few things that made
them the glory of nations that are turned to a shadow:

"(1.) They were the fruits of many prayers, fasting, tears, wrestling,
and indefatigable labours of the greatest and best men that ever
breathed in our nation, recovering a people sunk into antichristian
darkness, to enjoy liberty due to them by Christ's purchase.

"(2.) The renewing them so many times in old king James's reign spoke
out the fervency of these worthy spirits, in ardour and affection to
them, as so many jewels of so great value, that they were set as gems
and pearls in Christ's crown, to wear so long as his interest remained
in the church.

"(3.) The blessing accompanying the entering unto and renewing these
covenants were so fluent in all church-ordinances, both secret, private
and public, that whatever was planted in so fruitful a soil of such
blessing and influence of the Spirit, could not but grow up as calves in
the stall, fat and full of sap.

"(4.) These covenants were to our forefathers, like the renting of their
own cloths, as Elisha did, and taking up Elijah's mantle, and clothing
themselves with it, 2 Kings ii. 12, 13.; enjoying of Moses's spirit,
Deut. xxiv.; and like Joshua (chap. xxiv.) when dying, leaving a
testimony of remembrance to posterity, by engaging them in these
covenants.

"(5.) So long as our church cleaved to these our covenants, it fell out
with them as it did with king Asa, 2 Chron. xv. 2.; that the Lord was
with them while they were with him. But, our fathers offspring forsaking
God, he forsook them: from that day that our covenants were so
ignominiously treated, unto this day, all calamities as to our religious
concerns have fallen upon us.

"(6.) The late sufferers, of all who shed their hearts blood upon the
fields and scaffolds, imprisonments and banishments, were all dyed with
the crimson blood of the covenant: from that day of the force and fury
of enemies, these solemn vows of our worthy forefathers, and the enemies
taking up Christ's march-stones (which were the bounds set by the Most
High, when he divided to the church of Britain its inheritance, and
separated the sons of Adam, Deut. xxix. 8.), the giddy church straying
in the wilderness is much fallen out of sight either of pillar of cloud
or fire. Our intermixtures are turned pernicious to the glory and honour
of Christ's house which should not be a den of buyers and sellers.
Although the suffering of our late brethren seemed to be