of Scotland England and Ireland by the providence of GOD living under one King and being of one reformed Religion Having before our eyes the glory of GOD and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour and Happinesse 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 minde the treacherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and Practices of the Enemies of GOD against the true Religion and Professours 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 exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestation and 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 mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall 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 Chuch of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies The Reformation of Religion 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-government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresy Schism Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary 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 severall vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty's Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms That the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatnesse 4. We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing 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 broughr to publick triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good Providence of GOD granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Posterity And that Justice may be done upon the willfull 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 whither to make defection to the contrary part or to give ourselves 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 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 suppresse or overcome we shall reveale 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 distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before GOD and the world 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 inesteemable 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 wich are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for ourselves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all dutyes we owe 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 peform 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 blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches
them over-ruled in the Year 1640. the King and Prelats vigorously arm again and prepare for a new war But this intended War is composed by a new Pacification and in the mean time the Parliament formerly adjourned until Iune 1640 doth conveen at the time appointed and by their fourth fifth and sixth Acts fully establish Presbyterial Government ratify the Covenant with the Addition and Explanation of the Assembly and all Acts made thereanent abrogat the Estate of Bishops and all Acts whatsoever made in their favours Thereafter in the Treaty ensuing the Pacification it is agreed that the Acts past in the last Parliament with these to be made in the next Session thereof shall be published in the King's Name and have the strength of Laws in all time coming Which Treaty being closed and the last Session of the above-mentioned Parliament sitting in the Moneth of Iune 1641. the King in person being present among them and the Oath of Parliament for maintenance of Religion in purity as then established and of the King's Authority and the Peoples Liberties according to the Covenant and for endeavouring by all just and humble meanes of Union and Peace betwixt the three Kingdomes appointed to be taken by that all succeeding Parliaments being taken by the second Act thereof superscribed by the King and subscribed by the President the foresaid Treaty is amply and perpetually confirmed and the whole Articles thereof are ratifyed and recorded Thus by all the Security that either Sacred Oaths or Acts of Lawful Authorized Assemblies Ordinances of King and Council doubled and re-iterated Pacifications and Treaties Acts of Parliament Enacted Re-enacted the Kings Authority and Consent being often and solemnly interposed both by promise and hand-writ And all that either Religion Truth Faith Honour or Honesty could devise or grant these Wicked Prelats are cast out of this Church and Kingdom Presbyterial Government fully established the pure Worship of God with His pure and powerful Ordinances and Ministry restored and in the maintenance and pursuance of all these great Blessings the whole Land by many Oaths most Solemn tyes engaged unto the Lord for ever By all which Blessings and the restoring of the Lord 's own Ordinances amongst us as the Work of the Gospel and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus in the Conversion of many thousands were greatly advanced and the Glory of God in the abounding of true Piety and flourishing of Righteousness did eminently shine amongst us as the memory of these times in all such as fear God and love our Lord Jesus Christ doth sweetly testify so all these great things were transacted to the perpetual shame and confusion of all our calumnious Adversaries without any diminution of his Majesty's just Authority and Greatness As the Power and Glory of the Lord was great in this Land so the splendor and fame thereof reaching unto other Nations it pleased the Lord thereby to provoke His People in England at that time grievously groaning under the Tyrannous yoke of Prelacy and justly alarmed by the imminent fears of prevailing Popery to set about and intend the like blessed Reformation It doth not concern us to reflect on the Causes and beginnings of that War betwixt the King and Parliament there nor what were the transactions betwixt the two Kingdoms in order to that Aid and Assistance given by Scotland and how the same was mannaged But this is certain that upon the Representation