all other Acts and Laws that have been framed since Prelacy and Tyranny came in that have been opposite unto the said Covenant and work of Reformation The reviving and ratifying of all former Righteous Laws made in favours thereof And the restoring and recovering of all the due and true Rights and Priviledges of Parliaments And as we shall earnestly pray unto God that He would give us able men fearing God men of Truth and hating covetousness to judge and bear Charge among His people So we shall according to our Places Callings and Capacities endeavor 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 blameless and Christian conversation to whom we shall submit and obey and defend them and their Rights with our Estates and Lives 2. We shall also desire and do design to recover vindicate and maintain the Liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their Consciences Persons and Estates 3. Now after we have been long howling under a grievous Tyrannie making men like the fishes of the Sea that have no Ruler over them We shall desire and long for a good Government and seek to have it rightly setled upon such a foundation of Righteousness with such a subordination to GOD and in such hands as Religion and Liberty and we in maintaining the same may find protection and Patrociny And then in the terms of the Covenant we promise Subjection Allegiance and our best endeavours to preserve and defend the Person and Authority of our Lawfully invested Kings Princes or other Magistrates in the preservation and defence of the True Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom Ministration of Justice and punishing of iniquity Or so far as our owning and defending them may or can consist with the preservation and defence of Religion Liberty and Justice Giving unto GOD that which is GODS and to Caesar the things which are Caesars And upon other termes we purpose never to own Allegiance to mortall Man. According to the Fourth Article 1. Beinâ—â— now sensible of the sin of complyance with Mâ—l gnants we shall resolve through Grace to stand aloof and at a greater distance from every thing that may import complyance confederacy or unitive transaction with them while remaining such by Associating with them in Armes paying them Cesses and Contributions imposed for maintaining them in their Cause and course of opposition to the Cause of GOD Or by swearing subscribing or taking any of their Oaths Tests or Bonds Or any new Oaths or Bonds whatsoever which may any way condemn Limite or Restrain us in the Duâ—iâ—s whereunto we are obliged by the National or Solemn League and Covenant Yea 2. We shall be so far from conniving at complying with or countenancing of Malignancy Injustice Iniquity Profanity and Impiety that we shall not only avoid and discountenance these things and cherish and encourage these persons who are zealous for the Causâ— of GOD and walk according to the Gospel But also shall seek a more effectual course than 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 Holiness and Righteousness in the Land. And to this effect shall endeavour to Represent our Grievances unto competent Judicatories against those who have been open Persecuters that they may receive condign punishment as the degree of their Crimes and Offences shall require or deserve that so the Land may be purged from blood and the LORD may delight to dwell among us Ye câ—nsidering what rashness hath appeared in some in putting forth their hand to punish such Incendiaries by death and how people may be still in hazard of running upon Extravagances in this matter from the misunderstanding of this Article of the Covenant We shal therefore guard against all irregularities in seeking the punishment of Malignants Incendiaries or evil Instruments and endeavour the discoverie and bringing of them to Justice in a Right and Legal way According to the Fifth Article We shal according to our places power Interest endeavour to have the Vnion of the Kingdoms brought to it s Covenanted Basis 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 or hereafter may invade the Kingdom of England to break this Covenanted Vnion And shall endeavour more correspondence and sympathie with all our Covenanted Brethren both in England and Ireland According to the Sixth Article Considering what Dangers We and all our Brethren under the Bond and owning the Obligation of these Covenants are in and may be exposed to from the Popish Prelatical and Malignant Faction still prevailing And what defects we are sensible have been among us in the duty of defending and assisting one anoâ—her in this cause We do here sâ—lâ—mnly enâ—er under a Bond of Association with all that do nâ—w renew these Covenants with the Acknowledgement of the publick Breaches and Engagement to the duties thereof and shall concert and assert the old Covenanted Cause and Quarrel as our Fathers stated and contended for it from the year 1638. to 1650. Which cause of the Covenanted Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and all Interests