THE INIQUITY OF The Late Solemn League, OR COVENANT DJSCOVERED: By way of a Letter to a Gentleman desiring information upon the Point.  
Whereunto is Subjoined the Covenant itself.  
Printed, March 9 1643.   

The Iniquity of the late Solemn League or Covenant, discovered by way of Letter to a Gentleman desiring information upon the point.  
Sir,  
IN answer to your desire of being informed concerning the late Covenant, I have endeavoured, as briefly and plainly, as I can, to let you understand what I conceive of it, and do advise upon it. I cannot but conceive that this Covenant, or Conspiracy rather, is a Combination wickedly contrived, and upon the Consciences of others as wickedly imposed by those, who, under pretence of reforming Religion and Government, would by force of Arms bring all into their Power.  
It is a wonder to consider, that men, who have always cried out for Liberty of Conscience, not suffering themselves to be limited in a Ceremony or thing indifferent, but in defence of that Liberty, endeavouring to bring all into confusion, should thus Imperiously Tyrannize over other men's Consciences, forcing upon them Oath after Oath, Covenant after Covenant, till they have hardened them into a senselessness of what is just and right.  
Now for yourself, who would continue Resolute against it, and for those Gentlemen, you speak of, who have taken it, or are so resolved, in hope of procuring their Liberty thereby, if my resolution and advice may in time be heard, it stands thus upon these two points.  
I. That no man can with a safe Conscience enter this Covenant, by reason of the gross and palpable iniquity of the Contents thereof.  
II. That he who through his own ignorance, and the cunning of others, has been seduced, or by their threats and Menaces forced, or by any other means brought on to enter this Covenant with them, is not bound to the performance of the Contents, but having by the taking of it, contracted their guilt of a grievous sin, is bound to a speedy Repentance for the same.  
First, That the sin and unlawfulness of taking it may appear, you must consider, that he which enters Covenant after this manner, doth before Almighty God profess, that in Conscience he allows and approves the designs and intentions of them, he enters Covenant with, and doth also bind himself to do and pursue that, for which the Covenant is made. And accordingly you may observe, that in the close of the Covenant, it is said, And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same. Now it is a known and received Rule, that an Oath or Covenant, (whether lawfully or unlawfully imposed, it matters not, so a man yields himself to take it) is taken not according to the reserved meaning of him that takes it, but according to the known and notorious meaning and intention of them that impose or require it. What such an one doth profess and bind himself unto, will appear in these particulars.  
I. He that enters this Covenant, doth by the first and second Articles thereof, before almighty God profess, that he doth in Conscience allow and approve the change, (i. e.) not the Reformation only but abolishing) of this Church-government, and of the extirpation of Episcopacy: and doth bind himself by the same Articles, really and constantly to endeavour the same.  
Now see the iniquity of this. First; here is sedition: Subjects entered into a Covenant for a change of established Government, without and against their Sovereign's command and Authority. The example they pretend for this out of, Ezra, 10. 3. makes against them; for there was no change of Law or Government attempted, and Ezra had good Authority for what he did, being sent from the King with full commission to carry bacl the People to jerusalem, and there to restore the Temple and Worship according to the Law of his God, Ezra 7. 13, 14. Secondly, here is injustice to fellow Subjects: Subjects entering a Covenant, and binding themselves to do notorious injury and wrong to others; that is, to extirpate a company of Men, whose Function (I speak of Bishops) is of Apostolical institution, and has continued in this Land, from the first receiving of the Christian Faith: whose immunities also, and privileges are undeniably most ancient and Legal in this Kingdom. Thirdly, here is a Sacrilege, in spoiling Them, or a Church rather, of those Possessions and Interests, which beside the right of Dedication, do by as good Law and Title belong to them, as any Liberty or Possession doth to other Subjects. Lastly, here is Rebellion with the greatest impiety: Subjects endeavouring this by force of Arms (as it will appear by the sixth Article, they that Covenant, bind themselves to do) that is, to compel your Sovereign to such an Extirpation and spoiling, against which he is bound by the Law of God, and by express Oath, and cannot be released of that Oath, without their consent to whom he makes it, viz. those that must here be extirpated and spoiled.  
