And having done all toflaw'. 3 '7 5 merly fouldiers ufed to take an oath not to flinch from their colours, but faithfully to cleave to their Leaders, this they cal- led Sacrament ummilitary, a military oath. Such an oath lies upon every Chriftian. It is fo effential to the being of a Saint, that they are defcribed by this, Pfal: 5°, 5, Gather my Saints together, thofe that have made aCovenant :with me. We are nor Chriflians, till we have fubfcribed this Covenant, and that with out any refervation. Whenwe take upon us the Profeflion of Chriflas Name, we lift our (elves in his [1-miter-roll, and by it do promife, that we will live and die with him in oppofition to all his enemies. Every Nation Will calk in the name of his God, and We will oalkin the Name of our God; and what is it to walk in the Nameof our God, but to fight under the banner of his Gofpel, wherein his Name is difplayed, by giving an eternal defiance to fin and Satan? If a Captain had not fuch a tie on `his fouldiers, he might have them to leek when the day of bat- tel comes : therefore Chrift tells us upon what termes he will enroll us among his difciples: Ifany man Will be mydifciple, let him deny himfelf, and take np his Croffe, and follow me. He will not entertainus, till we refign up our (elves freely to his dif- pofe, that there may be no difputing with his commands after- wards, but as one underhis authority, go and come at his word. Secondly, perfeverance is neceffary, becaufeour enemy per- t feveres to oppofe us. There is no truce in the devils heart, no ceffation of armes in our enemies camp. If an enemy continue to aflault a City, and they within ceafe to refill, it is eafle to tell what will follow: The Prophet that was fent to Bethel did his errand well, withftood 7eroboarns temptation, but in his way home was drawn slide by the old Prophet, and at fall (lain by a Lion. Thus many flie from one temptation, but not perlevering are vancluifIft by another, thofe that at one time efcape his fword, at another time are (lain by it. 704was hopeful when young, but it lafted not long. Yea, many precious fervants of God, not making filch vigorous refiflance in their laftdayes as in their first, have fallen foully, as we fee in Solomon, ilia, and others. Indeed it is hard when a line is drawn to a great length, to keep it fo ftreight that it slacken not, and to hold a thing lono b in our hand, and not to have a nurnbneffe grow in our
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