honour it so much, it
was not to continue, it was not worthy of an oath of His; but to the
Covenant of Grace, which is the Gospel, He swears, and repents not of
it. God swears for the salvation of men, and of kingdoms: and if
kingdoms swear, what subject of an oath becometh them better than the
preservation and salvation of kingdoms, by establishing the kingdom of a
Saviour amongst them, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who is a
Mediator and Saviour for nations as well as particular persons?

The end also is great and honourable, as either of the former. "Two are
better than one," saith He, Who knoweth what is best, and from Whom
alone every thing hath the goodness it hath. Association is of divine
offspring; not only the being of creatures, but the putting of them
together. The cluster as well as the grape is the work of God. Consort
and harmony amongst men, especially amongst saints, is very pleasing
unto the Lord. If, when but two or three agree and assent upon any thing
on earth, it shall be confirmed in heaven, and for this, because they
gather together in His name; much more when two or three kingdoms shall
meet, and consent together in His name, and for His name, that God "may
be one, and His name one amongst them," and His presence amidst them.
That prayer of Christ seemeth to proceed from a feeling sense of His own
blessedness, "Father, that they may be one, as Thou in Me." Unity among
His churches and children must needs therefore be very acceptable unto
Him: for out of the more deep sense desires are fetcht from within us,
the more pleasing will be the answer of them unto us. Churches and
kingdoms are near to God, His patience towards them, His compassions
over them more than particular persons sheweth it plainly. But kingdoms
willingly engaging themselves for His kingdom, His Christ, His saints,
the purity of religion, His worship and government, in all particulars,
and in all humility sitting down at His feet to receive the law, and the
rule from His mouth: what a price doth He set upon such? Especially,
when (as we this day) sensible of our infirmity, and of an unfaithful
heart not steady with our God, but apt to start from the cause, if we
feel the knife or the fire; who bind ourselves with cords, as a
sacrifice to the horns of the altar; we invocate the name of the great
God, that His vows, yea, His curse may be upon us, if we do not this;
yea, though we suffer for so doing, that is, if we endeavou