of the most just and important grounds of the maintenance of Religion and Liberty against the prevailing power of Popery Prelacy and Tyranny in that Kingdom of England and their most instant and earnest desires for our help and Assistance and rhe most rational clear motives of our own Security the hazard and loss whereof had undoubtedly been the consequence of the Prelats Victory there this Kingdom was induced in the Year 1643. to enter into that Sacred Bond of the Solemne League and Covenant never to be forgotten containing no other Articles then every one's Sincere and constant endeavours in their several places callings for the preservation of the Reformed Religion in this Church in Doctrine VVorship Discipline and Government the Reformation of the same in England and Ireland according to the VVord of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and the nearest Conjunction and Vniformity of all the three in Truth Faith and Love the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Error and Profanity the preservation of the rights and Liberties of the People and of the Kings person and Authority in defence of the true Religion and the Kingdom 's Liberties the Discovery and the punishment of Incendiaries the retaining of the Peace and Vnion of the Kingdomes the mutual assistance and defence of all entering into this League and the performing of all duties we owe to God in the amendment of our lives and in walking exemplarly one before another And all these in order to no other end then the Glory of God the advancement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ the Honor and Happiness of the King and his Posterity and the true Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdom This is that Covenant which in all the controversies it hath occasioned did never receave a greater confirmation then from the malice and opposition of it's adversaries who in the same Spirit with the same Spite have alwayes persecuted and reproached it with the same Calumnies of Rebellion Sedition and Blood which from the beginning the Devill hath ever been most active to raise and stir up against the Lord Jesus his Gospel Kingdom and Followers But seing such only as are blessed do evite the offence of Truth and all who truely seek Gods Glory or Love the Lord Jesus did and still do heartily approve and embrace this Covenant though it had brought the Sword not only into Britain but with the Truth into all the Earth though it were reproached as unfriend not only to our King but with our Lord Jesus to Caesar and all the Kings of the Earth though it had divided and disturbed not only Realms and States but with the Gospel families and nearest relations and had with Paul moved Sedition throughout the whole World we ought not thereby to be either shaken or offended We know also that all the subtilty and malice of Hell have been set on work and spared no calumny or cavillation by which either it's Words Matter or Manner might be impugned But these are so often and fully answered and without the assistance of any man's Patrociny by the obvious plainness of it's Phrase the Holiness Importance of it's Purpose and the Justice and Necessity of it's way and Manner so clearly confuted that nothing can be added Only seing the Constancy of Truth ought not to cede to the Confidence of prevailing Powers as we have asserted and do hold the subject matter of this League and Covenant to be in it self Holy Just and True so we cannot but disprove
as this Apostacy arising from small beginnings by fair and smooth pretensions crafty insinuations Court-flatteries false calumnies and suggestions open and gross perjuries and violent dissorders according to the working of Sathan After great and long opposition by Conferences Warnings petitions faithful and constant Testimonies and sufferings of the Zealous Witnesses of our Lord both unto bonds banishment Sentences of Death against the again aspiring Prerogative and usurping Prelacy under it's shaddow did in the secret and holy Judgement of God chang the Glory of God and of our Lord Jesus into the Similitude and Image of the Roman Beast turning the Power of Godliness unto Formality his faithful Ministers into corrupt Hirelings the Power and Life of Preaching into Flattery and Vanity the Substance of Religion into empty and ridiculous Ceremonies the Beauty and Purity of the Ordinances into Superstitious Inventions of Kneeling Crossing Holy Dayes and the like the Beautiful and Powerful Government of Gods House for the Edification of Souls to a Lordly Dominion over Consciences and violent Persecution of mens persons And in a word the great End of the Glorious Gospel and it's Blessed Ministry even the salvation of poor sinners which is the pleasure of the Lord the fruit of the travel of His Soul the Joy of Heaven the Crown and Glory of the blessed Apostles and the End of all things and of the second Appearance of the Great God into an Empty Title and specious pretext for the fulfilling of mens lusts and pleasures the establishing of their Power and Tyranny and the ruine and exterminion of all such as opposed and mourned for all these Abominations Thus this Work and Kingdom of Darkness did advance apace and had almost attained unto it's full maturity of hurrying this poor Land and Nation headlong into that Gulf of Confusion Error and Superstition whereinto Popery did formerly involve us when it pleased the Lord according to His Great Mercy and faithfulness to remember His Covenant though we had fearfully forgotten it and in the midst of that growing darkness and those manifold Confusions to cause His Spirit to move and Light to arise upon this Land about the middle of the Year 1637. Which appearing in the former Power and Glory did from a very small and improbable beginning even the opposition of a few weak Women to the introducing and reading of that