_Obj._ But what, if the exorbitances be purged away, may not I, notwithstanding my oath, admit of a regulated prelacy? _Ans._ 1. We swear not against a government that is not. 2. We swear against the evils of every government; and doubtless many materials of prelacy must of necessity be retained, as absolutely necessary. 3. Taking away the exorbitances, the remaining will be a new government, and no prelacy. _Obj._ For the discovery of all malignants, all that have been; whether, if I have a friend, that hath been a malignant, and is now converted, am I bound to discover him? _Ans._ This his malignity, was either before the covenant, or since; if before, no. For then this league had no being, and a _non-ens_ can have no contrariety. If since, the discovery must be at the first appearance of malignity, whilst he is so. _Obj._ What if one make a party to uphold prelacy, whilst it stands by law, must I oppose him, or discover him by virtue of this oath? Doth the oath bind me to oppose legal acts? _Ans._ i. Quer. Whether there be any particular law for prelacy? 2. Quer. Whether the making a party be legal? 3. Quer. Whether any thing, the extirpation of which is sworn by an ordinance of parliament, can be said to stand by law? These are some queries I have met with. I heartily wish that the same tenderness of conscience in all things may be seen, which if not, it will hardly be called a scruple of tenderness, but a cavil of malignity. What now remains but only prayers, that the great God of our judgments and consciences, would so clear and satisfy our souls in these leagues and bonds, that without reluctancy we may all swear to God, and, having sworn, we may have a care to keep the oath inviolable; that as once Israel, so all England may rejoice because of the oath: and God may be established, and His kingdom settled; that His presence may dwell among men, and His protection among the sons of men; that He may be near in our covenanting, found in our prayers, and give us rest; and that we being engaged, may live to Him, and not to others, henceforth and for ever. THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT: SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. _BY JOSEPH CARYL.[12]_ "And because of all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it." --_Nehemiah_ ix. 38. The general subject of this verse, is the special business of this day. A solemn engagement to the Lord, and among ourselves, in a sure covenant. Wherein we may consider these five things. _First_, The nature of a covenant, from the whole. _Secondly_, The grounds of a covenant, from those words, "because of all this." _Thirdly_, The property of a covenant, in that epithet, Sure--"we make a sure covenant."