to go fight for them and their party against the King and his party which did oppose those ends But afterward you might see apparently that it was not from his evill Councell alone but it was from himselfe which did appear by his refusal to hearken to those many Petitions Declarations Remonstrances and other proffers made unto him from time to time Nay when his evill Councell was taken away he came not to his Parliament but did flye to the Scots Nay when he was in Prison and after notwithstanding they did condescend to a Treaty upon tearmes of disadvantage yet he held still to his principles which had they yeelded unto they had not onely lost the Cause for which so much blood and treasure yea innocent blood of Saints was shed and that in abundance but in all liklyhood they had brought themselves and the Kingdoms into a greater and worser bondage then before And besides they had broken their Covenant in so doing And afterwards when it did appeare that many in Parliament did act so as was against your fore-named ends and did side in yeelding to the King and his party then the Army was bound if it were in their power and so all that had taken the Coven went are likewise bound so far as their power did reach to apprehend them and bring them to their tryal that they might receive condigne punishment and that by their Covenant So as if it appeare that the Parliament still sitting the Army and godly party of the Kingdom did desire and act no other ways then fâ—r the glory of God in the Priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdome and in discharge of their Covenant then they are so farre from deserving blame for what they have done as they deserve incouragement and commendations for what they have done And that they have so done may be seen and judged the better we will set down the Covenant at large which is as followeth I. THat you shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God in your severall places and callings endeavour the preservation of the Reformed Religion of the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdome 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 uniformity in Religion and Confession of Faith Forme of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechising that we and the posterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middest of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavor the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy that is Church Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Arch Deacons and al other inferiour Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godâ—inesse least we be partakers of other mens sins and in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall vocations indeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Priviledges of Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdome And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and Authority in the preservation of the true Religion and the liberties of the Kingdome that the World may bear witnesse with our consciences of our true Loyalty and that wee have no thoughts nor intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and Greatnesse IIII. We shal with al faithfulnesse endeavor the discovery of all such as have bin or shal be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any parties for faction among the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may bee brought to publicke tryall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreame Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happines of a blessed peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Progenitours is by the good Providence of God granted to 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 remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity and that justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the former Article VI. We shall according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuance thereof and shal not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by what ever combination perswasion or terror to be divided from this blessed union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God and the good of these Kingdomes and honor of the King but shall all the daies 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 of our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale and make knowne that it may be timely removed or prevented All which we do as in the sight of God Thus you have the Covenant at large that nothing may be hid but it may appeare to the Readers view now let us come to consider what may be the true meaning of it as might be in the minds of all that understand the nature of a Covenant that tooke it for every such person I suppose will observe the rule set downe by the Lord which is Thou shall sweare in truth righteousnesse and judgement and according to that let us looke seriously at the meaning of it and so much the rather because many that I suppose doe really seeke the good of the Kingdome are much stumbled about it fearing it is broken by those that have beene the most eminent Actors for the Kingdomes good and partly because those who should bee Incouragers of them that have so acted whose word goes far cry out against for the breach of Covenant and make it one of their strong holds 1. In the first branch first there is a promise and ingagement to maintaine the Scots in that Reformation in Religion in Doctrine Worship and Discipline Govâ—rnment which is exercised and practised among them
