Reasons against the rendering of Our sworn and subscribed Confession of Faith.  
1. IF we should render Our subscribed Covenant, we can not be free of the great guiltiness of Perjury before GOD: for as We were drawn by necessity to enter into a mutual Union and Conjunction amongst Ourselves. So are We bond not only by the Laws of GOD and nature, but by Our solemn Oath and Subscription, against all dangerous or divisive motions, by all lawful means to promove and observe the same without violation, and not suffer ourselves by whatsoever suggestion, allurement, or terror, directly or indirectly to be divided, or drawn from it: And it is too manifest, that no motion can be more divisive upon the one side, nor can we upon the other part more directly give way to division, then willingly, and with our own consent to render the band of our union and conjunction to be destroyed, that no testimony thereof may be any more extant.  
2. We would distinguish (except we will deceive ourselves) between Res jurata, that which is sworn, and Jurati● our sweareing thereof: for although all the general and particular points contained in our subscribed Covenant were to be insert in another Covenant, to be made by the express commandment of authority; yet to rander our sworn Confession, were both to pass from our swearing thereof, as si res esset integra, as if we had never sworn and subscribed; and also to destroy that which we have been doing, as a thing unlawful, and to be repent of. It were not only to make our oath to be no oath, our subscription no subscription, and our testimony no testimony, but really to acknowledge and Confess ourselves in this to have been transgressors; so that we can neither claim any right to the promise of GOD, nor think ourselves obliged in any duty to GOD by virtue of that oath. It must ever be remembered that oaths and perjuries are multiplied, not only according to the diversity of the things that are sworn, but according to the sweareing of the same thing at divers times; so oft as we swear and subscribe the same thing, by so many oaths and obligations are we bound unto GOD, and consequently the rendering of our subscription, is the renunceing of that individual band and obligation, although possibly by another we may stand bound or sworn.  
3. Our voluntary renewing of our Covenant with God, carrieth greater evidence of a free service to God, then if it had been done by express commandment of authority: Because the power of God making his people so willing, and the readiness and sincerity of the people is so much the more manifest; like as the LORD from heaven hath testified his acceptance by the wonderful workings of his Spirit in the hearts both of pastors and people, to their great comfort and strengthening in every duty, above any measure that ever hath been heard of in this land; And therefore to give any token of recalling the same were unthankfully to misregard the work of God, and to quite all the comforts and corroborations that the people of God have to their great joy experienced at this time.  
4. We have declared before God and the world, that this our Covenant, as it now standeth sworn and subscribed, is lawful and necessary, that it is done in obedience to the commandment of God, conform to the practice of the godly, and according to the laudable example of our religious progenitors, who by the like oath have obliged us to the substance and tenor of this: And therefore if we should now by rendering our Covenant undo that which we have done, we should deny the commandment of God, condemn the examples in scripture, and the practices in this church; and precondemne all like commendable courses to be taken by posterity in the like exigence.  
5. No Covenant in things  can be altered or rescinded without consent of the parties with whom it is made; But Our Covenant is a religious Covenant made with GOD and amongst Ourselves, and therefore can not be rendered without the express consent of the meanest of all the subscribers; who justly for their comfort may crave of Us all the benefit and performance thereof.  
6. There is no appearance that such as affect the prelates and their courses, will be moved to swear and subscribe all the parts of this Covenant: As for instance, To labour by all means to recover the former purity and liberty of the Gospel, as it was established and professed, before the novations already introduced, or to declare that they undoubtedly to believe, that the innovations and evils contained in Our Supplications, Complaints, and Protestations are abjured in the Confession of Faith, as other heads of Popery expressly contained therein.  
7. Although all the points of the subscribed Covenant were ratified by act of Parliament, yet could we not render the subscribed Covenants: Because acts of Parliament are changeable, and of the nature of a  ratification: And it is necessary, that this Our Oath being a religious and perpetual obligation, should stand in vigour for the more firm establishing of religion in Our own time, and in the generations following.  
8. All the world may justly wonder at Our inconstancy, and Our enemies who in their insolency are ready to insult upon Us at the least occasion, would not cease to mock at Us, and traduce Us as perjured Covenant-breakers, and troublers of the peace of the church and kingdom, without any necessary cause.  
9 Although We do not compare the Scriptures of God with a written confession of faith, yet as the rendering of the Bible was the sin of the Traditores of old, and a sign of the denial of the truth contained therein: so the rendering of Our Confession of faith, so solemnly sworn and subscribed, for staying the course of defection, and for barring of popery, and all other corruptions of religion, could be interpreted to be no less, than a real denial of Our Faith before men, in a time when GOD calleth for the Confession thereof.  
10. Many fair promises have been made, for not urging of articles already concluded, and for not troubling us with any further novations, which being believed, have ensnared many, and drawn them on to do that which otherwise they would not have done, all which promises have been broken and denied, when the performance was craved: And why shall We not expect the like in this case, especially where the challenge will be found to be more hard and difficile.   

Objections answered.  
Ob. 1 IT may be objected that the Confession of Faith being confirmed by the King's Authority were much to be preferred to this, which seemeth to have no express commandment of authority.  
Ans. 

1. Our Covenant wanteth not the warrant  and ecclesiastical, which authorised the former Covenant.  
2. Although rash and unadvised oaths be unlawful, yet voluntary covenanting with God is more free service to God (as hath been said before) then that which is commanded by Authority.  
3. We ought not to do ill that good may come of it, and must resolve to choose affliction rather than iniquity.    
Ob. 2 The rendering of the whole copies of the subscribed Covenant were a ready mean to remove all fears of the King's wrath against the subscribers.  
Ans. 

1. It is more fearful to fall in the hands of the living GOD.  
2. They wrong the King who threaten his good subjects with his wrath, for covenanting with God, in defence of religion and of his Majesty's Person and Authority.  
3. It were more righteous with GOD to turn his Majesty's Heart and Hand against Us, for dealing thus deceatfully in his Covenant.    
Ob. 3 If this be not granted his Majesty will grant neither Assembly nor Parliament for establishing Religion, and settling the peace of the church and kingdom.  
Ans. 

1. The good providence of God so sensible in this whole work from the beginning will incline the heart of so just and gracious a King, to deal more kindly and benignly with his good subjects.  
2. We have law, reason, and custom for craving and expecting of those lawful remedies of the grievances and fears of the whole church and country,    
Ob. 4 The end of the making of our Covenant was, that We might be delivered from the innovations of religion, which being obtained, our Covenant should cease, as having no further use.  
Ans. 

1. As acts of Parliament against popery did not abolish our former Confession of faith, wherein popery was abjured, So Acts of Parliament to be made against these innovations can not make our Covenant to be unprofitable.  
2. Although the innovations of religion were the occasion of making this Covenant, yet our intention was against those, and against all other innovations and corruptions to establish religion by an everlasting Covenant never to be forgotten.