's Majesty's person
and estate_, (as is expressed in the National Covenant,) _the glory of
God, the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ; the honor
and happiness of the King's Majesty and his posterity, and the public
liberty, safety, and peace of the kingdoms_, as it is expressed in the
Solemn League. And in the _form_ of them there are clauses expressing
their perpetuity. In the National covenant it is said, _that the present
and succeeding generations in this land are bound to keep the foresaid
National Oath and Subscription inviolable_. And in the Solemn League,
Article 1, _That we and our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live
in faith and love_. And Art. 5, _That they may remain conjoined in a
firm peace and union to all posterity_.

We may add also the sanctions of rewards and punishments descending to
posterity, prove the obligation perpetual: Which is, alas! too visible
in our case as to the punishments inflicted for the breach of our
covenants, and like to be further inflicted, if repentance prevent not;
so that as we have been a taunting proverb, and an hissing, for the
guilt, we may look to be made a curse and an execration for the
punishment of it. The distinction which some make use of to elude this
obligation, "That suppose they be materially bound, yet seeing they have
not sworn the covenants personally, they are not formally bound," is
both false and frivolous; for our father's oath having all the aforesaid
qualifications, binds us formally as an oath, though we have but
virtually sworn it; and whether the obligation be material or formal,
implicit or explicit, it is all one in God's sight, if it be real,
seeing even virtual obligations have frequently brought rewards and
punishments upon the head of the observers or breakers of them, as well
as formal. Seeing, then, the obligation of the covenant upon us is
evident to a demonstration, it cannot, in justness, be called a
rebellious action against lawful authority, to declare in our station
that we believe so much and resolve to practice accordingly. It is
indeed too true that the wicked laws enacting the perpetual breaches of
these covenants have never been rescinded; but seeing they are wicked
and opposite to the commandment and covenant of the Lord, the supreme
legislator, they are naturally void and null, and have been still so
esteemed by us.

_Object_. 3. "Albeit the National Covenant should be granted to be
binding upon us the