against all common Enemies so as if the common Enemy should disturb them at any time the Covenant bindes to go and helpe them if they stand in need as well as if we were of that Nation but it doth not at all binde us to their manner of Worship Discipline and Government neither could our Oath have beene lawfull if wee should so have sworne because we did not know their Worship Discipline and Government and so we could not have sworne according to the forenamed Rule but if we should have been so weake or sinfull to have offered to have taken such an oath you that professe to be our guides would not have suffered us so to doe and much lesse have incouraged and exhorted us so to doe as you did but to make it sure that your meaning might not be mistaken you adde that the Reformation you would endeavour in England and Ireland should be according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches which doe clearly hold forth that your selves did doubt whether the Reformation of Religion that is in Scotland in Worship Discipline and Government be according to the word of God or not or whether it be according to the example of the best Reformed Churches and therefore you would weigh it and examine it and in that you did well and it was a good sure way for the people for by that meanes they might have liberty to try it before they did receive it and in so doing they might lawfully take such a Covenant for they might have the word of God to looke into and by that means they might try the Worship Discipline and Government whether it were agreeable thereunto or not and also might see thereby which were the best Reformed Churches for that is an unerring Rule And you adde you will likewise endeavour to bring the three Kingdomes into the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion I suppose your meaning is therein that England and Ireland should be endeavoured to be as one according to the Rule formerly spoken of which was sure and when you had attained that Reformation in the manner before spoken of you would carry it on with so much beauty in love humility and meeknesse and also by earnest prayer to God together with brotherly exhortation that you would win the Scots to come in and joyne with you in your way of Worship Discipline and Government and this is the substance of the first Article 2. To the attaining to this end you Covenant that without respect of persons you will endeavour to extirpate all persons and things that should hinder you in that forenamed Reformation and way of Worship as Popery Prelacy and their adherents and also whatever else that is contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godlinesse and also that which will not conduce to your forenamed end and therefore you would doe here as David said Away from me ye workers of iniquity for I will keep the Commandement of my God And this was necessary for you to doe to have all the old Rubbish removed that you might the better lay a new foundation And this I take to bee the substance of the second branch of the Covenant and the summe of the first and great part of it the glory of God in the manner of his worship 3. That you will in like sincerity c. endeavour with your lives and estates the preservation of the Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdome and the Kings Majesties person and Authority But all these must be in the preservation of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdome but I suppose you never intended their preservation no further so as you would preserve neither Priviledges of Parliament nor the person nor Authority of the King any further then it might appeare they would preserve Religion in that way of Reformation as is in the first Article And also the Priviledges of the Kingdome to the same end and indeed therein stands the Priviledges of the Parliament and the true Liberties of the Kingdome for that is a guide to both and the preserver of both for while wee preserve the honour of God we provide for both the other and there can be no true priviledge nor liberty nor safety assured without that for God is the preserver of all and he hath said Those that honour me I will honour and those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed so as the just power and greatnesse stood in the upâ—olding of that and if he went against that his power and greatnesse was not to be obeyed for wee should obey God rather then man and they that were urged to goe against a command of God by men have chosen rather to goe into the fire and into the Den of Lions rather then to obey Potent Kings when they were not able otherwise to shift for themselves and the like may be said of any in Parliament that should joyne to doe the like But your Covenant does directly binde you to stand for it in another way which was by force if you could and therefore you ingage your lives and estates for the obtaining of it so as if you have not ground out of the word of God so to doe your Covenant was a sinfull Covenant and then you had not need to cry out of persons for transgressing of it but had need to humble your selves for the taking of it and incouraging others so to doe for the Covenant as it is made in a true sense seems to me to be kept and more exactly by them that are cried out against for the breaking of it then by any of you that so cry out c. by the Parliament now sitting and the Army 4. You will with all faithfulnesse endeavour to discover all those that are Incendiaries and evill Instrumeâ—ts c. that shall be found to be hinderers of your Reformation of Religion as beforesaid by dividing the King from his people and the Kingdomes one from another and that you will bring them to triall that they may receive condigne punishment c. So as here you binde your selves to this to all whosoever they be if they doe either of these they must be brought forth to triall and therefore if the King or any party in Parliament or any other whatsoever shall hinder your Reformation as aforesaid by making factions among the people or factious the Covenant bindes to bring them to triall that they may receive condigne punishment according to the degree of their offences 5. You Covenant that all that wilfully oppose that union made between the Kingdomes upon the termes formerly expressed they must be dealt withall according to the manner expressed in the forâ—er Article and therefore I appeale to your owne consciences if the King did not oppose it wilfully in his not yeelding according to that manner as is formerly expressed and if he did then how could the Covenant bee kept if he were not
