from his Majesty without successe and the miseries of Ireland the distresses of England and the dangers and pressures of the Kingdom of Scotland growing to greater extremity such as were intrusted with the publike affaires of the Kingdom were necessitate according to the practise of former times his Majestie having denied a Parliament to call a Convention of the Estates for considering of the present affaires and for providing the best remedies which immediately upon their meeting by the speciall providence of God did receive information of divers treacherous attempts of Papists in all the three Kingdoms as if they had been called for that effect And by the same Providence Commissioners were sent from both Houses of Parliament to consider with the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland of such Articles and Propositions as might make the conjunction betwixt the two Nations more beneficiall and effectuall for the securing of Religion Liberty against Papists Prelats with their Adherents Their Consultations with the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly did in the end bring forth this Covenant as the only meane after all other have beene assayed for the deliverance of England and Ireland out of the deeps of affliction preservation of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland from the extremity of misery and the safety of our native King and his Kingdoms from destruction and desolation This is the manifold necessity which Nature Religion Loyalty and Love hath laid upon them Nor is it unknown in this Honourable Reverend and wise Audience what errors and heresies in doctrine what Superstition and Idolatry in Worship what Usurpation and Tyranny in Government what cruelty against the soules and bodies of the Saints have been set on foot exercised and executed for many Generations and now of late by the Roman Church all which wee hope through the blessing of God upon this work shall be brought to an end Had the Pope at Rome the knowledge of what is doing this day in England and were this Covenant written on the Plaster of the Wall over against him where he sitteth Belshazzar-like in his Sacriligious pomp it would make his heart to tremble his countenance to change his head and Miter to shake his joynts to loose and all his Cardinals and Prelates to be astonied When the Reformed Churches which by their Letters have been exciting us to Christian Communion and Sympathy in this time of the danger of Religion and distresse of the Godly shall heare of this blessed conjunction for uniformity in Religion according to the Word of God and the defence thereof it shall quicken their hearts against the heavinesse of oppressing sorrows and feares and bee no other than a beginning of a Jubilee and joyfull deliverance unto them from the Antichristian yoke and tyranny Vpon these and the like considerations wee are very confident that the Church and Kingdom of Scotland will most cheerefully joyne in this Covenant at the first motion whereof their 〈◊〉 were moved within them And to give testimony of this our confidence we who are Commissioners from the Generall Assembly although we have no particular and expresse Commission for that â—nd not from â—aâ—t of willingnesse but of a fore-sight offer to joyâ— our hearts and hands unto it being a stored that the Lord in his own time will against all opposition even against the gates of Hell crown it with a blessing from Heaven The Word of God is for it as you have been 〈…〉 〈…〉 by the consent and testimonie of a Reverend Assembly â—â— so many godly learned and grav 〈…〉 Divines In your own sense and experience you will finde that although while you are assaulted or exercised with worldly cares and fears your thoughts may somwhat trouble direct you yet at other times when upon seeking of God in private or publike as in the evening of a well spent Sabbath or day of Fast and Humiliation your disposition is more spirituall and leaving the world behinde you you have found accesse unto God through Jesus Christ the bent and inclinations of your hearts will be strongest to go through with this work It is a good testimony that our designes and wayes are agreeable to the will of God if we affect them most when our hearts are furthest from the world and our temper is most spirituall and heavenly and least carnall and earthly As the Word of God so the prayers of the people of God in all the Reformed Churches are for us and on our side It were more terrible then an Armie to heare that there were any servent supplications to God against us blasphemies curses and horrid imprecations there be proceeding from another spirit and that is all That Divine Providence also which hath maintained this Cause and supported his Servants in a marvellous manner unto this day and which this time past hath kept things in an equall ballance and vicissitude of successe will we trust from this day forth through the weight of this Covenant cast the ballance and make Religion and Righteousnesse to prevaile to the glory of God the honour of our King the confusion of our common Enemies and the comfort and safety of the people of God Which he grant who is able to doe above anything that we can ask or think FINIS
to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a reall Reformation that the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdomes in Truth and Peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of 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 encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoak of Antichristian Tyranny to joyne in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and the Peace and Tranquillity of Christian Kingdomes and Common-wealths The Proceedings of the Covenant with the manner of taking thereof by the Honourable House of COMMONS and the Reverend Assembly of DIVINES THe Commissioners sent from the Honourable Houses of Parliament to the Kingdome of Scotland having besides other weighty Affaires instructions to take into consideration whatsoever might be effectuall for bringing the two Kingdoms to a more neer Conjunction and Union there was a Committee of the Honourable Convention of Estates in Scotland and another Committee of the Generall Assembly of the Church designed to joyne with them in this great and necessary consultation in which after much agitation the result and conclusion was that a solemne League and Covenant taken mutually by both Kingdomes would be the most conducing meanes to such a happy Vnion Thereupon a form of Covenant by their Common assent was agreed upon and presented to bee read and considered of in the Generall Assembly where it had assent and approbation and was thence recommended to the Convention of Estates by an Order of the Assembly as followeth Edenb. August 17. 