and Rights Religious or Civil contended for during that foresaid space of years conducing to promote the same we faithfully promise to prosecute and endeavour to propagate preserve and maintain with the hazard of our Lives and all that we have Not fearing or regarding the soul 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 unfeigned desire to maintain the true Religion to obtain the Protection and preserve the Honour of Righteous Government and promote the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom for the present Safety and future Felicity of our Selves and Posterity and encouragement of others groaning under oâ— in danger of the Yoke of Antichristian or Erastin Popish or Prelatical Tyranny to joyn in the same or l ke Association In maintaing which we shall faithfully and stedfastly according to our place and power sympathize bear all burdens and imbark our Interests with and assist and defend all these who enter into or joyn with this Association and Covenants And shall reckon whatsoever shal be done to the least of us for this Cause as done to us all in general and to every one of us in particular And shal account it a breach of Covenant if seing our Brethren pursued for this Cause and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them any of us shall either make peace with the Persecuters bind up their hands by Oaths or Bonds from resisting them refuse to hide
turning awaâ— from the Lord serving the gods of the Nations having among them Root bearing Gall and Worm wood who might bless themselves iâ— their presumption of Impunity notwithstanding the threatned curse Buâ— much more in after Generations they that never dwelt in thâ— Land of Egypt and never saw the plagues punishing that Lands wickedness but afterward might see the abominations and the Dungy gods as iâ— is in the Hebrew of other Nations were in hazard of that defection anâ— presumption when the Covenant might be worn antiquated out of daâ— and mind which might encourage them much more than at that timâ— when it was in every Bodies mouth and memory to say I shall have peaâ— thô I walk in the imagination of mine heart 2. The threatned punishmenâ— of the breach of this Covenant was perpetual The Lords anger and jealousie shall smok against Covenant-breakers all the Curses written shall lyâ— upon them their names shall be blotted out from under Heaven verâ— 20. He shall separate them unto evil vers 21. Not only in that agâ— wherein the Covenant was Renewed but the Generation to come oâ— their Children that should rise up after them shall observe the punishment of the Posterity when they shall have forsaken the Covenant oâ— the Lord God of their Fathers and the Lord shall have rooted theâ— out of their Land for the same vers 22. to 28. which was not accomplished till many Centuries afterwards Quest 14 Quer. If the Obligation of National Covenants where the matter iâ— lawful he perpetual and binding upon Posterity Answ If any Engagements can be supposed binding to Posterity certainly Nationaâ— Covenants to keep the Commandments of God and to adhere to his institutions must be of that nature It cannot be denyed that several Obligations do bind Posterity Publick Promises with annexation of curseâ— to the breakers make the Posterity obnoxious as well as those who personally came under the Engagement Neb 5 12 13 That promise of the Jewish Nobles and Rulers would have brought their Posterity under the Curse if they had exacted usury of their Bretheren as Joshua's Adjuration did oblige all posterity never to build Jericho Josh 6.26 and the breach of it did bring the Curse upon Hiel the Bethelite in the dayes of Ahab Publick Vowes do bind Posterity Jacobs Vow Gen. 28.21 did oblige all his posterity virtually comprehended in him Hos 12.4 The Rechabites found themselves obliged to observe the Vow of their Fore-father Jonadab Jer. 35.6.14 Publick Oaths do oblige posterity Joseph took an Oath of the Children of Israel to carry up his Bones to Canaan Gen. 50.25 which did oblige the posterity some hundreds of years after Exod. 13.19 Josh 24.32 National Covenants with Men before God do oblige posterity as Israels Covenant with the Gibeonites Josh 9.15.19 for the breach whereof many Ages after the posterity was plagued 2 Sam. 21.1 So Zedekiah's Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. 