brought forth according to that maner and then if the King should then all those in Parliament that did side with him and endeavour to preserve him in that way and give him power so to doe in part or in whole must needs be dealt withall after the same manner or else the Covenant could not be kept and preserved 6. The Covenant bindes not onely to doe all this in your owne persons but to assist and defend all those that have taken the Covenant in their endeavours to maintaine it as aforesaid and this you will doe all the daies of your lives zealously and constantly against all opposition with all your power and if you cannot doe it your selves you will reveale it and that timely to those that may that so you may not be prevented of that great end you aimed at the glory of God the true priviledges of Parliament and the true liberties of the Kingdome and it must needs be thus or else another party that regard none of all these must pretend the Covenant that did maintaine the King and all other in their way which I hope you would abhor And now let us see whether the Parliament now sitting and the Army have broken this Covenant in this sense or not or whether they have not kept it and give me leave to joyn both together for they are both ingaged a like in what have beene done because allowed and approved of by both 1. And first they have defended the Scots against their Enemies and that notwithstanding their deserts to the contrary and did set them in such a posture as they might freely act their Reformed Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and have opposed them in the breach of Covenant which they did in many particulars according as the Covenant did binde them Also the Lord hath made them instrumentall so to act as that they have brought England into such a posture as they may have liberty to act freely in such a Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as is according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and are about to set Ireland in the same condition and would be glad if Scotland would doe the like and they have opposed all those that have acted the contrary so far as in them lies according to this first branch of the Covenant 2. They have done as much as in them lies to extirpate Popery and Prelacie that is to say Government by Arch-bishops Bishops c. so that Hierarchy is to be abolished and for any thing is yet done they may endeavour to doe the like to all that shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse which is according to the second branch of the Covenant 3. They have with their estates and lives endeavoured to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament in their acting for the glory of God and the priviledges of the Kingdome and they have stood by and for them that have so acted and for the Parliament to act freely for the glory of God is their greatest priviledge and highest right and for the Kingdome to be set in such a condition as they may freely worship God and walke in their severall places and callings in the discharge of their duties according to the Word of God is the greatest liberty that can befall a Kingdome or Kingdomes and such a condition have they been instrumentall to set this Kingdome in at present and that the Kingdome might be eased of those burthens hath been their desire and endeavours by their Remonstrance and Petitions for many burthens to be removed and they have endeavoured it by their actings also and still they continue to be sollicitous that way and for the Kings Person they did defend it after they had gotten it into their possession and would have defended it still and his authority also if they could have done it in the preservation of the true Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and the Liberties of the Kingdome and also they would not have diminished his just power and greatnesse which was to be shewed forth in acting for the glory of God in the good of his Kingdomes but they kept his Person from putting forth his authority power and greatnesse in unjust waies and to the overthrow of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes in the Reformation of them according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches all which the Covenant doth binde them unto 4. They have indeavoured to discover Incendiaries Malignants evill Instruments that have hindred the reformation of Religion and sought to make divisions and also those that have made Factions and Parties among the people and have brought them to triall that they might receive condigne punishment according to the degree of their offences witnesse their dealing with Duke Hambleton Lord Goring Lord of Holland Lord Capâ—ll â—nd the chiefe of those that rose in Wales nay they have not spared the King himselfe so faithfull have they been in performance of their Covenant nor have they spâ—red any in Parliament that have acted that way 5. They have endeavoured that Justice might be done upon the wilfull opposers of the peace and union made between the Kingdomes witnesse their dealing with the Scots and those that adhered in that designe 6. They have assisted those that have stood in the performance and pursuance of this Covenant against all that have opposed them witnesse their dealing with the Scots when they opposed and with the King and with some in Parliament and with those parties before named when they opposed and as this may be said for the Army so the like may be said for the Parliament that now sit who have stood to owne them and have approved of what hath been done in these kinds by adding their authority to it And the like may be said of the godly part of people of the Kingdome who in their placâ— have showne themselves destrous those things might be done whereby the Covenant might be performed as hath appeared by their many Petitions so that those that are cryed out against to be Covenant breakers are those that have been the most faithfull in keeping their Covenant of any men in the Kingdome for the Parliament and Army have not effected these things but in hazard of their estates and lives and yet they have gone thorow with it in such a sort that the Generations to come may call them blessed and the present Generation especially the godly party of the Kingdome may say of the present Parliament and Army as they spake of Joseph Thou hast saved our lives And now let us examine their accusers which doe so cry out of the breach of Covenant and â—â—â—k arâ— many people by their so doing and see whether themselves have not broken the Covenant 1. They have been zealous for the preservation of that reformation of Religion here that
