shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our Vocation and Power all the dayes of our lives under the pains contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of Gods fearful Judgement And seing that many are stirred up by Satan and that Roman Antichrist to promise swear subscribe and for a time use the Holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully against their own Consciences minding thereby first under the external Cloak of Religion to corrupt and subvert secretly Gods true Religion within the Kirk and afterward when time may serve to become open Enemies and Persecutors of the same under vain hope of the Popes Dispensation devised against the Word of God to his greater confusion and their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus We therefore willing to take away all suspicion of Hypocrisie and of such double dealing with God and His Kirk Protest and call The Searcher of all hearts for witness that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this Our Confession Promise Oath and Subscription so that We are not moved for any worldly respect but are perswaded only in Our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion printed in Our Hearts by the Holy Spirit as we shall answer to Him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceive that the quietness and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of * The lawfully established Suprem Magistrat the Kings Majesty as upon a comfortable Instrument of Gods Mercy granted to this Country for the maintaining of this Kirk and ministration of Justice amongst us we protest and promise with our Hearts under the same Oath Hand-writ and Pains that we shall defend his Person and Authority with our goods bodies and lives in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Countrey ministration of Justice and punishment of Iniquity against all Enemies within this Realm or without as we desire our God to be a strong and merciful Defender to us in the day of our death and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory Eternally Like as many Acts of Parliament not only in general do abrogate annul and rescind all Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons civil or municipal with all other Ordinances and practick Penalties whatsoever made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professors thereof Or of the true Kirk discipline Jurisdiction and Freedom thereof Or in favours of Idolatry and Superstition Or of the Papistical Kirk As Act. 3. Act. 13. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12 of King James the sixth That Papistry and Superstition may be utterly suppressed according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament repeated in the 5. Act. Parl. 20. King James 6th And to that end they ordain all Priests to be punished by manifold Civil and Ecclesiastical pains as Adversaries to Gods true Religion preached and by Law established within this Realm Act 24. Parl. 11. King James 6th As common Enemies to all Christian Government Act 18. Parl. 16. King James 6th As Rebellers and Gain-standers of our Soveraign Lords Authority Act 47. Parl. 3. K. James 6. And as Idolaters Act 104. Parl. 7. King James 6. But also in particular by and attour the Confession of Faith do abolish and condemn the Popes Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land and orders the Maintainers thereof to be punished Act 2. Parl 1. Act 51. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act 114. Parl. 12. King James 6. Do condemn the Popes erroneous Doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian Religion publickly preached and by Law established in this Realm And ordains the spreaders and makers of Books or Libels or Letters or Writs of that nature to be punished Act 46. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. King James 6. Do condemn all Baptism conform to the Popes Kirk and the Idolatry of the Mass and ordains all Sayers wilful hearers and concealers of the Mass the mantainers and resetters of Priests Jesuits traffiquing Papists to be punished without any exception or restriction Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 120. Parl. 12. Act 164. Parl. 13. Act 193. Parl. 14. Act 1. Parl. 19. Act 5. Parl. 20. K. James 6. Do condemn all erroneous Books and Writes containing erroneous Doctrine against the Religion presently professed or maintaining superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papistical whereby the People are greatly abused and ordaines the home bringers of them to be punished Act 25 Parl 11 K. James 6 do condemn the monuments and dregs of by gone Idolatry as going to the Crâ—sses observing the Festival dayes of the Saints and such other superstitious and Papistical Rites to the dishonour of God contempt of true Religion and fostering of great errour among the People and ordains the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters Act 104 Parl 7 K James 6. Like as many Acts of Parliament are conceaved for maintenance of Gods true and Christian Religion and the purity thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God the liberty and freedom thereof in her National Synodal Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions Policy Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof as that purity of Religion and liberty of the Church was used professed exercised preached and confessed according to the Reformation of Religion in this Realm As for instance The 99 Act Parl 7 Act 23 Parl 11 Act 114 Parl 12 Act 160 Parl. 13. of King James 6. Ratified by the 4 Act of King Charles 1. So that the 6 Act Parl. 1. and 68 Act Parl. 6. of K. James 6. in the year of God 1579. Declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangel whom God of His Mercy had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and Administration of the Sacraments and the people that professed Christ as He was then offered in the Evangel and doth communicate with the Holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirks of this Realm they were publickly administrat according to the Confession of Faith to be the True and Holy Kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realm and decerns and declares all and sundry who either gain-sayes the Word of the Evangel received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith professed in Parliament in the year of God 1560. Specified also in the first Parliament of K. James 6. And ratified in this present Parliament more particularly do specifie or that refuses the administration of the Holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to be no Members of the said Kirk within this Realm and true Religion presently professed so long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christs Body And the subsequent Act 69. Parl. 6. of K. James 6. declares That
