THE KINGDOM'S REMEMBRANCER: OR, The Protestation, Vow, and Covenant, Solemn LEAGUE and COVENANT, Animadverted. So far as it concerns Religion.  
By W. WICKINS, late Minister at St. Geo. Southwark.  Gen. 28.20, 21, 22. 
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying; If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; Then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee.  Gen. 35.1. 
And God said unto Jacob, arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make thee an Altar unto God that appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.  
Sept: 19 LONDON, Printed for John Rothwell at the Fountain in Goldsmiths-Row in Cheapside, 1660.   

To the engaged Reader.  
GOD requires of thee the use of thy memory, three things he would have thee not forget, his mercies, judgements, and thine own engagements; that therefore in this last thou mayest not be wanting, Thou art minded of Protestation, Vow, and Covenant so far as concerns Religion, which thou canst not but take well, if thou mindest to perform that good, which thou didst so solemnly promise in the day of England's distress.  
W. W.   


I. PROTESTATION. In the Preamble to the Protestation, 1641.  
THAT divers Innovations and Superstitions have been brought into the Church, multitudes driven out of his Majesty's Dominions.  
How brought in, may be collected by what spoken a little before, viz. That the designs of the Priests and Jesuits, and other adherents to the See of Rome, have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly, to the undermining and danger of the ruin of the true reformed Protestant Religion in his Majesty's Dominions established. By which it appears,  
1. Whose design, innovations, and superstitions are, the Priests, and Jesuits, and other adherents to the See of Rome. 2. Whether it tends to the undermining and ruin of the true Religion. And further we have one very ill consequence thereof; The driving of multitudes out of his Majesty's Dominions.  
All which is sufficient to provoke 1. true Christians to withstand in their respective places Innovations and Superstitions. 2. The well-affected Statesman to prevent the rise and growth of these things; for the multitude of Subjects is the honour, and may be the safety of a Land.  
In the Protestation. I A. B. in the Presence of Almighty God promise, vow, and protest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life, power and estate, the true Reformed Protestant Religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realm, contrary to the same doctrine: where should be remembered, 1. What vowed, promised, and protested, viz. To maintain and defend the true reformed Protestant Religion. 2. Against what? All Popery and Popish innovations. 3. How far? As far as lawfully I may. 4. With what? Life, power, and estate. 5. Where? Within the Realm. last; That length of time, doth not disoblige from this vowed, promised, and protested in the presence of Almighty God.  
Yet more. [ANd to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppose, and by all good ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment all such as shall by force, practice, counsels, plots, conspiracies, or otherwise do any thing to the contrary.] Which binds not only to a withdrawing of the hand from promoting Popery & Popish innovations; but to a putting forth of the hand, as fare as lawfully I may against those that shall any manner of way attempt it.  
Conclusion. And neither for hope, fear, nor other respect shall relinquish this promise, vow, and protestation; which hinders the working of inordinate affections, and baracado's against temptations from without.  
But if it be queried whether this doth not bind to the form, discipline, rites and ceremonies of th● Church? the House of Commons answer by what explicative follows.  
WHereas some doubts have been raised concerning the meaning of these words [The true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish innovations within this Realm contrary to the same doctrine] this House doth declare, that by those words, was and is meant only the public doctrine professed in the said Church, so far as it is opposite to Popery and Popish innovations: and that the said words are not to be extended to the maintaining of any form of Worship, Discipline or Government, nor of any rites or ceremonies of the said Church of England.  
And this was thought so meet then to be taken, that  

Die Veneris 30. July 1641.  
Resolved upon the Question. 
 That this House doth conceive that the Protestation made by them, is so to be taken by every man that is well affected in Religion, and to the good of the Commonwealth, and therefore doth declare; That what person soever shall not take the Protestation, is unfit to bear office in the Church or Commonwealth.    