Carcase of formality the Service-Book then ready to be imposed proceed in such an Univerâ—al Vigorous Regular and Powerful method through the whole Land without the least mixture and ingredient of force and Violence but only by these most warrantable and inquestionable meanes of Petitioning Remonstrating Protesting and renewing their Covenant with God and amongst themselves that before the end of the Year 1638. the Work of God was revived with more Glory and Splendor then ever formerly it had attained We know that not only the Renewing of the Covenant especially with the enlargement explaining the same in order to the Novations in Worship and Corruptions in Government whereunto this Church had Apostatized and the bond of Mutual Defence thereto added but also their Protestings joynt Petitionings have been condemned as Seditious Rebellious But seing the same both from the clear Word of God the pure Light of Nature the Zealous and Valiant Practices of our first Reformers and the Lawes and Constitutions of the Realme are clearly warranted And by the Power and Presence of God were signally approved and by the supervenient Acts of the King Parliament and Generall Assembly so fully established and confirmed And seing that they only were and are condemned by such as either being the Children of the Devil filled with all subtilty and mischief and enemies of all Righteousness cease not to pervert the right Wayes of the Lord or by such who for advancement of their own Interests have sacrificed all Conscience and Reason to Ambition and Covetousnes or by such who in base and open flattery of the King and of the Powers and neither knowing nor regarding any other Interest or Concernment then that which dependeth on their Pleasure do set and serve the same in place of the most High Or lastly by such who never did nor do concern themselves in such enquiryes but affect a pretended Gallantry in Gallio's Indifferency therefore remitting such as are further desirous of satisfaction unto the debats Papers of these Times and especially unto the late large Apology we shall only mention the steps and progress of the Lords Work and our Engagements therein according to our first purpose In the beginning of the Year 1638. great multitudes of people consisting of all Ranks being awaked by the Arbitrary imposing of a Service-Book more corrupt in some things then that of England and the Book of Canons and the erecting and violent exercing of the High Commission-Court to the perverting of the Pure Worship of God the utter subverting of all regular Government and the confounding of all things Divine and Humane and the destroying of our Civil Liberties and conceaving the true cause of all the abounding Sin imminent calamities of these Times to be the violation of the National Covenant formerly thrice sworn in the Land they again most Solemnly with a very wonderful gracious mixture of Tears and joy renew the same almost in all parts of the Land with the addition above mentioned to forbear the practice and approbation of all Innovations in Worship or Corruptions in Government until the same should be lawfully determined and that other of Mutual Defence and Assistance in the prosecution of the ends of that Covenant against all sorts of persons whatsoever And in November the same Year the Generall Assembly at Glasgow determined anent the foresaid novations and corruptions disproving and rejecting under these heads the five Articles of Perth the Government of the Church by Bishops the erecting of Prelacy therein and all the Corruptions flowing therefrom whereby the Oath of the Covenant is clearly explained and purifyed In the Year 1639. the Prelats being routed run to Court 〈◊〉 up the King England and Irland with all their Friends and Popish partakers in Scotland against the faithful Covenanters as Rebellious and Seditious Persons But they having prepared for their own just Defence the Lord by His outstretched Arm and Power dispelling all these menacing clouds and imminent storms doth by a Pacification concluded reduce a fair calm The King therein aggreeing that an Assembly and Parliament shall be held and that all matters respectively shall be therein determined The Assembly sitting in August thereafter the Kings Commissioner being present and assenting doth ratify the conclusions of the last Assembly at Glasgow and the Commissioner and Secret Council subscribe the Covenant as it was then explained and at the Petition of the Assembly it is enacted to be again subscribed for the Fifth time by the Body of the whole Land But no Faith Honesty nor Honor binding the Prelats and a Court by
Albeit we be the Lords people engaged to him in a solemn way yet to this day we have not made it our study that judicatories Armies should consist of and places of power and trust be filled with men of a blamelesse and Christian conversation and of known integrity and approven fidelity affection and Zeal unto the cause of God but not onely those who have been neutrall and indifferent but disaffected and Malignant and others who have been prophane and scandalous have been intrusted By which it hath come to passe that judicatories have been the seats of injustice and iniquity aad many in our Armies by their miscarriages have become our plague unto the great prejudice of the cause of God the great scandall of the Gospel and the great increase of loosenesse prophanity throughout all the Land It were impossible to reckon up all the abominations that are in the Land but the Blaspheming of the name of God swearing by the Creatures prophanation of the Lords Day uncleannesse drunkennesse excesse and rioting vanity of apparrel lying and deceit railing and cursing arbitrary and uncontrolled oppression and grinding of the faces of the poor by Landlords and others in place and power are become ordinary and common sinnes And besides all these