there is none other Face of Kirk nor other Face of Religion than was presently at that time by the favour of God established within this Realm which therefore is ever stilled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true and Christian Religion and a perfect Religion Which by manifold Acts of Parliament all within this Realm are bound to subscribe the Articles thereof the Confession of Faith to recant all Doctrine and Errors repugnant to any of the said Articles Act 4 and 9 Parl. 1. Act 45 46 47. Parl. 3. Act 71. Parl. 6. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. Act 123. Par. 12. Act 194 and 197. Parl. 14. of K. James 6. And all Magistrates Sherifs c. On the one part are ordained to search apprehend and punish all Contraveeners For instance Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 104. Parl. 7. Act 25. Parl. 11. K. James 6. And that notwithstanding of the King's licences on the contrary which are discharged and declared to be of no force in so far as they tend in any wayes to the prejudice and hinderance of the execution of the Acts of Parliament against Papists and Adversaries of true Religion Act 106. Parl. 7. K. James 6. On the other part in the 47. Act Parl. 3. K. James 6. It is declared and ordained seing the cause of God's true Religion and his Highness Authority are so joyned as the hurt of the one is common to both And that none shall be reputed as Loyal and Faithful Subjects to our Soveraign Lord or his Authority but be punishable as Rebellers and Gain-standers of the same who shall not give their Confession and make their profession of the said true Religion and that they who after defection shall give the Confession of their Faith of new they shall promise to continue therein in time coming to maintain our Soveraign Lords Authority and at the uttermost of their power to fortifie assist and maintain the true Preachers and Professors of Christs Evangel against whatsoever Enemies and Gain-standers of the same And namely against all such of whatsoever Nation Estate or Degree they be that have joyned and bound themselves or have assisted or assists to set forward and execute the cruel Decrees of Trent contrary to the Preachers and true Professors of the Word of God which is repeated word by word in the Article of Pacification at Perth the 23 of Febr 1572. Approved by Parliament the last of April 1573. Ratified in Parliament 1587. And related Act 123. Parl. 12. of K. James 6. with this addition That they are bound to resist all treasonable Uproars Hostilities raised against the true Religion the Kings Majesty and the true Professors Likeas all Liedges are bound to maintain the Kings Majesties Royal Person and Authority the Authoritie of Parliaments without the which neither any Laws or lawful Judicatories can be established Act 130. Act 131. Parl. 8 K. James 6. And the Subjects Liberties who ought only to live and be governed by the Kings Laws the common Laws of this Realm allanerly Act 48. Parl. 3. K. James the first Act 79. Parl. 6. K. James 4. repeated in the Act 131. Parl. 8. King James 6. Which if they be innovated or prejudged the Commission anent the Union of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England which is the sole Act of the 17. Parl. of King James the 6. Declares such Confusion would ensue as this Realm could be no more a free Monarchy because by the fundamental Laws ancient Priviledges Offices and Liberties of this Kingdom not only the Princely Authority of his Majesties Royal descent hath been these many Ages maintained but also the Peoples security of their Lands Livings Rights Offices Liberties and Dignities preserved and therefore for the preservation of the said true Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom it is statute by the 8 Act Parl. 1. repeated in the 99 Act Parl. 7. ratified in the 23 Act Parl. 11. and 114. Act Parl. 12. of K. James 6 4 Act of K. Charles 1. That all Kings and Princes at their Coronation and Reception of their Princely Authority shall make their faithful Promise by their Solemn Oath in the presence of the Eternal God That during the whole time of their Lives they shall serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of their power according as He has required in His most Holy Word contained in the Old and New Testament And according to the same Word shall maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus the Preaching of His Holy Word the due and right ministration of the Sacraments now received and preached within this Realm according to the Confession of Faith immediatly preceeding and shall abolish and gain-stand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall rule the People committed to their charge according to the Will and Command of God revealed in His foresaid Word and according to the laudable Laws and Constitutions received in this Realm no wayes repugnant to the said Will of the Eternal God and shall procure to the uttermost of their power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect peace in all time coming And that they shall be careful to root out of their Empire all Hereticks and Enemies to the true Worship of God who shall be convicted by the true Kirk of God of the foresaid crimes which was also observed by * K. Charles the first his Majesty at his Coronation in Edinburgh 1633. As may be seen in the order of the Coronation In obedience to the Commandment of GOD conform to the practice of the Godly in former times