1643. Sess. 14. THe Assembly having recommended unto a Committee appointed by them to joyne with the Committee of the Honourable Convention of Estates and the Commissioners of the Honourable House of the Parliament of England Certaine Propositions presented unto them by the aforesaid Commissioners of the Honourable House of the Parliament of England for bringing the two kingdoms to a more neere Conjunction and Vnion received from the aforesaid Committees the Covenant under-written as the result of their Consultations And having taken the same as a matter of so publike concernment and of so deep importance doth require unto their gravest consideration Did with all their hearts and with the beginnings of that joy which they did finde in so great measure upon the Renovation of the Nationall Covenant of this Kirk and Kingdome All with one voice approve and embrace the same as the most powerfull meane by the blessing of God for setling and preserving the true Protestant Religion with perfect Peace in His Majesties Dominions and propagating the same to other Nations and for establishing his Majesties Throne to all Ages and Generations And therefore with their best affections recommend the same to the Honourable Convention of Estates that being examined and approved by them it may be sent with all diligence unto the Kingdome of England That being received and approven there the same may be with publick humiliation and all religious and answerable solemnity sworne and subscribed by all true Professors of the Reformed Religion and all His Majesties good Subjects in both Kingdomes Ar. Jhonston Cler. Eccl. From that Honourable Convention it obtained like approbation with a recommendation to the Kingdom of England as in this Order of theirs appeareth At Edinburgh 17. of August 1643. THe Noblemen Commissioners of Shires and Burroughs now convened having received the Covenant above-written from their Committee as the result of their consultations with a Committee of their generall Assembly and the Commissioners of both Houses from the Parliament of England and having taken the Covenant into their gravest consideration did with all their hearts and great expressions of joy and unanimity approve and embrace the same as the most powerfull meane by the blessing of God for setling and preserving the true Protestant Religion with a perfect peace in all his Majesties Dominions and propagating the same to other Nations and for establishing his Majesties Throne to all ages And being very confident that their Brethren in the Kingdome of England will heartily receive and approve the same Therefore according to the earnest recommendation of that venerable Assembly of this Kirk now thinks it most necessary for the good ends afore-said that it be sent into that Kingdome with all diligence that being received and approved by their Brethren there the same may be with all religious solemnities swerne and subscribed by all true Professours of the Reformed Religion and all his Majesties good Subjects in both Kingdomes Extract Arch. Primrose Cler. Conven. Some Commissioners also were sent from the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland with instructions for furthering the Covenant and the intended union of the Churches of both Kingdoms This Covenant being presented to the Honourable House of Commons and considered by them in the severall branches and Articles thereof was recommended to a Committee to be chosen of their own Members and sorne of the Divines of the Assembly together with the Commissioners sent from Scotland to the intent that some expressions might be farther explained and that the Kingdome of Ireland also might bee expresly taken into the same league and Covenant with us Which being done with great care and diligence by those Committees and Commissioners It was then read in the Assembly of Divines and afterwards in the House of Commons and received a most full and universall assent from the Members of both Nemine contradicente This form of Covenant was presented also to the House of Lords by whom likewise it was taken into consideration and approved of as fit to be entred into by the three Kingdomes On Friday the 22. of September it was concluded by the House this Oath and Covenant should be solemnly taken publikely in the Church at Westminster called Saint Margarets Church the Monday following by the House of Commons and the Assembly of Divines To which purpose an Order was sent to the Assembly from the House to give them notice thereof and that some of the Assembly be appointed to pray and to exhort for the more solemn celebrating of so serious and weighty a service The Assembly appointed Mr. Philip Nye to make the exhortation Mr. Iohn White to pray before and Mr. Dr. Gouge to pray after the exhortation The House met at the usuall place and thence went with their Speaker to the Church the Assembly also at the same time with their Prolocutor A Psalme being sung solemne prayer was made after the prayer an exhortation to the Honourable House and Reverend Divines encouraging