2. The Vow and Covenant appointed by the Lords and Commons to be taken by every man throughout the Kingdom.  
THere then being a Popish plot for the subversion of the true Protestant reform Religion, therefore they declare; That in order to the security and preservation of the true Protestant Religion, they have thought fit, that all who are truehearted, should bind themselves each to other in a sacred vow and Covenant.  
In it. I A. B. in humility and reverence of the Divine Majesty, declare my hearty sorrow for my own sins, and the sins of this Nation, which have deserved the calamities and judgements that now lie upon it; and my true intention is by God's grace to endeavour the amendment of my own ways.] If our calamities and Gods judgements were cause sufficient 1. for us to justify God. 2. To be hearty and truly sorrowful for our own sins and the sins of this Nation: as 3. also to promise the amendment of our ways, how should his wonderful works and great mercies affect our hearts, and oblige us so much the more to repentance and amendment? considering that the goodness of God leads to repentance; and that of Christ to the man that was healed, go and sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee. But most emphatical is that of Ezra c. 9.13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespasses, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, & hast given us such a deliverance as this; should we again break thy commandments, wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping.   

3. The Covenant.  
In it. 

1. THat we shall sincerely, really & 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 discipline and government of the Church of Scotland is here undertaken to be preserved against the common enemy, and enemies to them are the Papist, Prelate, Erastian, Schismatic, heretic and profane.  
2. 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. 

1. It was then thought, that in all these there was something amiss, and that they might admit of a Reformation.  
2. That the word of God would be the best rule,  
3. and the best reformed churches the pattern: and that we should never attain to this desirable reformation, by 

1. seeking to accommodate, or comply with Rome.  
2. Making the politicians head the fountain of our rule, or  
3. to continue in our old-way without any progress of amendment; but surely hereby Covenanters are bound to go on toward perfection, working by divine rule, and not serving the times, eyeing the best reform, not the most corrupt.      
3. And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the 3. Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, confession of Faith, form of Church-government, Directory for worship, and catechising.] 

1. The uniformity of all is the engaged endeavour, one must not be looked upon as independent, there should not be built up a wall of partition, but a regular line should be stretched over the whole.  
2. And that not only as to faith, but to discipline, government, and worship.  
3. Whereupon it was, that the Parliament advising with an Assembly of Divines, did ratify by their civil Sanction, a Confession, Directory, form of Church-government and Catechisms, greater and less, if we could be so happy as to go on, and not so unhappy as to pull down.    
4. 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, Commissioners, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons, and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy) Superstition, Heresy, Schism, Profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of godliness.] 

1. That sound doctrine and the power of godliness might thrive and prosper to the glory of God, and salvation of souls, there are sundry evils to be endeavoured against, even to an extirpation of them.  
2. Not only profaneness, heresy, & schism, but superstition, and particularly Popery and Prelacy, and that Prelacy particularly named as a thing not only to be reform, and moderated, but even extirpated, and not only the head and tail, but even the whole body of that Hierarchy.  
3. This is to be endeavoured in like manner, that is sincerely, really and constantly in our several places and callings. Lastly, without respect of persons, though never so high, near or numerous, so that the turning of the tide, alterations of time gives not a disobligation to the so endeavouring.    
5. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof: and shall not suffer ourselves directly, nor indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion or terror, to be divided, and with-drawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause; but shall all the days 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.] Here is, 

1. an engaging to persevere even to the end, and that not only constantly but zealously.  
2. To the assisting and defending all those that enter into Covenant, in the maintaining & pursuing thereof.  
3. To be so far from falling off to the contrary party, as not to be indifferent, or neuters in the matter.  
4. And all this against all lets, oppositions, combinations, persuasions or terrors.    
6. 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 laboured for the purity and power of the Gospel, 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.] A profession of true repentance, 

1. In godly sorrow for our own and others sins, in special not endeavouring after the purity and power of the Gospel.  
2ly. Resolution of amendment 

1. in all duties to God and man.  
2. In all ways public and private.  
3. In respect of ourselves and others under our power and charge.    
Lastly, so far as to be examples one to another in real Reformation, to strive, 

1. not to draw back, or  
2. to go along; but  
3. even to be for most in reformation.      
7. This Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all 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.] 