and according to the Laudable Example of our Worthy and Religious Progenitors which was warranted also by Act of Council commanding a general Band to be made and subscribed by his Majesties Subjects of all Ranks for two causes One was For defending the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above-written and a former large Confession established by sundry Acts of lawful General Assemblies and of Parliaments unto which it hath relation set down in publick Catechisms and which had been for many years with a Blessing from Heaven preached professed in this Kirk and Kingdom as Gods undoubted Truth grounded only on His written Word The other cause was for maintaining the Kings Majesty his Person and Estate The true worship of God and the Kings Authority being so straitly joyned as that they had the same Friends and common Enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our minds and confessing with our mouths that the present and succeeding Generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid National Oath and Subscription inviolable We under-subscribing considering divers times before and especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion * His Highness's honour by whose noble enterprise so signally countenanced of the Lord we have obtained this reviving in our bondage of the Kings
honour and of the publick peace of the Kingdom By the manifold innovations and evils generally contained and particularly mentioned in Supplications Complaints and Protestations †Remonstrances Declarations Testimonies of old and of late Do hereby profess and before God His Angels and the World solemnly declare That with our whole Hearts we agree and resolve all the dayes of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true Religion and forbearing the practice of all Novations ‡ Former or latter introduced in the matter of the Worship of God or approbation of the corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk or civil places and power of Kirk-men * Or any other Corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk Prelatick or Erastian either tried or to be tried till they be tryed and allowed in free Assemblies and in Parliaments to labour by all means lawful to recover the Purity Liberty of the Gospel as it was established professed before the foresaid Novations And because after due examination We plainly perceive undoubtedly believe that the Innovations evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations †Remonstrances Declarations and Testimonies have no warrand of the word of God are contrary to the Articles of the foresaid Confessions to the intention and meaning of the blessed Reformers of Religion in this Land to the above written Acts of Parliament and do sensibly tend to the Re-establishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny and to the subversion and ruine of the true reformed Religion and of our Liberties Laws and Estates We also declare that the foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted and ought to be understood of the foresaid Novations and Evils no less than if every one of them had been expressed in the foresaid Confessions and that we are obliged to detest and abhore them as well as the particular heads of Papistry abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and Conscience of our duty to God to * The Government and Countrey our King and Countrey without any worldly respect or inducement so far as humane infirmity will suffer wishing a further measure of the Grace of God for this effect We promise and swear by the Great Name of the Lord our God to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the foresaid Religion That we shal defend the same and resist all these contrary Errors and Corruptions according to our Vocation and to the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life And in like manner with the same heart We declare before God and Men That We have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turn to the dishonour of God or to the diminution of the †The Civil Magistrates Kings Greatness and Authority But on the contrary we promise and swear that we shall to the uttermost of our power with our means and lives stand to the defence of ‡ His Highness his Person and Authority when lawfully chosen and established as King or Suprem Magistrate over us our dread Soveraign the Kings Majesty his Person and Authority in the Defence and Preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom As also to the mutual defence and assistance every one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion and his Majesties Authority with our best counsel our Bodies our Means and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsomever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in general and to every one of us in particular And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever Suggestion allurement or terror from this Blessed and Loyal Conjunction nor shall cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends But on the contrary shall by all lawful means labour to further and promote the same and if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by word or writ We and every one of Us shall suppress it or if need be shall incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously obviated Neither do we fear the foul aspersions of Rebellion Combination or what else our Adversaries from their craft or malice would put upon us seing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfeigned desire to maintain the true Worship of God * Honour of the Government the Majesty of our King and peace of the Kingdom for the common happiness of our selves and the posterity And because we cannot look for a Blessing from God upon our preceedings except with our Profession and Subscription we joyn such a Life and Conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God We therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all other under us both in publick in our particular Families and personal carriage to endeavour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian liberty and to be good Examples to others of all Godliness Soberness and Righteousness and of every duty we owe to God and Man And that this our Union and Conjunction may be observed without violation we call the Living God the Searcher of our Hearts to witness who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfaigned Resolution As We shall answer to Jesus Christ in the Great Day and under the pain of Gods Everlasting Wrath and of Infamy and loss of all honour and respect in this World. Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to bless our Desires and Proceedings with a happy success that Religion and Righteousness may flourish in the Land to the Glory of God the honour †Of our Soveraigns of the King and peace and comfort of us all In witness whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the Premisses c. This Article of the Covenant which was at the first Subscription ‡ Anno 1638. referred to the determination of the General Assembly being determined and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth the Government of the Kirk by Bishops the Civil places and power of Kirkmen upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Assembly declared to be unlawful within this Kirk We subscribe according to the determination foresaid A SOLEMN LEAGUE and COVENANT For Reformation and Defence of Religion WE Having before our Eyes the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ * The establishment preservation of the Government the Honour and Happiness of the Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to mind
the tracherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and excercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the * Distressed dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies we have now at last †After all the Supplications Remonstrances Protestations Sufferings of our Fathers and our own Grievous Sufferings and Contendings after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestation Suffering for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods People in other Nations ‡ After all the maturity of deliberation that our circumstances could allow after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a muâ—ual and Solemn League and Covenant Wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the Most High God do Swear 1. That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies The Reformation in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-goverment by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanness and whatsoever shall be found to be contraâ—y to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness Lest we partake in other Mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and His Name one in the three Kingdoms 3. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdom And to preserve and defend * The Civil Magistrates Person and Authority the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdoms That the World may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intention to diminish his just power and greatness 4. We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing †Between the Magistrate and Subjects the King from his People or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant That they may be brought to publick trial and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And wherâ—as the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Pregenitors is by the good Providence of God granted unto and ‡ Was in the dayes of our Fathers concluded hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliamen's We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain ‡ As they were then conjoyned in a firm Peace Union to all Posterity and that Justice may be done upon the wilful Opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article 6. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof And shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever Combination Perswasion or Terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the Glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and honour †Of the Government of the King But shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of God. And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Jesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distress and dangers the fruits thereof We profess and declare before God and the World our unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our Lives which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us and our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power charge both in publick and in private in all duties we ow to God and Man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation That the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and Peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same As we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to bless our desires and proceedings with such success as may be a deliverance and safety to his People and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or
secret thoughts which no law of Man can reach yet in our day extorted by threatnings of Torture and Death if they were not discovered in Answers to our persecuters impertinent questions In all which impositions on our Liberties as men we have too stupidly couched under all burdens and complyed with them The Churches Liberties have also been invaded by the Ecclesiastical Supremacy declared by a Blasphemous Law inherent in the Crown and by an Absolute Power which all were required to obey without reserve which are horrid encroachments on the incommunicable Prerogatives of JEHOVAH and His CHRIST as only King and Head of His Church And yet these have been established and homologated by our several involvements in the sin of Prelacy and its attending Patronages robbing the Church of the Liberty of election of Pastors Indulgence and Tolleration to the prejudice of and without a Witness for the Churches Liberties In that same Article we are bound also to preserve and defend the supreme Magistrates Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms As in the National Covenant is expressed likewise to defend