things there be many other transgressions whereof the Land wherein we live are guilty All which we desire to acknowledge and to be humbled for that the world may bear witnesse with us that Righteousnesse belongeth unto God and shame confusion of face unto us as appears this day And because it is needfull for these who find mercy not onely to confesse but also to forsake their sinne Therefore that the reality and sincerity of our repentance may appear We do Resolve and solemnly ingage our selves before the Lord carefully to avoid for the time to come all these offences whereof we have now made solemn publick acknowledgement and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto And to testifie the integrity of our resolution herein and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords strength to perform the same We do again Renue our Solemn League and Covenant Promising hereafter to make conscience of all the duties whereunto we are obliged in all the heads and Articles thereof particularly of these which follow 1. Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and precious The advancing and promoving the power thereof against all ungodlinesse and profanity The securing and preserving the purity thereof against all error heresy and schisme and namely Independency Anabatisme Antinomianisme Arminianisme Socinianisme Familisme Libertinisme Scepticisme and Erastianisme and the carrying on the work of uniformity shall be studied endeavoured by us before all worldly interests whether concerning the King or our selves or any other whatsomever 2 Because many have of late laboured to supplant the liberties of the Kirk we shall maintain and defend the Kirk of Scotland in all her liberties and priviledges against all who shall oppose or undermine the same or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsomever 3. We shall vindicat and maintain the liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their consciences persons and Estates 4. We shall carefully maintain and defend the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and avoid every thing that may weaken the same or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those who have invaded the Kingdom of England 5. As we have been always Loyall to our King so we shall still endeavour to give unto God that which is Gods and to Caesar the things which are Cesars 6. We shall be so farre from conniving at complying with or contenancing of Malignancy injustice iniquity prophanity and impiety that we shall not onely avoid and discountenance those things and cherish and encourage these persons who are zealous for the Cause of God and walk according to the Gospel But also shall take a more effectuall course then heretofore in our respective Places and Callings for punishing and suppressing these evils and faithfully endeavour that the best and fittest remedies may be applyed for taking away the causes thereof and advancing the knowledge of God and Holinesse and Righteousnesse in the Land And therefore in the last place as we shall earnestly pray unto God that he would give us able men fearing God men of truth and hating covetousnesse to judge and bear charge among his people so we shall according to our Places and Callings Endeavour that Judicatories and all places of power and trust both in Kirk and State may consist of and be filled with such men as are of known good affection to the cause of God and of a blamelesse and Christian conversation And because there be many who heretofore have not made conscience of the oath of God but some through fear others by perswasion and upon base ends and humane interests have entered thereinto who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord in swearing falsly by his name Therefore we who do now renew our Covenant in reference to these duties and all other duties contained therein Do in the sight of him who is the searcher of hearts solemnly Professe that it is not upon any politique advantage or private interest or by-end or because of any terror or perswasion from men or hypocritically and deceitfully that we do again take upon us the oath of God But honestly and sincerely and from the sence of our duty And that therefore denying our selves and our own things and laying aside all self interest and ends We shall above all things seek the honour of God the good of his Cause and the wealth of his people and that forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood and not leaning upon carnall confidences we shall depend upon the Lord walk by the rule of his word and hearken to the voice of his servants In all which professing our own weaknesse We do earnestly pray to God who is the father of mercies through his Son Jesus Christ to be merciful unto us and to enable us by the power of his might that we may do our duty unto the praise of his Grace in the Churches Amen The occasion of this Acknowledgment and Engagement was this THE Commission of the General Assembly 1648. considering the many breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant and particularly by the Engagement in War that Year against England The Slackness of many in following the duties therein And that many being under age when it was first sworn had not been receaved into the same did by their Act October 6. ordain it to be renewed with this Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins breaches and Engagement to duties And to that effect appointed two solemn Fasts to be keeped in all the Congregations of the Land for the Causes contained in the Acknowledgment of Sins And that intimation thereof should be made to the people upon the Sabbath before that the Covenant