17.18 19. Especially National Covenants with God before Men about things Moral Objectively obliging are Perpetual Jer. 50.5 And yet more especially as Grotius observes when they are of an Hereditary nature that is when the subjeâ—t is permanent the matter Moral the end Good and in the form of them there is a Clause expressing their perpetuity All which Ingredients of perpetual Obligations are clear in Scotlands Covenants Which are National Promises adjuring all the Members of the Scottish Church under a Curse to preserve and promote Reformation according to the Word of God and to extirpate what is in Doctrine Worship Discipline or Government opposite thereto National Vowes devoting the then engaging and suceeding Generations to be the Lords people and to walk in His wayes National Oaths solemnly sworn by all Ranks with hands lifted up to the Most High GOD never to admit of Innovations or submit to Usurpations contradictory to the Word of God National Covenants wherein the King Parliament and People did Covenant with each other to perform their repective duties in their â—everal places and stations inviolably to preserve Religion and Liberty Yea National Lawes solemnly ratified by King and Parliament and made the foundation of the Peoples Compact with the King at his Inauguration And Finally they are National Covenants with God as party contracting to keep and do the Words of His Covenant The subject or parties contracting are permanent as long therefore as Scotland is Scotâ—and and God is Unchangeable who hath given His revealed Will for the Rule of Mans Obedience Scotlands Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government must be endeavoured to be preserved in a conformity to it The Matter of them is morall containing nothing but what is antecedently and eternally binding albeit there had neveâ— been a formal Covenant The Ends of them perpetually good to wit For defence of the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in thâ— Confession of Faith and which had been for many years with a blessing from Heaven preached and professed in this Kirk and Kingdom as Gods undoubted Truth grounded only upon His written Word And for maintaining the Kings Majestie his Person and Estate c. Having before our eyes the Glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of thâ— Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peacâ— of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included And in thâ— very Forme of them there are Clauses expressing their perpetuity Aâ— in that Article of the National Covenant subscribed anno 1638 there aâ— these words Being convinced in our minds and confessing with our mouths thâ— the present and succeeding Generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaâ— National Oath and Subscription inviolable In the Solemn League these Art. 〈◊〉 That we and our posterity after us may as bretheren live in Faith and Love and tâ— Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us Art. 5. We shall endeavour that thâ— may remain conjoined in a firm Peace and Vnion to all posterity IV. Next from vers 16. to 20. This faithful Watch-maâ— warns Vers 16.17 that and all Generations of the danger of breach 〈◊〉 Covenant Shewing First The Inductives to this sin exposing peopâ—â— to the danger of it and involving them in the guilt of it before he laâ— before them what shall be the punishment of it Quest 15 If it be enquired then What are the chief Temptatioâ— inducing to this sin of Covenant-breaking Here it is Answered Dwelling among and converse with a People of a false Religion 〈◊〉 ye know how ye have dwelt in the Land of Egypt and ye have seen their aboâ— nations c. as it is noted in a Parenthesis v. 16 17. This induces boâ— Persons Families and Tribes vers 18. and in this order first Person then Families then Tribes to symbolize with them in perjury Peopâ—â— are more readily seduced to sin by the perverse example of these thâ— live among
secret thoughts which no law of Man can reach yet in our day extorted by threatnings of Torture and Death if they were not discovered in Answers to our persecuters impertinent questions In all which impositions on our Liberties as men we have too stupidly couched under all burdens and complyed with them The Churches Liberties have also been invaded by the Ecclesiastical Supremacy declared by a Blasphemous Law inherent in the Crown and by an Absolute Power which all were required to obey without reserve which are horrid encroachments on the incommunicable Prerogatives of JEHOVAH and His CHRIST as only King and Head of His Church And yet these have been established and homologated by our several involvements in the sin of Prelacy and its attending Patronages robbing the Church of the Liberty of election of Pastors Indulgence and Tolleration to the prejudice of and without a Witness for the Churches Liberties In that same Article we are bound also to preserve and defend the supreme Magistrates Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms As in the National Covenant is expressed likewise to defend his Person and Authority in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Country Ministration of Justice and punishment of iniquity and stand to his defence in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom As the Duty is qualified in Scriptures 2 Sam 5 3 2 Kings 11 17 1 Kings 12 16 2 Chron 26 16 21 Rom 13 3 4 1 Pet 2 14. But as our Fathers in their acknowledgement had reason to say Neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might harden the King in his evil way But upon the Contrary he hath not only been permitted but many of us have been Instrumental to make him exercise his Power in many things tending to the prejudice