his Person and Authority in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Country Ministration of Justice and punishment of iniquity and stand to his defence in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom As the Duty is qualified in Scriptures 2 Sam 5 3 2 Kings 11 17 1 Kings 12 16 2 Chron 26 16 21 Rom 13 3 4 1 Pet 2 14. But as our Fathers in their acknowledgement had reason to say Neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might harden the King in his evil way But upon the Contrary he hath not only been permitted but many of us have been Instrumental to make him exercise his Power in many things tending to the prejudice of Religion and of the Covenant and of the Peace and Safety of these Kingdoms Which is so far from the right way of preserving his Majesties Person and Authority that it cannot but provoke the Lord against him unto the hazard of both Nay under a pretence of relieving and doing for the King whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the House of God some have ranversed and violated most of all the Articles of the Covenant So in our unhappy dayes it is our Sin Shame and Sorrow that we have had to do with men mounted on a Throne of iniquity that have been subverting Religion and Persecuting it designing to introduce Poperie it self and Slaverie Destroying our Liberties Suppressing the Evangel and Oppressing its Professors Enacting and Executing manifest Injustice stoping the Ministration of Justice against Idolaters Adulterers Murderers and other Malifactors and and punishing Equity and Duty instead of Iniquity arrogating and obtaining a Monstrous Prerogative above all Rights and Priviledges of Parliament all Laws all Liberties a power to Tyrannize as be lists without control But as it was our Fathers sin to inaugurate the late King after such discoveries of his Hypocritical emnity to Religion and Liberty upon his subscription of the Covenant So when he burnt and buried that Covenant and degenerate into manifest Tyrannie and had razed the very foundation upon which both his Right to govern and the Peoples Allegiance were founded and remitted the Subjects Allegiance by annulling the Bond of it We sinned in continuing still to own his Authority when opposite to and destructive of Religion and Liberty And many in swearing the Oath of Allegiance including also the Supremacy with the boundless Prerogatives without any Restrictions or Qualifications when all the Authority he had was engaged and exerted in a Rebellion against GOD forgetting foregoing and disowning these Limitations in the Covenant And in putting in his Interest with the Application of the words of the Covenant to him thô stated in opposition to it in the state of the quarrel in our Declarations of war at Pentland and Bothuel-Bridge for which the LORD put us to shame and went not out with our Armies Again we desire to confess and mourn over this as the sin of the Land and breach of Covenant that the Duke of York hath been admitted to the exercise of the Royal Office against the Laws of GOD and man being incapable of the Covenants qualifications of a Magistrate and being a Papist incapable of taking the Oath of Coronation to maintain the True Protestant Religion and abolish and gainstand Popery which for the preservation of the true Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom is statute by the 8 Act Parl 1 K Jam 6 That all Kings at the Reception of their Princely Authority shall take and swear Yet his Authority thô inconsistent with and declaredly opposite to Religion and Liberty hath been owned and upheld by paying the Cess and Supplies expresly exacted for maintaining Tyrannie in the destruction of Religion and Liberty Our own Consciences within and Gods Judgements upon us without do convince us of the manifold wilful renewed Breaches of the Fourth Article which concerneth the discovery of Malignants consonant to the Scriptures 2 Sam 23 6 Esther 7 5 6 Psal 26 5 6 Psal 101 8 Prov 25 5 For their Crimes have not only been connived at but dispensed with and pardoned and themselves received into intimate Fellowship and entrusted with Counsels admitted into Parliaments and put in places of Power and Authority for managing the publick Affairs of the Kingdom whereby in Gods Justice they got at last into their hands the whole power and Strength of the Kingdom both in Judicatories and Armies and did imploy the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful Engagement in War against the Kingdom of England Notwithstanding of the discent of many considerable Members of Parliament who had given constant proof of their integrity in the Cause from the beginning Of many faithful Testimonies and free Warnings of the Servants of God of the Supplications of many Synods Presbyteries and Shires And the Declarations of the General Assembly and their Commissioners to the Contrary Which Engagement as it was the Cause of much Sin so also of much Miserie and Calamity unto this Land and held forth the grieveousness of our sin in Complying with Malignants in the greatness of our Judgement that we may be taught never to split again upon the same Rock upon which the Lord hath set so Remarkable a beacon And after all that is come to pass unto us because of this our trespass And after that Grace hath been shewed unto our Fathers and us once and again from the Lord our God by breaking these Mens Yoke from off their and our necks and sometimes delivering our Fathers so far from their insultings that He put them into a Capacity to Act for the good of Religion their own safety and the Peace and safety of the Kingdom should they and we again break his Commandment and Covenant by joyning once more