evill instruments nor have the Parliament declared against them any such thing nor shewed any dislike in what they have done but rather justifie what they have done by their Declaration and this the Covenant calls for and therefore they are not so to be charged And whereas it is said they offered violence to the Person of the King contrary to the intention of the Parliament in taking up Armes and that they divested him of his regall Authority to which it may be answered when the Parliament first tooke up Armes the breadth of their charity and tendernesse of his honour was such as made them to thinke possibly he might be led chiefly on only by his evill Counsellors and yet they were more tender over the honour of God and the priviledges and Liberties of the whole Kingdome and therefore they raised an Army to go against him if he would oppose that but if he would forsake those wayes he went in and come and joyne with them for the honour of God and the good of the Kingdome they intended no violence to his Person but if he would not nor they could not obtaine it no other way then they resâ—lved to offer violence to his Person for their raysing an Army and sending them out and keeping them in the Field against whom was it but against his Person and Authority for who could have been able to have carried on such opposition but he And besides he was among them in person and therefore as subject to the Bullet and Sword as another man but afterward when many apparent grounds were that it was not from his evill Counsellours alone but from himselfe as appeared when his Cabinet was taken and after when his evill Counsell was gone he went to the Scots and would not come to his Parliament neither hath he yeelded since as hath been said before so as they who will not bee willfully blinde may see the Cause was otherwise and that which was done was necessary and according to the Covenant to divest him of his regall authoritie for the cheife ground did still remaine as at the first for the glory of God and the Priviledges and true Liberties of the Kingdome must be maintained which could not have been don otherways witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18th of January and they knew better how the State-affaires stood then you and we doe besides consider what is said in Mr Cookes booke and it will appeare plainly And againe it is said they being private persons seeke to overthrow and subvert the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome For answer to the first their being private Persons consider what hath been said formerly and for overthrowing the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome that is not so for the contrary is declared by the Parliament for they have said they will maintaine them what the Armie did was in proposalls as hath beene said formerly and so they are not subverted and overthrowne Againe it is said their doings are licencious tending to the subversion of Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdome Answer The doings of those especially that your Letter is directed unto have not been irregular if what hath been formerly said be weighed much lesse licencious so far as they have yet acted nor have they been to the subversion of Religion c. but they have acted to the preservation of all while they have set the Parliament in such a condition as they may act for the preservation of them all It is said they have gone against their Oath and Covenant in what they have done For Answer That may suffice that is said formerly they have been so far from going against them that the Parliament and Army have kept them better then any in the Kingdome for they have performed what the Covenant desires in a high degree It is againe said they are fallen into such a condition as they should not be bidden God speed nor be wished well in the name of the Lord. Answer What some dare or will doe I know not but they have acted and kept the Covenant so faithfully of late as the Parl. and Kingd especially the godly party in the Kingdom have cause to blesse them in the name of the Lord and to pray for them for we may not only say Instrumentally they have saved our lives but our families and estates that we have but they have been Instrumentall also to save our liberties and which is most of all our Religion in a more free and full injoyment of it more then ever before and this by their late actings for without this all the former blood and treasure had been lost and the Cause and all the Kingdom left in a worse condition then before It is said they feare they are opening a doore to damnable Errours Heresies and licentious wicked practises For Answer I doe not see Cause so to thinke much lesse to speake but least of all to write so for love thinkes no evill nor dares not except it have manifest witnesse and we are commanded to judge nothing before the time which Rules I conceive are broken in a very high degree being divulged to the world especially against persons as are in such places and of such deserts Againe it is said Religion is made to stinke by reason of their miscarriages and the faces of Gods servants covered with shame and their hearts filled with sorrow and griefe for it It may be answered Religion may be made beautifull and it and the people of God made a sweet savour unto God by their meanes for they have been a meanes to set them at liberty that have power in their hands to give liberty to the people of God so to doe and therefore so far from having their faces covered with shame as they may look their enemies in the face with boldnesse and so far from having their hearts filled with sorrow as there is cause they should be filled with joy and gladnesse to thinke that now those in Parliament may act freely for God in setting his people at liberty to serve him according to the Rules of his Word and the example of the best Reformed Churches and that they may act freely also in the execution of justice between man and man without feare and without partiality and also for any other thing for freedom and liberty of Parliament and Kingdome Againe it is said the golden cord of Government and Authority of Magistrates is broken and laid in the dust by them for answer it is so farre from being broken and laid in the dust by them that it is exalted and made strong by them for they have been a meanes to set them in such a posture they need not to feare but be bold and couragious in acting for God and his glorie and be bold in the true execution of Justice and you know Justice exalteth a Nation so as there is a way made by them instrumentally to the exaltation of the whole Nation Againe it is said they have
