us; but by this order they intend to catch us all as in a net, and to gather us together as in a drag. All the heavy impositions, taxes, plunderings, rapines, and other grievous oppressions, whereby mens estates have been exhausted, all the lies, slanders, and false accusations, whereby mens good names have been blasted, and all the restraints, imprisonments, and other illegall and unchristian pursutes, where­with mens bodies have been vexed, are not to be named the same age with this one act of cruelty to mens soules; so much the more cruell because the cruelty is the lesse discernable being maskt with the pretence of Religion, like those poysons that looke fairest, and kill soonest and surest. How fitly may that pious wish of Hilary against Constantius be now taken up by every sufferer in this cause, O that thou, who art the Omnipotent God, Creator of all things, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wouldst have been pleased to have ordered my age and time▪ that I might have fulfilled this of­fice of making this my confession of thee and thine only Son (for this truth, which I suffer for, is thine and thy Sons as well as any truth whats [...]ever) in the times of Nero or Decius; for then my happy fight or combat had beene against such absolute enemies, that no doubt would have been made, but that they were persecu­tors, which would with tortures, sword and fire compell mee to [Page 13] deny thee; neither needed we then to do more to approve our selves to thee, then to suffer death for thee. We Christians were wont to fight openly and boldly against those that openly deny thee, and tor­ment and slay those that are thine: and if our case were such now, thy people would accompany us as their Captaines and leaders, in ma­king the like religious confession with us: but we fight against a close deceitfull persecuter, against a fawning enemy, against an enemy that doth not openly threaten fire and fagget, but privately kindle hell fire against us, that doth not intend to overcome but to domineere, that confesseth thy Christ that he may deny him, that pretends to procure unity or association that there may be peace, that suppresseth Heresies that there may be no Christians, that honours Priests that there may be no Bishops, &c. And how well may others be admo­nished in this case, as the wise man counselleth his son, Proverb. 1. My son if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for bloud, let us lurke privily for the innocent without cause: let us swallow them alive as the grave, and whole as those that goe downe into the pit. We shall finde all pretious sub­stance wee shall fill our houses with spoyle &c. And high time it is for all honest men to take up that prayer of David, Psal. 17. Here the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, &c. And till God shall heare this prayer, let all wait with patience, & suffer with courage; let us neither be over carefull for the things fo this life, nor over fearfull to part with them, and life, and all for truth and righteousnesse sake: Let us remember, that when men revile us, and persecute us, and speake all manner of evill against us falsely for Christ, then we are blessed, and therefore have cause to rejoyce, and be exceeding glad, knowing that great is our reward which is in heaven. Let us in a word, not feare them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but let us fear him which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell. From whence, and from all things leading thereunto, especially from this new Oath, Vow and Covenant, Good Lord deliver us.