II. He that enters this Covenant, doth by the fourth Article profess, that he allows, All those which adhere to His Majesty in this Cause, should be esteemed and proceeded against, as Malignants, Incendiaries, and as in the first Article they set them out, Common Enemies; for it is notorious and well known, whom the Imposers of this Covenant do mean by those names. Also by the same fourth Article, he binds himself to discover all such, that they may be brought to punishment.  
The Iniquity of this appears, by what was said upon the former Articles; but more especially by the duties unto which the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance bind all Subjects, viz. the assisting of His Majesty against all attempts, and the discovering unto him all conspiracies; duties contrary to what is undertaken here.  
III. Lest this Covenant should seem contrary to those Oaths, there is in the third Article a clause, for preserving and defending the King's Majesty's Person and Authority, without any thought or intention of diminishing His just Power and Greatness; which though he that enters this Covenant may think to be just and fair, yet is it indeed a fearful Collusion, and mocking of God, there being nothing more against His Majesty's Authority and Power, than the intent and pursuit of this Covenant.  
FOUR He that enters this Covenant, doth bind himself by the fifth Article to endeavour the continuance of Peace between the two Kingdoms, which, according to the intent of this Covenant, he must do, by joining with those who have now actually broken the Pacification, and in pursuit of this Covenant invaded this Kingdom: which is also a fearful Collusion, and mocking of God.  
V He that enters this Covenant, doth profess by the sixth Article, that he allows and approves the assisting and defending of all those, that take this Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof, against all opposition, and lets or impediments whatsoever; and by the same Article binds himself really and constantly to endeavour the same to his power, without giving himself to a detestable Neutrality in this Cause, or making a defection to the contrary part.  
Now see the Iniquity of this Article, which so plainly speaks the language of desperate Rebellion: it is notoriously known by the Arms which they and the Scots have raised and used in pursuit of this and former Covenants or Conspiracies, what is meant by assisting and defending their covenanties, by maintaining and pursuing their Covenant against all opposition whatsoever; so that he which Covenants with them, doth by this Article bind himself to endeavour by force of Arms to compel his Sovereign, to the Reformation pretended by this Covenant, and doth, as much as in him lies, cut himself off from returning to his duty and obedience, which is here called a defection to the contrary part. And I marvel, those Gentlemen, who by entering this Covenant hope for liberty, do not see in what a Toil they are caught worse than the Prison; for should they have liberty thereupon, what do they intent to do; to live quietly at home. No, they expressly bind themselves against Neutrality, as a detestable thing; or to assist the King; that indeed they stand bound to do, but by this Covenant desperately undertake against it, under the name of defection to the contrary part.  
VI Lastly to fill up the measure and to mock God Almighty to his face, he that enters Covenant with these holy Leaguers, doth profess that he approves and binds himself to all their premises, as to that which much concerns the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King. Artic 6. and elsewhere.  
All which considered, I may conclude, that no Subject in this Kingdom, who has not cast of the conscience of that which is just and right (much less such an one, that abhors the designs and proceed of these men, and has suffered in opposition to them) can approve and allow the Contents of this Covenant, and bind himself to a real pursuance of them. But he will rather say to his soul in the Psalmists words, Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool (or seat) of wickedness, which imagineth mischief as a Law? Psal. 94. 20. or as jacob of the Brethren of Cruelty, Oh my soul come not thou into their secret, Gen. 49. 6.  
After the Resolution of Conscience, it will be needless to stand upon outward Motives, those evils of desolation which these men threaten, as you say, to bring upon Family, Posterity, Inheritance; yet I desire you consider that Houses and Families do continue by the providence and blessing of God, not by the will of Cruel and bloodthirsty men, who (as the Psalmist threatens them) shall not themselves live out half their days.  
Thus much for the resolving and keeping a good Conscience in the refusal of this Covenant, by reason of the gross and palpable iniquity of the Contents thereof; now for the recovery of Conscience ensnared by entering this Covenant, we must consider the not binding of it, if taken. Which was the second point proposed at the beginning.  
This is a certain Truth. That the matter and intent of the Covenant being unlawful, it cannot bind to performance; no more, than Herod's oath did bind him to proceed to execution, Matth. 14. or the great curse under which those forty Conspirators, Act. 23. combined themselves to make an end of Paul, could indeed oblige them to performance.  