meanes when you that are Teachers of others in it and professe your selves so to be doe so manifestly disgrace those that seeke to maintaine it in the most pure manner and plead for those that would throw it downe and that you should be turned from what you were in the beginning of the Parliament and if it doe not make Religion stinke yet there is cause the faces of Gods people should be covered with shame for your miscarriages in this thing and our hearts filled with sorrow and griefe and the Government of the Parliament and the courage and faithfulnesse of the Army by you is sought to be laid in the dust and so have made them contemptible And let it be considered if your cause may not be compared to Caine and Balaam yea whither it will not suite with Corah and his company for they rebelled against Moses and Aaron in their acting for God and have not you done the like against the godly Party in Parliament and Kingdome which may appeare by what hath been formerly said and in that sence may you not be called Rebels And may it not be more truly said of you in your acting in this paper that you act the parts of Jesabels while you seeke under pretence of the Covenant to cast filth upon the Parliament and Army stirring up the people to slight if not to contemne and rebell against them and so be a meanes to hinder all that good they have laboured and endeavoured to procure if not stirre up to another warre And may it not be further said you doe that which you condemne in others when you condemne others for breaking the Covenant and yet you doe it your selves and condemne others for not obeying the Parliament and you doe not obey it your selves nay contemne it or slight it at the best and condemne others for resisting the powers and you doe it your selves c. And may it not be truly said of you that the time was you did think they did exceeding evill that did not goe out to warre against the enemies of the Kingdome and bring them to triall if not destroy them and now you are against them that so doe And aske Conscience if you have not slighted providence when it hath so wonderfully appeared to the just offence of many a godly heart and therefore much more against that that hath declared himselfe so wonderfully for us witnesse your not taking notice of them and that when you have been injoyned to doe it by the highest Authority in the Kingdome and also slighted the successes formerly you have kept dayes of Thanksgiving for providences and successes but now you slight both although they be as great if not greater then ever before And whereas you tax them for being led by the impulse of spirit it may be truly said in this you were not led by the Spirit of God for that is pure and peaceable but it is to be feared you are led by the contrary spirit in this or by your owne spirit at the best and if any evill should have befalne you by this your acting it might truly have been said it had been contracted by your owne miscarriages and may it not be truly said of you that you were beautifull when you acted for God in the beginning of the Warres but now you are cut of his waies and therefore you may feare he and his will forsake you or at least he will suffer contempt to be brought upon you And may we not admire to heare you say they were acting freely for that which was Covenanted for untill the Armie came and forced them was it Covenanted that all should be brought againe into the old Channell or into a worse condition then they were before the Warres began as hath been formerly spoken to and therefore consider who may looke for the flying Roll and who are to be accounted busie-bodies in other mens matters and therefore the Lord give every of you a heart to consider that the mouth of the Cannon may not be turned against your selves I meane those charges you have laid upon them and which is more those Scriptures which should be as Cannons indeed which we should not stand against but fall before them when they come against us especially those or the most of them which you have brought against them as I have hinted before for if these things be thus have not all the people of God cause especially the Ministers that have not offended as you have done to crie aloud and shew you your transgressions and your sinne and consider if they doe hold their peace whether they doe not make themselves guilty of your sins and if we must not have fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse I beseech you consider what hath been said and see if you have not bin such in this act and if we are bidden to abstaine from all appearance of evill how much more from reall evill and if you consider what hath been said you will see yours reall as well in this and therefore it must follow that the people of God must abstaine from you and have no fellowship with you while you act in this manner and if we must not meddle with them that are subject to change then by what hath been said we must not meddle with you for have not you changed when you crie out against what you formerly cryed out for and crie downe that which formerly you have cryed up and if we must withdraw from every Brother that walkes disorderly then we beseech you see if you be not the men by what hath been said and by what your selves have said and what your selves can say who know more of the secrets of your owne hearts then any other man or men but the fruits we may judge by your owne instance I take it and that may most prevaile with you if it be as your selves say it is disorderly not to be subject to Principalities and obey Magistrates if you be not the men consider besides all your expressions in prayer those daies of Humiliation and those daies of Thanksgiving that have been commanded of late may sufficiently declare to all that have been neare you Nay hath it not further appeared when you have gone about to cast an odium upon them not only in our owne Land but in all others so far as in you lyes by your causing it to be put in print and you have further shewed it by doing the like upon their proceedings and upon the Armie which they have set up and as is in print by giving them unseemly termes and reproachfull all which your selves cannot endure and doe you thinke your selves better then they and is not this the way to bring them into contempt and is it not against that text you bring in the Romans 13.1 2. Let every soule be subiect to the higher powers for there is no power but of God and is not the Parliament a power and is not the Armie a