an Oath the Oath of Canonicall obedience as they called it You remember also with what cunning and industrie they endeavoured lately to make this Oath and Covenant more sure for themselves and their posterity And intended a more publike solemn and universall engagement then since Popery this cause of theirs was ever maintained or supported by And questionlesse Ireland and Scotland also must at last have been brought into this holy league with England But blessed be the Lord and blessed be his good â—and the Parliament that from the indignation of their spirits against so horrid a yoke have dashed out the very braines of this project and are now this day present before the Lord to take and give possession of this blessed Ordinance even an Oath and Covenant as solemn and of as large extent as they intended theirs uniting these three Kingdoms into such a League and happy combination as will doubtlesse preserve us and our Reformation against them though their iniquity in the mysteries of it should still be working amongst us Come therefore I speak in the words of the Prophet let us joyne our selves to the Lord and one to another and each to all in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten We are now entring upon a work of the greatest moment and concernment to us and to our Posteritie after us that ever was undertaken by any of us or any of our fore-fathers before us or neighbouring Nations about us if the Lord shall blesse this our beginning it will be a happie day and we shall be a happy people An Oath is a duty of the first Commandment and therefore of the highest and noblest order and rank of duties therefore must come forth attended with choycest graces especially with these two humility and feare Feare not onely of God which ought to be in an eminent measure Gen. 31. 53. Iacob sware by the feare of his father Isaac as if he covered to inherit his fathers grace as well as his fathers God But also feare of an Oath it being a dreadfull duty and hath this peculiar it s established by the Oath of God I have sworne that unto me every tongue shall sweare Isa. 45. 23. It s made the very Character of a Saint he feares an Oath Eccles. 9. 2. Humility is another grace requisite set your hearts before God in an humble obedient frame Deut. 6. Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serve him and sweare by his Name The Apostle Paul was sensible of this engagement even in the very act of this duty Rom. 1. 9. I call God to witnesse whom I serve in my spirit Although it be a work of the lips yet the heart and whole man must be interessed if we expect this worship to be acceptable Psal. 119. 108. Accept the free-will offering of my mouth and teach me thy judgements Also it must be done in the greatest simplicity and plainness of spirit in respect of those with whom we covenant We call God as a witnesse betwixt us who searcheth the heart With him is wisedome and strength the deceived and deceiver is his Iob 12. 19. He hath wisedome to discover and strength to punish if our hearts be not upright to our brethren in this matter Let us be contented with this that the words of our Covenant bee hands it may not be so much as in the desire of our hearts that they should become snares no not to the weakest and simplest person that joyneth with us In the whole worke make your addresse unto God as Iacob did to his father Isaac and let there bee the like feare and jealousie over your spirits Gen. 27. 12. My father peradventure will feel me and I shall seeme to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing I take liberty with more earnestnesse to presse this care upon you because I have observed Oathes and Covenants have been undertaken by us formerly and by the command of Authority the fruit wherof though great yet not answered our expectation the Lord surely hath beene displeased with the slightnesse of our hearts in the worke I beseech you be more watchfull and stirre up your hearts with more industry this day then ever before As it is the last oath you are likely to take in this kinde so is it our last refuge tabula post natâ—fragium If this help us not we are likely to remaine to our dying day an unhappy people but if otherwise You will indeed sweare with all your hearts and seeke the Lord with your whole desire God will be found and give you rest round about 2 Chor. 15. 15. And having sworn and entred into this solemn engagement to God and man make conscience to doe accordingly otherwise it is better thou shouldest not vow Eccles. 5. As is said of fasting it is not the bowing down of the head for a day so of this solemn swearing it is not the lifting up of the hand for a day but an honest and faithfull endeavouring after the contents of this Covenant all our dayes A truce-breaker is reckoned up amongst the vilest of Christians 2 Tim. 3. 3. so a Covenant-breaker is listed amongst the worst of Heathens Rom. 1. 31. But he that sweareth and changeth not though he sweare to his hurt that is he that will keep his Covenant and Oath though the contents of it prove not for him nay possibly against him yet he will keep it for his Oaths sake such a one shall have his habitation with the most High and dwell in his Tabernacle Psal. 15. And as for you Reverend Brethren that are Ministers of the Gospel there is yet another obligation will lie upon you let us look to our selves and make provision to walk answerable to this our Covenant for the Gospels sake it will reflect a great aspersion upon the truth of the Gospel if we should be false or unconstant in any word or purpose though in a matter of lesse consequence as you can easily collect from that apology of Paul 2 Cor. 1. 17 18. how much more in such a case as this is if we should be found to purpose nay more to vow and covenant and sweare and all this according unto the flesh and with us there should be notwithstanding all these obligations yea yea and nay nay That we may all who take the Covenant this day be constant immoveable and abound in this work of the Lord that we may not start aside or give back or goe on uncomfortably there is a twofold grace or qualification to be laboured after 1. We must get courage spirits that are bold and resolute It is said in Haggai that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel Governour of Iudah and the spirit of Ioshua the high Priest and the spirit of all the remnant of the people and they came and did work in the house of the Lord the work of Gods house Reformation-work especially is a stirring work read Stories