But there are two sorts of men that abuse themselves by a misconceit of the not binding of this Covenant. 1. Those that are suffered to take it with express Reservations of their own framing, which do annul and frustrate the whole Contents, and leave nothing to bind them; as thus, I take this Covenant, so fare forth, as it doth not contrary the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, or the like. And thus the judges there, as it is said, were permitted to take it. But they, as wise as they are, should have considered, that, although indeed they be not bound to perform the Contents of this Covenant being made void by such reservations, yet will they be made to know, they must perform and proceed as fare as their Masters (who impose it) do, or shall think fit to do upon after occasions, and for default will be dealt with, not as Malignants only, but as perjured Persons. They should also (as knowing as they are) learn, that while they thus play fast and lose within the compass of their own Law, God's Law casts an heavy bond upon them, the guilt of an heinous sin in mocking and taking. God's name in vain after so high a manner. For when Reservations are allowed in the taking of Oath or Covenant, they must limit the matter of it but in part, and not destroy it in the whole; for then the whole business is, as was said, an open mockery, a presumptuous taking of God's name in vain, and requires a speedy repentance.  
II. The other sort are those, who hearing this doctrine, That this Covenant being taken doth not bind to performance, by reason of the unlawful Contents of it; do ignorantly and by ill consequence conclude themselves into it after this manner, If it binds not, then may we take it, and there's no harm done. They must know, that although it binds not to performance, because no man can stand bound to do that which is unlawful and wicked, yet if they take it, it binds them under the guilt of a grievous sin, in calling God to witness, they will do that, which indeed with a good conscience they cannot perform. Such I say, are not bound to perform what they have wickedly undertaken and promised by this Covenant, but they are bound speedily to repent of the grievous sin they have committed both against God, whose name and Majesty they have abused in taking such a Covenant, and against the King their Sovereign, to whom they were bound by the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, in duties contrary to the designs and intention of this Covenant, and so had need to make haste in returning to their duty, as Shimei did after he had cursed the King, And Shimei fell down before the King and said, Let not my Lord impute iniquity to me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely on the day that my Lord the King went out of jerusalem: For thy servant knoweth, that I have sinned; therefore behold I am come the first this day to meet my Lord the King. 2. Sam. 19 19, 20.  
Sir, I hope you will not need the advice of this latter part, but will, according to the direction of the former, endeavour to keep a good Conscience, which you shall find in this your durance to be a continual feast▪ I pray God direct and strengthen you.   

A SOLEMN League and Covenant FOR Reformation, and Defence of Religion, The Honour and Happiness of the KING; And the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms OF England, Scotland, and Jreland.  
WE 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 happiness of the King's Majesty, and His Posterity, and the true public Liberty, Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms, wherein every ones private condition is included, and calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, Conspiracies, Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God, against the true Religion, and Professors thereof in all places, especially in these three Kingdoms, ever since the reformation of Religion, & 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 & Kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are present and public Testimonies; We have now at last, (after other means of Supplication, Remonstrance, Protestations, and Sufferings) for the preservation of ourselves and our Religion, from utter ruin and Destruction, according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times, and the example of God's people in other Nations, after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn 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 and constantly, through the Grace of God, endeavour in our several places and 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 endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for Worship and Catechising; 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, endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, Church-Government, by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, their Chancellors and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons, and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy) Superstition, Heresy, Schism, Profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine, and the power of Godliness; lest we partake in other men's 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 several Vocations, endeavour with our Estates and Lives, mutually to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's Person and Authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesty's just power and greatness.  
FOUR We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been, or shall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil Instruments, by hindering 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 publiquetriall, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the supreme judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.  
V And whereas the happiness 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 conjoined in a firm Peace and Union to all Posterity; And that justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent Articles.  
VI We shall also according to our places and callings in this common Cause of Religion, Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom, assist and defend all those that enter into this League & Covenant, in the maintaining & pursuing thereof, and shall not suffer ourselves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination, persuasion or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed union & conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this Cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King; but shall all the days of ourlives, realously 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 ourselves to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal 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 jesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof; We profess and declare before God and the World, our unfeigned 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 and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured 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 and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in public and in private, in all duties we own to God and Man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real 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 made in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same; as we shall answer at the grea● 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 bless our desires and proceed with such success as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny, to join in the same, or like Association and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of jesus Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms, and Commonwealths.  
FINIS.