1. God is called to witness of the sincerity of our hearts.  
2. We bind ourselves over to answer it at the general Sessions, where not only actions shall be tried secundum allegata & probata, but even hearts, de quibus non judicat Ecclesia nec judex terrenus, of which no man judges.    
Lastly, Grace is begged to perform this Covenant with such success, that it may be encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny, to join in the same or like Association & Covenant.]   And indeed it is not the taking, but keeping of Covenants, that produce good effects, and give encouragement to others. We may safely say, had this whole Covenant been kept, we had escaped a world of evil, with which we are almost sunk; and had been so amiably provoking to others, that they would have long since said Come let us join ourselves unto the Lord in a perpetual Covenant, that shall not be forgotten. But alas! the breaking of our Covenant hath almost broken us, and what it may yet do in the end, who knoweth? when we shall be found partial in the Covenant, and not have respect to the whole of it, there is that we have recovered; but there are other & greater things to be looked after. God is more tender of his own honour, than we are desirous of our safety, since there is given to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, let none of us dare to withhold what we have devoted to God, for God can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destroy both us and our King.  
There are of the then House of Commons, that not only took it and subscribed it, but have arrested it in print to the number of 228. There are many of them now sitting Members, and see the King in his greatness, and the two Houses enjoying their Privileges. I shall not name them, but hope and desire they would endeavour in their now place & calling, to see the rest of the Covenant as to the whole put in execution, if the liberty of the Subject be preserved, and Religion in what amiss reform and secure, we are safe, and shall call them blessed, Amen.  
For the taking of this in England and Wales, there was an Ordinance of Lords and Commons as followeth.  
WHereas a Covenant for the preservation and reformation of Religion, &c, hath been thought a fit and excellent means to acquire the favour of God toward the three Kingdoms, and likewise to unite them, and by uniting, to strengthen them against the common enemy of the true-reformed Religion, etc. And whereas both Houses, London and Westminster, and the Kingdom of Scotland, have already taken the same. It is now ordained that the same Covenant be solemnly taken in all places through England and Wales.  
And for the better taking thereof, directions were appointed strictly to be followed. 

1. That the Speaker of both Houses do send to the General and Admiral copies of the Covenant, that it may be taken by all Officers and Soldiers under them.  
2. That the Members of the Commons House do send down into their Counties a competent number of Copies unto the Committees, and that they within six days disperse them to every Parish Church or Chappel, to be delivered to the several Ministers, Churchwardens, or Constables.  
3. That the several Committees return a Certificate to the Clerk of the House when they received those copies, and the day when they sent them forth, and to what Parishes.  
4. That the Ministers read the Covenant publicly to their People the next Lord's day after they receive it, and prepare their People for it.  
5. That the Covenant be taken by the Committees in the place where they reside, and tendered to the Inhabitants of the Town within 7. days after it comes to the Committees hands.  
6. That the Committees after they have taken it themselves, do speedily disperse themselves through the said Counties, so as 3. or 4. of them be together on days appointed at the chief places of meeting for the several divisions of the said Counties, and summon all the Ministers, Churchwardens, Constables, and other Officers unto that place, where after Sermon preached by one appointed by the Committee; they cause the same Minister to tender the Covenant unto all such Ministers and other Officers, to be by them taken and subscribed in the presence of the Committee.  
7. That the Committees give the Ministers in charge to tender it to all the rest of the Parishioners the next Lord's day, making then unto them some solemn exhortation concerning the taking and observing thereof. And if any Minister refuse or neglect to appear at the said summons, or refuse to take the Covenant, or to tender it to his Parish, that then the Committee appoint another Minister to do it in his place.  
8. That it be tendered to all men within the several Parishes above the age of 18.  
9 That the Earl of Manchester take care that it be tendered and taken in the University of Cambridge.  
10. That the Assembly of Divines make an Exhortation to all sorts of persons to take it, as that which they judge not only lawful, but (all things considered) exceeding expedient and necessary for all that wish well to Religion, etc. to join in.  
11. That if any Minister refuse to take or tender the Covenant, or any other to whom it is tendered do not take it, that it be tendered them the next Lord's day following: and if they refuse, that their names be returned to the Commit, and by them to the House.  