absolutely necessary it leaves no issue or expedient It is not needful here to clear the necessity and advantages which may induce Subjects to the making of Leagues and Conventions in certain cases without the consent of the Prince nor the exigence of these Times for the Covenant we plead for These things are cleared by undenyable Records which all the Wars Blood and Confusions that thereafter ensued flowing either from the perverse and obstinate opposition violence and Persecution of the enemies of Truth or being the effect of Gods Righteous Judgement upon such whose hearts were false and proved unstedfast in His Covenant notwithstanding all the present insulting of the Adversaries doth nothing disprove Neither do we here resume the above mentioned practices of our first Reformers for justifying the case in hand and the explication of these old Acts here obtruded who by all their necessary Leagues Bands and Conventions never conceaved the same to be contraveened Only we cannot but regret that as the Act made in the last Parliament against Conventions and Bonds was a fearful step of the present great Apostacy and directly levelled against the same Covenant by which the Authors of the Acts themselves were and are indissolubly obliged so that old Act Parliament 10. Ja. 6. cap. 12. 1585. which is thereby ratifyed and revived was also one of the woful Acts and effects of the wickedness that then prevailed in the Land and doth relate to and is expresly founded upon the 43. Act. Queen Mary Parliament 6. 1555. which under the colour of discharging Bonds of Man-rent was by the Queen Regent then raging in Persecution against the Professors of the Truth directly intended for the overthrow of the Gospel and Congregation We have hitherto only justifyed the lawfulness or rather the necessity of the Covenant as a League amongst Subjects without the Princes consent and have not spoken thereto as a League with England and the Subjects of an other Kingdom Because as the first point is mainly denied by the Adversary so the same being proven upon in the same grounds first of Just Necessary Defence of our Selves Religion and Libertyes Secondly of the assistance that we owe and do expect in case of Persecution for Truth from all Christians in the bowels of Jesus Christ the obedience of his new and speciall command of Love and the remembrance of that great and last Judgement wherein by this Law all men shall be judged without respect to the difference of Nations and Kingdoms and thirdly upon the ground of the Glory of God which is the great end of all things and to which all inferiour duties of Submission and Obedience ought to cede the Justice and Necessity of the Covenant and League with England may be certainly concluded O! that men who weighing all things in the ballance of their own selfish Interests and designes do make the vain airy enjoyment of Court-favour and the evanishing possession of such advantages as may be acquired thereby preponderate and cast the scales in prejudice of these great and important concernments of the Glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Might yet be awakened by the terror of that dreadful and glorious Judgement of the last day to an impartial consideration of that duty which we owe to all these that suffer and are persecuted for Truth Surely if not visiting not relieving and supporting when it is in our power of the afflicted members of Jesus Christ shall then be the condemnation of the Reprobat against which the exception of a contrary command of any King or Prince or that the afflicted were by men for Truths sake declared Rebells and Traitors or were of an other Kingdome shall furnish no defence Can we in conscience think that the refusal of Assistance to the persecuted for Christ's sake when instantly thereto required shall be upon any of these pretended grounds excused in that day We do not here mention the supervenient consent and Authority of the King by which the alleaged defects to the acknowledgement of all our adversaries were clearly purged because though the same will afterwards fall in as a great accession to the conviction of all Apostats yet we bless the Lord who hath bottomed our Faith and Consciences upon more sure and fixed foundations and who gave His People more evident and gracious testimonies of His Favour Power and Presence while they sincerely walked conform to the grounds mentioned before the King's assent was obtained then ever since The entering into and taking of this Covenant was so much the more necessary and Praise-worthy in us in Scotland for several reasons 1. because it contains no other then the same Duties and obligations which were before by us so solemnly Covenanted to in our Nationall Covenant neither is the restriction of our Alleageance supposed to be made therein any other then the true and righteous qualification of all such engagements most consonant unto and approven by our first Large Confession of Faith Chap. 25. Anent the Civil Magistrate the Kings Coronation-Oath recorded Ia. 6. p. 1. cap. 8. and the Nationall Covenant as it was taken and subscribed both first and last And though our Adversaries have insulted upon the later Confession of Faith as if both our former principles and practises were thereby disproved yet let the words be considered Viz. Infidelity or difference in Religion doth not make void the Magistrat's Iust and Legal Authority nor free the People from due obedience And we are confident that no sober man will think the acknowledgement of just and legal Authority and due obedience a rational ground to infer that Tyranny over either Consciences or Persons is thereby either allowed or priviledged which is all that by us is contended for 2. Because the same National Covenant did powerfully oblige us thereunto not only upon the account of that obstinate opposition which the perfidious Prelats in England both by raising Wars and breach of Pacification had plainly testifyed the revival whereof in case of any probable Capacity we had just reason to apprehend and by a posterior League at that time a most necessary and probable remedy in pursuance of our former engagement to provide against but also in respect of that express ground of opposition to the bloody bond of Trent and of the detestation of all the enemies of Gods Church who thereby conjured themselves against it contained in the National Covenant which could not but be a very fair persuasion and strong inductive to engage in that sacred Bond of the solemn League Covenant against that same accursed conjuratiō which at that time appeared so active 3. Because the Oath of Parliament first taken in the Parliament 1641. the King being present obliging us to endeavour the preservation of the Peace and Vnion of the three Kingdoms did indispensibly oblige us to enter in this Covenant as a most necessary expedient thereto Having thus summarily reviewed both the Matter and Manner of