be presented to the Readers view Quest 1 Whether it be Lawful and expedient for Nations to enter into Covenants with God from vers 1. Q. 2. What is the Nature of this Covenanting ibid. Q. 3. Whether it may be done without the Magistrate Or when it is so is the obligation of it binding ibid. Q. 4. When the Covenant is Renewed may it be done with Alterations and Accomodations to the time ibid. Q. 5. What may be Motives to Renew the Covenant from v. 2 to v. 9. Q. 6. What is it to keep Covenant from v. 9. Q. 7. May the Covenant be renewed without the Primores when they will not concur from ver 10 Q. 8. May Children be admited to the Covenant from v 11. Q. 9. Are Strangers obliged or may they be admitted to the Covenant ibid. Q. 10. Does the Covenant bind the absent and them that did not take it from ver 13.14 Q. 11. May the Covenant be imposed upon all or may all be admitted to take it ibid. Q. 12. What may loose the obligation of it from v 12. Q. 13. What the better shall we be of making and keeping a National Covenant ver 13. Q. 14. Is the obligation of National Covenants upon the matter Lawfull perpetual and binding upon posterity from ver 15. Q 15. What are the chief tentations inducing to the sin of Covenant-breaking and what are the gradual steps of it from 16 to 20. Q. 16. What are the Curses and Punishments threatned against Covenant-breakers Personal from v. 20. Q. 17. Why is the punishment of National breach of Covenant so Publick that it is observed of posterity and Strangers from ver 22 c. Q. 18. What is the threatened Punishment of National breach of Covenant from vers 22. c. Q. 19. What is the procuring Cause of all the Nations Miseries from v 24 25. Q. 20. How may a Nation be guilty of breach of Covenant from v 25 Q. 21. What are the aggravations of that sin ibid THese being premised there is the less need to inlarge in the vindication of the Renovation of these Covenants here subjoyned as they were Sworn and Subscribed at Lesmahego March 3. 1689. Their Motives are before touched on Question 4. from vers 2. to 9. They Considered what the Lord had done before their eyes the great tentations in their day the signs and the great wonders of the Wisdom Faithfulness Power Justice and Goodness of the Lord appearing in His way with them and their Fathers They Considered the universal Obduration Stupidity and unanswerableness to these wonders in themselves and others how they had not gotten hearts to perceive nor eyes to see in to that very day They Considered the Lords greacious Conduct of them and their fathers and their own experience of His care and kindness towards them in providing so tenderly and wonderfully all necessaries for their Wilderness Lot. They considered how at length the Lord helped them to overcome two Kings that endeavoured by all means to destroy them They considered that as the Lord promises prosperity to the keeping and doing the words of His Covenant So in the dayes of their Fathers when they entered into and kept Covenant with God He prospered them in all that they undertook went forth with their Armies and made their Enemies to fall down before them testifying in His providence His approbation of His peoples Covenanting They considered also how these Covenants thô of Eternal obligation as is cleared Quest 14. from vers 15. were broken their breaches enacted by Law they were Burnt the owning of them declared Criminal by an Act of Queensberries Parliament and the obligation of them was like to be totally buried in oblivion And therefore as they thought this a Case of Confession when they could do no more to give their Testimony for the Covenants with profession of the Sorrow of their hearts and abhorrence of their souls against these indignities as was done in the Printed Testimony anno 1688. So upon the same motives they thought it no less necessary now in this opportunity to revive the memory of them and at least to break the ice for others to renew them more Solemnly At that Critical season especially when in the universal expectation of War upon the change of the Government all parties were Associating for their own defence and asserting the quarrell and party they would espouse They also thought it expedient by the renewing of these ancient Covenants declare what Cause they would avouch and appear for what King they would owne and upon what termes they would offer and oblige their subjection to the present Government then to be established who had before declared a revolt from the former and for this end to make this the bond of their Association It is objected With a great deal of clamour by many that this was an illegal and presumptuous Action without all Authority or concurrence of persons that had Authority to tender an Oath But as this is loosed by what is said above on Quest 3 and Q. 7. from v. 1. and v. 10. So we have precedents for entering into and renewing Covenants for Defence of Religion and Liberty without the Authority then regnant in several instances before and since the established Reformation As that Covenant at Edinburgh anno 1557 for the maintenance and advancement of Reformation and defence of one another adhering to it Another Covenant at Perth 1559. And at Stirling the same year Another at Leith anno 1560. Another at Air 1562. All these without the concurrence of publick Authority And in the year 1638 the National Covenant was Renewed before they obtained Authority for it And anno 1666. at Lanerk a small handful of honnest and faithful patriots renewed the Solemn League also without and against the Authority that was then But this at Lesmahego thô it was without Authority yet it was not against Authority being in the time of the Interregnum before the settlement of Authority for which Cause in stead of the usual Expressions of the King his Majesty they read as in the margent His Highness or the Civil Magistrate because the present K was not then declared And that party who renewed the Covenants then did not pretend to any Authority to do it as a National Act to bind the whose Nation Only to take on the vowes of God upon themselves and to invite others to do the like If those that tendered the Covenant at that time did take upon them any Authority it was not to impose it upon any but rather to exclude some from it and to hinder their admission to it who were grossly ignorant and scandalous by laying out before them the hazard of swearing falsely And discharging them in the name of the Lord to devour these holy things This also was an Offâ—nce to some and occasion of obloquie against the Action But it is justifiâ—d above by what is said on Quest 11. from v. 10 11 12 c. And