and withstanding the same they have thought fit That all who are true hearted and lovers of their Countrey should binde themselves each to other in a sacred Vow and Covenant in manner and form as followeth and accordingly I A. B. in humility and reverence of the Divine Majesty declare my hearty sorrow for my own sins and the sins of this Nation which have deserved the Calamities and Iudgements that now lie upon it And my true intention is by Gods grace to endeavor the amendment of my own wayes And that I do abhor and detest the said wicked and treacherous Design lately discovered And that I never gave nor will give my assent to the execution thereof but will according to my power and Vocation oppose and resist the same and all other of the like nature And in case any other like Design shall hereafter come to my knowledge I will make such timely discovery as I shall conceive may best conduce to the preventing thereof And whereas I do in my conscience beleeve That the Forces Raised by the two Houses of Parliament are raised and continued for their just Defence and for the Defence of the true Protestant Religion and Liberties of the Subject against the Forces raised by the King I do here in the presence of Almighty God Declare Vow and Covenant That I will according to my power and vocation assist the Forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the Forces raised by the King without their consent and will likewise assist all other persons that shall take this Oath in what they shall do in pursuance thereof And will not directly or indirectly adhere unto nor shall willingly assist the Forces raised by the King without the consent of both Houses of Parliament And this Vow and Covenant I make in the presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as I shall answer at the great Day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed COme let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten Iere. 50. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall be established in righteousnesse Prov. 25. 5. And all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire and he was found of them and the Lord gave them rest round about 2 Chron. 15. 15. The excellent Usefulnesse of this COVENANT VNion with God Conformity to God and Vnity of the three Kingdoms are things most desireable In the first we are happy In the second holy In the third is strength peace and safety These are the kindly fruits of this Covenant and a Covenant that brings forth these how gladly should it be embraced and how willingly received They are lovely Bands that binde us to be happy holy and safe The heart of man is backsliding and a Covenant is like a hedge or wall to stop us from going back it being a good and ready answer to a tempter or tentation How shall I do this and break my Covenant Surely we have been too loose toward God having almost lost a Religion too loose in our lives and too dis-united among our selves and well it may be thought that a main end of this Rod which now lyes upon us is to beat us into this Covenant that thereby we may be knit faster to God to holinesse and each to other by this Band of Vnity Yet the taking is not the chief part of a Covenant but the keeping The benefits of a Covenant are then sure and stedfast to us when we are stedfast in the Covenant Now a main cause of unstedfastnesse in the Covenant is forgetfulnesse of it To prevent this the Covenant is presented in this form that being set up before us it may be daily seen and by seeing remembred and by remembring performed And withall let us remember this that all the wayes of God are mercy and truth to them that fear him and keep his Covenant But because no man is strong in his own strength let us seek strength of Him who is both our strength and our Redeemer that by Him we may be enabled to keep our Covenant with him that so he may delight to dwell with us to be called our God and to call us his people upon which happy condition attend Peace Prosperity and all blessings of Heaven and Earth temporall and eternall VVEE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms of England Scotland 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 publique Liherty 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 and Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present publike Testimonies we have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves 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 Solemne 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 I. THat we shall sincerely really constantly through the Grace of God indeavor in our severall places callings the preservation of the reformed religion in the Church 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 indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest Conjunction and Vniformity 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 II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons indeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-government by Arch
Bishops Bishops their Chauncellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse 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 III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives murually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties 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 Majesties just power and Greatnesse IV. We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindring 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 brought to publique triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supream Iudicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denied 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 firm Peace and Vnion to all Posterity And that Iustice may be done upon the wilfull Opposers thereof in manner expressed in the present Articles VI. 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 terror to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or 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 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 Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe 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 power thereof and that we have not indeavoured 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 unfeigned purpose desire indeavour for our selves all others under our power charge both in publique and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a reall 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 blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and incouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoak of Antichristian tyranny to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the inlargement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ and the Peace and Tranquility of Christian Kingdoms and Common wealths An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament With Instructions for the taking of the League and Covenant in the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales VVHereas a Covenant for the preservation and Reformation of Religion The maintenance and defence of Laws and Liberties hath been thought a fit and excellent meanes to acquire the favour of Almighty God towards the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and likewise to Vnite them and by uniting to strengthen and fortifie them against the Common-Enemy of the true Reformed Religion peace and prosperity of these Kingdoms And whereas both Houses of Parliament in England the Cities of London and Westminster and the Kingdom of Scotland have already taken the same It is now Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That the same Covenant be solemnly taken in all places throughout the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales And for the better and more orderly taking thereof these directions ensuing are appointed and enjoined strictly to be followed Instructions for the taking of the Solemne League and Covenant throughout the Kingdome I. THat the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament do speedily send to the Lord Generall and all other Commanders in chief and Governours of Townes Forts Castles and Garrisons as also to the Earl of Warwick Lord High Admirall of England true Copies of the Solemne League and Covenant to the end it may be taken by all Officers and souldiers under their severall Commands II. That all the Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament do take speciall care speedily to send down into their severall Counties which are or shall hereafter be under the power of the Parliament a competent number of true Copies of the said League and Covenant unto the Committees of Parliament in their severall Counties And that the said Committees do within six dayes at the most disperse the said Copies to every parish church or Chappel in the severall Counties to be delivered unto the Ministers Church-wardens or Constables of the severall Parishes III. That the said Committees be required to return a certificate of the day when