Cross of Jesus Christ choose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God then to enjoy the pleasurs of sin for a season and account the Reproach of Christ greater riches then all the Treasure of the World Let my Death grieve none of you it will be more profitable and advantageous both for me and for you and for the Church of God and for Christs interest and honor then my life could have been I forgive all men the guilt of it and I desire you to do so also Pray for them that persecute you and bless them that curse you bless I say and curse not I die in the Faith of the Apostles and Primitive Christians Protestant Reformed Churches particularly of the Church of Scotland whereof I am a member and Minister I bear my witness and Testimony to the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland by Kirk-Sessions Presbyteries Synods and Generall Assemblies Popery and Prelacy and all the trumpery of Service and Ceremonies that wait upon them I do abhor I do bear my witness unto the National Covanant of Scotland and Solemn League and Covenant betwixt the three Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland These Sacred Solemn Publick Oaths of God I believe can be loosed nor dispensed with by no Person or Party or Power upon earth but are still binding upon these Kingdoms and will be for ever hereafter and are ratifyed and sealed by the conversion of many thousand souls since our entering thereinto I bear my witness to the Protestation against the controverted Assemblies and the Publick Resolutions to the Testimonies given against the Sectaries against the course of Backsliding and Defection that is now on foot in the Land and all the branches and parts thereof under whatsoever name or notion or acted by whatsoever party or person And in the last place I bear my witness to the cross of Jesus Christ and that I never had cause nor have cause this day to repent because of any thing I have suffered or can now suffer for His Name I take God to record upon my soul I would not exchange this scaffold with the Palace or Mitre of the greatest prelate in Brittain Blessed be God who hath shewed mercy to such a wretch and hath revealed His Son in me and made me a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel and that He hath daigned in the midst of much contradiction from Sathan and the World to seal my Ministry upon the hearts of not a few of His People and especially in the station wherein I was last I mean the Congregation and Presbytery of Sterlin God forgive the poor empty Man that did there intrude upon my labors and hath made a prey of many poor souls and exposed others to reproach and oppression and a famine of the Word of the Lord. God forgive the misleaders of that part of the poor people who tempted them to reject their own Pastor and to admit of Intruders and the Father of mercies pity that poor Misled people And the Lord visit the Congregation and Presbytery of Sterlin once more with faithful Pastors and grant that the Work and People of God may be revived thorow all Britain and over all the World Jesus Christ is my Light and my Life my Righteousness my Strength and my Salvation He is all my Salvation and all my Desire Him O Him I do with all the strength of my soul commend unto you Blessed are they that are not offended in Him Blessed are they that Trust in Him Bless Him O my soul from henceforth even for ever Rejoyce rejoice all ye that love Him be patient and rejoice in tribulation Blessed are you and blessed shall you be for ever and ever Everlasting Righteousness and Eternal Salvation is yours All are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods Remember me O Lord with the favour thow bearest to thy People O visit me with thy Salvation that I may see the good of thy chosen that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy Nation that I may glory with thy Inheritance Now let thy servant depart in peace since mine eyes have seen thy salvation JA. GUTRHIE The last Speech and Testimony of the LORD WARIST0N At his Death in Edinburgh July 22. 1663. Right Honourable much honoured and beloved Auditors and Spectators THat which I intended and prepared to have spoken at this time in this condition immediatly before my death if it should be so ordered that it should be my lot is not at present in my power having been taken from me But I hope the Lord shall preserve it to bear my Testimony more fully and clearly then now I can in this condition having my Memory much destroyed through much sore and long Sickness Melancholy and excessive drawing of my Blood Though I bless the Lord my God that notwithstanding of the forementioned distempers I am in some capacity to leave this short and weak Testimony I desire in the first place to confess my Sins so far as is proper to this Place and Case and to acknowledge Gods Mercies and to express my Repentance of the one and my Faith of the other through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ our gracious Redeemer and Mediator I