they not be willing in the day of his power to enter a religious Covenant with him and amongst themselves Whatsoever be the condition of the people of God whether in sorrow and humiliation before deliverance or in rejoycing and thanksgiving after deliverance this is it which the Lord waits for at their hands which they have been used to performe and with which he hath been so well pleased that it hath been the fountaine of many deliverances and blessings unto them When a people beginneth to forget God hee lifteth up his hand against them and siniteth them And when his people humbled before him lift up their hands not only in supplication but in Covenant before the most high God he is pleased such is his mercy and wonderfull compassion First to lift his hand unto them saying I am the Lord your God as we have it three times in two verses of the 20th of Ezekiel And next he stretcheth out his hand against his Enemies and theirs It is the best work of Faith to joyn in Covenant with God the best work of love and Christian Communion to joyn in Covenant with the people of God the best work of the best zeale to joyne in Covenant for Reformation against the Enemies of God and Religion the best work of true loyalty to joyn in Covenant for the preservation of our King and Superiours and the best proofe of naturall affection and to bee without naturall affection is one of the great sinnes of the Gentiles to joyn in Covenant for defence of our Native Countrey Liberties and Lawes Such as for these necessary ends doe withdraw and are not willing to enter into Covenant have reason to enter into their own hearts and to look into their faith love zeale loyalty and naturall affection As it is acceptable to God so have we for it the precedent and example not onely of the people of God of old of the Reformed Churches of Germany and the Low-Countreys but of our own Noble and Christian Progenitors in the time of the danger of Religion which is expressed in the Covenant it selfe The defect was They went not on throughly to enter in a Solemn Covenant an happinesse reserved for this time which had they done the corruptions and calamities of these dayes might have been prevented And if the Lord shall be pleased to move loose and enlarge the hearts of his people in his Majesties Dominions to take this Covenant not in simulation nor in luke-warmnesse as those that are almost perswaded to be Christians but as becommeth the people of God it shall be the prevention of many evils and miseries and a meane of many and rich blessings spirituall and temporall to our selves our litle ones and the Posterity that shall come after us for many Generations The neere and neighbouring example of the Church and Kingdome of Scotland is in this case worthy of our best observation When the Prelats there were grown by their rents and Lordly Dignities by their exorbitant power over all sorts of his Majesties Subjects Ministers and others by their places in Parliament Councell Colledge of Justice Exchequer and High Commission to a monstrous dominion and greatnesse and like Gyants setting their one foot on the neck of the Church and the other on the neck of the State were become intolerably insolent and when the people of God through their oppression in Religion Liberties and Lawes and what was dearest unto them were brought so low that they chused rather to die then to live in such slavery or to live in any other place rather then in their own native Countrey Then did the Lord say I have seene I have seene the affliction of my people and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them The beginnings were small and contemptible in the eyes of the presumptuous Enemies such as use to be the beginnings of the greatest works of God but were so seconded and continually followed by the undeniable evidences of Divine Providence leading them forward from one step to another that their Mountaine became strong in the end No tongue can tell what motions filled the hearts what teares were poured forth from the eyes and what cryes came from the mouthes of many thousands in that Land when they found an unwonted flame warming their breasts and perceived the power of God raising them from the dead and creating for them a new world wherein should dwell Religion and Righteousnesse When they were destitute both of moneys and munition which next unto the spirits and armes of men are the sinewes of Warre the Lord brought them forth out of his hid treasures which was wonderfull in their eyes and matter of astonishment to their hearts When they were many times at a pause in their deliberations and brought to such perplexity that they knew not what to chuse or to do for prosecuting the work of God only their eyes were toward him not only the feares and furies but the plots also and policies of the Adversaries opened the way unto them their devices were turned upon their own heads and served for the promoting of the work of God The puritie of their intentions elevated above base and earthly respects and the constant peace of their hearts in the midst of many dangers did beare them out against the malitious accusations and aspersions put upon their actions all which were sensible impressions of the good providence of God and legible characters of his work which as the Church and Kingdom of England exercised at this time with greater difficulties then theirs have in part already found so shall the Parallel be perfected to their greater comfort in the faithfull pursuing of the work unto the end Necessitie which hath in it a kinde of Soveraignty and is a Law above all Lawes and therefore is said to have no Law doth mightily presse the Church and Kingdom of Seâ—tland at this time It is no small comfort unto them that they have not been idle and at ease but have used all good and lawfull meanes of Supplications Declarations and Remonstrances to his Majestie for quenching the combustion in this Kingdome And after all these that they sent Commissioners to his Majestie humbly to mediate for a reconcilement and Pacification But the offer of their humble service was rejected from no other reason but that they had no warrant nor capacity for such a Mediation And that the intermixture of the Government of the Church of England with the Civill government of the Kingdom was such a mystery as could not be understood by them Although it be true which was at that time often replyed that the eighth demand of the Treatie and the answer given thereunto concerning the Uniformity of Religion was a sufficient ground of capacitie and the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament against Episcopall Government as a stumbling block hindering Reformation and as a prejudice to the Civill State was ground enough for their information The Commissioners having returned