the more to let in all these calamities upon the Kingdom and cast upon it a necessity of renewing Covenant and of entring into this If it be said the extirpation of Prelacy to wit the whole Hierarchicall Government standing as yet by the known Laws of the Kingdom is new and unwarrantable This will appear to all impartiall understandings though new to be not onely warrantable but necessary if they consider to omit what some say that this Government was never formally Established by any Laws of this Kingdom at all that the very life and soul thereof is already taken from it by an Act passed this present Parliament so as like Jezabels Carcasse of which no more was left but the skull the feet and the palms of her hands nothing of jurisdiction remains but what is precarious in them and voluntary in those who submit unto them that their whole Government is at best but a humane constition and such as is found and adjudged by both Houses of Parliament in which the judgement of the whole Kingdome is involved and declared not onely very prejudiciall to the Civill State but a great hinderance also to the perfect Reformation of Religion Yea who knoweth it not to be too much an enemy thereunto and destructive to the power of Godlinesse and pure administration of the Ordinances of Christ which moved the well-affected almost throughout this Kingdom long since to Petition this Parliament as hath been desired before even in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and of King James for a totall abolition of the same Nor is any man hereby bound to offer any violence to their persons but onely in his place and calling to end eavour their extirpation in a lawfull way And as for those Clergy-men who pretend that they above all other cannot Covenant to extirpate that Government because they have as they say taken a solemn Oath to obey the Bishops in licitis honestis They can tell if they please that they that have sworn obedience to the Laws of the Land are not thereby prohibited from indeavouring by all Lawfull means the abolition of those Laws when they prove inconvenient or mischievous And if yet there should any Oath be found into which any Ministers or others have entred not warranted by the Laws of God and the Land in this case they must teach themselves and others that such Oaths call for repentance not pertinacy in them If it be pleaded that this Covenant crosseth the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance there can be nothing further from truth for this Covenant bindes all and more strongly engageth them to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms That scruple that this is done without the Kings consent will soon be removed if it be remembred that the Protestation of the fifth of May before mentioned was in the same manner voted and executed by both Houses and after by order of one House alone sent abroad to all the Kingdom His Majesty not excepting against it or giving any stop to the taking of it albeit he was then Resident in Person at White-hall Thus Ezra and Nehemiah drew all the people into a Covenant without any speciall Commission from the Persian Monarchs then their Soveraigns so to do albeit they were not free Subjects but Vassals and one of them the meniall Servant of Artaxerxes then by Conquest King of Judah also Nor hath this doctrine or practise been deemed seditious or warrantable by the Princes that have sate upon the English Throne but justified and defended by Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory with the expence of much Treasure and Noble blood in the united Provinces of the Netherlands combined not onely without but against the unjust violence of Philip of Spain King James followed her steps so far as to approve their union and to enter into League with them as free States which is continued by His Majesty now reigning unto this day who both by his expedition for relief of Rochell in France and his strict confederacy with the Prince of Orange and the States Generall notwithstanding all the importunity of Spain to the contrary hath set to his Seal that all that had been done by His Royall Ancestors in maintenance of those who had so engaged and combined themselves was just and warrantable And what had become of the Religion Laws and Liberties of our Sister Nation of Scotland had they not entred into such a solemn League and Covenant at the beginning of the late troubles there which course however it was at first by the Popish and Prelatick Projectors represented to His Majesty as an offence of the highest nature justly deserving chastisement by the fury of a puissant Army yet when the matter came afterwards in cool blood to be debated first by Commissioners of both Kingdoms and then in open Parliament here when all those of either House who are now engaged at Oxford were present in Parliament and gave their Votes therein it was found adjudged and declared by the King in Parliament That our dear Brethren of Scotland had done nothing but what became Loyall and obedient Subjects and were thereupon by Act of Parliament publikely righted in all the Churches of this Kingdom where they had been defamed Therefore however some men hoodwinkt and blinded by the Artifices of those Iesuiticall Engineers who have long conspired to sacrifice our Religion to the Idolatry of Rome our Laws Liberties and persons to Arbitrary stavery and our Estates to their insatiable Avarice may possibly be deterred and amused with high Threats and Declarations flying up and down on the wings of the Royall Name and Countenance now captivated and prostituted to serve all their lusts to Proclaim all Rebels and Traytors who take this Covenant yet let no faithfull English heart be afraid to joyn with our Brethren of all the three Kingdoms in this Solemn League as sometimes the men of Israel although under another King did with the men of Judah at the invitation of Hezekiah 2 Chron. 30. What though those tongues set on fire by Hell do rail and threaten That God who was pleased to clear up the innocency of Mordecai and the Iews against all the malicious aspersions of wicked Haman to his and their Soveraign so as all his plotting produced but this effect That when the Kings commandment and decree drew neer to be put in execution and the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them it was turned to the contrary and the Jews had rule over them that hated them and laid hands on such as sought their hurt so as no man could withstand them Esth 9. and that same God who but even as yesterday vouchsafed to disperse and scatter those dark clouds and fogs which overshadowed that Loyall and Religious Kingdom of Scotland and to make their righteousnesse to shine as clear as the Sun at noon day in the very eyes