of Religion and of the Covenant and of the Peace and Safety of these Kingdoms Which is so far from the right way of preserving his Majesties Person and Authority that it cannot but provoke the Lord against him unto the hazard of both Nay under a pretence of relieving and doing for the King whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the House of God some have ranversed and violated most of all the Articles of the Covenant So in our unhappy dayes it is our Sin Shame and Sorrow that we have had to do with men mounted on a Throne of iniquity that have been subverting Religion and Persecuting it designing to introduce Poperie it self and Slaverie Destroying our Liberties Suppressing the Evangel and Oppressing its Professors Enacting and Executing manifest Injustice stoping the Ministration of Justice against Idolaters Adulterers Murderers and other Malifactors and and punishing Equity and Duty instead of Iniquity arrogating and obtaining a Monstrous Prerogative above all Rights and Priviledges of Parliament all Laws all Liberties a power to Tyrannize as be lists without control But as it was our Fathers sin to inaugurate the late King after such discoveries of his Hypocritical emnity to Religion and Liberty upon his subscription of the Covenant So when he burnt and buried that Covenant and degenerate into manifest Tyrannie and had razed the very foundation upon which both his Right to govern and the Peoples Allegiance were founded and remitted the Subjects Allegiance by annulling the Bond of it We sinned in continuing still to own his Authority when opposite to and destructive of Religion and Liberty And many in swearing the Oath of Allegiance including also the Supremacy with the boundless Prerogatives without any Restrictions or Qualifications when all the Authority he had was engaged and exerted in a Rebellion against GOD forgetting foregoing and disowning these Limitations in the Covenant And in putting in his Interest with the Application of the words of the Covenant to him thô stated in opposition to it in the state of the quarrel in our Declarations of war at Pentland and Bothuel-Bridge for which the LORD put us to shame and went not out with our Armies Again we desire to confess and mourn over this as the sin of the Land and breach of Covenant that the Duke of York hath been admitted to the exercise of the Royal Office against the Laws of GOD and man being incapable of the Covenants qualifications of a Magistrate and being a Papist incapable of taking the Oath of Coronation to maintain the True Protestant Religion and abolish and gainstand Popery which for the preservation of the true Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom is statute by the 8 Act Parl 1 K Jam 6 That all Kings at the Reception of their Princely Authority shall take and swear Yet his Authority thô inconsistent with and declaredly opposite to Religion and Liberty hath been owned and upheld by paying the Cess and Supplies expresly exacted for maintaining Tyrannie in the destruction of Religion and Liberty Our own Consciences within and Gods Judgements upon us without do convince us of the manifold wilful renewed Breaches of the Fourth Article which concerneth the discovery of Malignants consonant to the Scriptures 2 Sam 23 6 Esther 7 5 6 Psal 26 5 6 Psal 101 8 Prov 25 5 For their Crimes have not only been connived at but dispensed with and pardoned and themselves received into intimate Fellowship and entrusted with Counsels admitted into Parliaments and put in places of Power and Authority for managing the publick Affairs of the Kingdom whereby in Gods Justice they got at last into their hands the whole power and Strength of the Kingdom both in Judicatories and Armies and did imploy the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful Engagement in War against the Kingdom of England Notwithstanding of the discent of many considerable Members of Parliament who had given constant proof of their integrity in the Cause from the beginning Of many faithful Testimonies and free Warnings of the Servants of God of the Supplications of many Synods Presbyteries and Shires And the Declarations of the General Assembly and their Commissioners to the Contrary Which Engagement as it was the Cause of much Sin so also of much Miserie and Calamity unto this Land and held forth the grieveousness of our sin in Complying with Malignants in the greatness of our Judgement that we may be taught never to split again upon the same Rock upon which the Lord hath set so Remarkable a beacon And after all that is come to pass unto us because of this our trespass And after that Grace hath been shewed unto our Fathers and us once and again from the Lord our God by breaking these Mens Yoke from off their and our necks and sometimes delivering our Fathers so far from their insultings that He put them into a Capacity to Act for the good of Religion their own safety and the Peace and safety of the Kingdom should they and we again break his Commandment and Covenant by joyning once more