confess that my Natural Temper or rather distemper hath been Hasty and Passionat and that in my Manner of going about and prosecuting of the best pieces of work and service to the Lord and to my Generation I have been subject to my excesses of Heat and thereby to some Precipitations which hath no doubt offended standers by and lookers on and hath exposed both Me and the Work to their mistakes whereby the beauty of that Work hath been obscured Neither have I in following of the Lord's work His Good Work been without my own Self-seeking which hath severall wayes vented is self to the offence of both God and Man and to the grief thereafter of my own Conscience and which hath often made me groan and cry out with the Apostle O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death And to ly low in the dust mourning and lamenting over the same deprecating God's wrath and begging His tender Mercies to Pardon and His powerful Grace to cure all these evils I must withal confess that it doth not a litle trouble me and ly heavy upon my spirit and will bring me down with sorrow to the grave though I was not alone in this Offence but had the body of the Nation going before me and the Example of persons of all Ranks to insnare me That I suffered my self through the power of temptations and the too much fear anent the straits that my numerous Family might be brought into to be carried unto so great a length of Complyance in England with the late Usurpers which did much grieve the hearts of the Godly and made these that sought God ashamed and confounded for my sake and did give no small occasion to the
and Kingdome as Gods undoubted truth grounded only upon 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 joined as that they had the same Friends and common enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our mindes and confessing with our mouthes that the present and succeeding generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid nationall Oath Subscription inviolable Wee Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers Commons under subscribing considering divers times before especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion of the Kings honour and of the publick peace of the Kingdome By the manifold innovations and evills generally conteined and particularly mentioned in our late supplications complaints and protestations Do hereby professe and before God his Angels and the World solemnly declare That with our whole hearts we agree 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 already introduced in the matters of the worship of GOD or approbation of the corruptions of the publicke Government of the Kirk or civil places and power of Kirk-men till they be tryed allowed in free assemblies and in Parliaments to labour by all meanes lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel as it was stablished and professed before the foresaid Novations and because after due examination we plainely perceave and undoubtedly believe that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant 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 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 Lawes 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 lesse then if every one of them had been expressed in the Foresaid confessions and that we are obliged to detest abhorre them amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duety to God to our King and Countrey without any wordly respect or inducement so farre as humane infirmity will suffer wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect We promise and sweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the Foresaid Religion That we shall defend the same and resist all these contrary errours 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 turne to the dishonour of GOD or to the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority But on the contrary we promise and sweare that we shall to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Majesty his Person and Authority in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome 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 Majesty's Authority with our best counsel our bodies meanes and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in genearal 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 terrour from this blessed loyall 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 meanes labour to further and promove the same and if any such dangerous divisive motion be made to us by Word or Writ We and every one of us shall either suppresse 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 and malice would put upon us seing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfeined desire to maintaine the true worship of God the Majesty of our King and peace of the Kingdome for the common happinesse of our selves and the posterity And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our Profession and Subscription we joine such a life 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 Godlinesse Sobernesse and Righteousnesse and of every duety 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 unfained Resolution as we shall answere to JESUS CHRIST in the great day and under the pain of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamy and losse 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 blesse our desires and proceedings with a happy successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glory of GOD the honour of King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses c. The Article of this Covenant which was at the first Subscription 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 Civill places and Power of Kirkment 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 The Honour and Happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms