4. The whole land is bound by the covenant and solemn engagement not to
associate with the malignant party. _Ergo_, It is as sinful for the people
to join with them as for the magistrate to employ them. Are we not all
bound by covenant, to endeavour to bring malignants to condign punishment,
and to look on them as enemies? And is not conjunction and confederacy
with them, on the people's part, as inconsistent in its own nature with
that duty, as the magistrate's employing them is inconsistent with his
covenanted duty? When all the people did solemnly engage themselves not to
join any more with the people of these abominations, was the meaning of
it, we shall not join until our rulers join first, or, we shall not join
with them in an ill cause? No indeed, but, we shall not employ them in a
good cause, or join with any party of them in it. If that engagement be
upon every one in their station, let us consider what every man's station
in the work is. The ruler's station and calling is to choose instruments,
and levy forces for the defence thereof. The subjects station and calling
is, to concur in that work, by rising in defence of the cause and kingdom.
Now, what did the subject then engage unto? Certainly, unless we mock God,
we must say, that as the magistrate engaged not to employ that ungodly
generation in a good cause, so the subject engaged not to join with any
such party even in a good cause. If this be not the meaning of our
engagements and vows, we see not how the subjects are in capacity to break
them, as to that precise point of association.

In sum, All the reasons that are brought to prove the unlawfulness of the
public resolutions, may with a little variation be proportionably applied
to this present question. Therefore we add no more but a word to an
objection or two.

_Objection 1_. A necessary duty, such as self preservation is, cannot be
my sin. But it is the subject's necessary duty to rise in defence of the
kingdom. _Ergo_,

_Answer_. A necessary duty cannot be a sin in itself, but it may be a sin
in regard of some circumstances, in which it ceases to be a necessary
duty. It is a necessary duty to defend the kingdom. But it is neither a
duty nor necessary to do it in such a conjunction and fellowship, but
rather a sin. If I cannot preserve myself, but by an unlawful mean, then
self preservation in such circumstances is not my duty.

_Objection 2_. Jonathan did assist Saul in a war against the Phili