12. That such as are within the several Parishes, when notice is given of the taking of it, and do absent themselves from the Church at the time of taking it, and come not in afterward to take it, they be returned as refusers.  
The manner of taking it. The Minister to read the whole Covenant distinctly and audibly in the Pulpit: and during the time of reading thereof, the whole Congregation to be uncovered, and at the end of his reading thereof, all to take it standing, lifting up their right hands bare, and afterward to subscribe it severally.   
13. That the exhortation of the Assembly be publicly read when the Covenant is read.    
The Assembly of Divines presented the House an Exhortation for taking the Covenant, which being brought into the House occasioned this vote.  

Die veneris, Feb. 9 1643.  
An exhortation touching the taking the Solemn League and Covenant, and for satisfying of such scruples as may arise in the taking of it, was this day read the first and second time, and by Vote upon the Question, assented unto, and ordered to be forthwith printed. In which Exhortation there is this remarkable passage.  
IF it be said the extirpation of Prelacy, to wit, the whole hierarchical government (standing as yet by the known Laws of the Kingdom) is new and unwarrantable. This will appear to all partial understandings (though new) to be not only warrantable, but necessary, if they consider (to omit what some say, that this government was never formally established by any laws of this Kingdom at all) that the very life and soul thereof is already taken from it, by an Act past this present Parliament, so as (like Jezebels carcase, of which no more was left but the skull, the feet, & palms of her hands) nothing of JURISDICTION remains, but what is precarious in them, and voluntary in those who submit unto them. That their whole government is at best but a humane Constitution, and such as is found and adjudged by both Houses of Parliament (in which the judgement of the whole Kingdom is involved) and declared, not only very prejudicial to the Civil State, but a great hindrance also to the perfect reformation of Religion: Yea, who knoweth it not to be too much an enemy thereunto, and destructive to the power of godliness, & pure administrations of the Ordinances of Christ, which moved the well-affected almost throughout this Kingdom long since to Petition this Parliament (as hath been desired before even in the reign of Q. Elizabeth, and of King James) for a total abolition of the same.   
In this paragraph are many remarkable passages, which at this time, and in this thing should not be slightly passed over. 

1. To omit what some say, that this Government was never formally established by any Laws of this Kingdom at all; which though the strength of it may seem to be weakened with Some say, yet there is more to be said for it, when both the Assemblies of Divines, and the House of Commons say, Some say; it is not every hour say that they thus speak of, it is almost as if they themselves had said it.  
2. That the very life and soul thereof is already taken from it by Act of Parliament.] So that were it formerly formally established, the life and soul thereof is taken away by Law, therefore they infer nothing of jurisdiction remains.  
3. That their whole government is at best: but a Humane Constitution, and adjudged by Parliament not only very prejudicial to the Civil State, but a great disturbance also to the perfect reformation of Religion.  
4. Who knows it not to be an enemy thereunto, & destructive to the power of godliness and pure administrations of the Ordinances of Christ.  
5. How earnestly the removing, not only now, but in former times hath been desired; Which moved the well-affected almost throughout the Kingdom long since to Petition this Parliament (as hath been desired before even in the Reign of Q. Eliz. and of K. James) for a to all abolition of the same.    
By these preceding, it will clearly appear, 

1. How strictly the Covenant was imposed, and that by authority of Parliament; not only commanded, but the taking thereof enquired after, & they severally proceeded against that refused: it was not then adjudged a slight matter, nor left arbitrary to every one's pleasure to take or refuse  
2. How solemnly taken, not in a formal, superficial manner, but seriously and deliberately entered into.  
3. That thousands are engaged therein in all the three Kingdoms, and persons of all sorts, ranks, and conditions.  
Lastly, how far the Ministers concerned more than others, as having not only entered into it, but given it to many, yea seriously and earnestly exhorting them thereunto;   and therefore next to those that by authority imposed it, are most concerned to the observation of it, lest they be found great and inexcusable breakers of it; and since that, through the gracious and wonderful providence of God, we have attained to a making it good as to King and Parliam. After foul breaches made upon the Covenant in that particular, what remains, but that the other parts be looked on, and prosecuted, to wit, the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Profaneness, Heresy and Schism, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, & the power of godliness, lest otherwise we shall be found before God to have entered into Covenant only with respect to ourselves, and such as can acquiess in the attaining of our own things, and are no whit touched with those things that so nearly concern the glory of God, and the good of his Churches.   
FINIS.