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 SCS ^ j 30( 
 
THE 
 
 -Mr 
 
 National Covenant 
 
 AND 
 
 Solemn League & Covenant-, 
 
 With the 
 
 Acknowledgement of SINS, 
 
 AND 
 
 Engagement to DUTIES- 
 
 As they were Renewed at Lefmahego^ Match %. tdfiS- wi:h Accommo- 
 dation to the Prefent Times. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 An Introduction couching National Covenant r, by way of Analrfts on the 
 
 29th. Chapter of Deuteronomy. Thz Subltance whereof , was de^ 
 
 livered in a Difcourfe to the People, on the Preparation day^ 
 
 before they were Renewed. 
 
 Ifaiah 24. 5. the Earth is alfoje filed under the Inhabitants thereof ; becaufe 
 they have tranfgrtjfed the Lanrs , changed the Ordinance 3 broken the Ever- 
 lajling Covenant. 
 
 Ezekicl 17. 18. Seing he defpifed the Oath^ by breaking the Couenai.t ; when /?, 
 he had given his hand 3 and hath done all theft things^ hejhall not eft-ape. 
 
 Printed in the 40^- Year of Our Pubiick Breach of Covenant : The 
 
 Year wherein there was much Zeal for Conf&ming among Me*, 
 
 but little for Covenanting with GOD. 
 
( . ) 
 
 An htrodtitlio*, touching jOatt'Otiai COtoliantSf, by way of An* 
 
 ty(is y on the igib Chapter of Deuteronomy. T he f ubftance whereof, 
 was delivered in a Difcourfe to the People, on the Preparation-Day 
 before the Renewing of the C<tt)£ttantg at Lefmahego. 
 
 HE greateft Glorv of Man , and the lowed , and yet tht 
 mod loving and lovely ftep of G D S Condefcenfion to- 
 wards Man 3 was, is, and ihail be, that he is admitted into 
 a Covenant Relation with GOD , whereby the Lord 
 becomes his (SOD^KingjMafter, Husband, FatherjjW 
 he becomes the Lords peculiar Subjed, Servant, Friend 
 and Son. It would have been preemption in Man to offer this to GOD^ 
 Covenants fuppofing properly equality , freedom from pre-obligations, 
 and Independency between the Parties Covenanting ; None or which 
 were, or could be in Covenant-Tranfadh'ons between GOD and Man, 
 but Infinite diftance and Diiproportion; Abfolute Subje&ion, Obliga* 
 tionand Dcpeudance on Mans part , under the Dominion and Law of 
 his Cn?<#0r,from under which, and without which, it is impcilible to con- 
 ceive he could have a Beeing. But, as it was an A£t of Grace and Con- 
 defcenfion in GOD, to make Man after His own Image, in perfe£tion 
 of Holinefs-, So it was an Aft of Condefcenfion to illuminate this with 
 the lufter of a perfeft Law, givenfor his Rule : Unto this it is a great 
 addirament oi Condefcenfion, that He fhould give any prormies encou- 
 raging to Obedience: And greater, toconceive thcle confirmed by an 
 Oath. But that the Lord fbould offer to Covenant with Man, and to 
 give the Law, Promifes and Oath Covenant- wayes, is a greater wonder 
 of Condefcenfion: This being a greater pi ivilcdgc, as well as fecuric\\ 
 than either IgLw, Promifes or Oaths. This was a wonderful a<3 oi 
 Grace and Q^Hfcfcenfion to Man at firft, or the firft Man reprefenting 
 
 fankindH^propofe to him, and to take him under the bond of the 
 nant of Works: But after the violation of that firft Covenanr,that 
 (hould be any accefs granted to any of the Children of Men, to 
 the benefit of a fecond Tranla&ion of Grace, is a wonder of Condefcen- 
 fion never enough confidcred. The fit ft was the honour and happincfc 
 of the firft Man, propofed tor the benefit, aad being violate, became rhc 
 Shame and Curie of all Men. The fecond is the honour and happinefs, 
 
 A in 
 
 I 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 iti and through CHRIST, common and peculiar to all the Ele& the 
 Obje&s of the Covenant of Redemption, of which that of Grace is an exhi- 
 bited Tranfumpt. This being the main difference between the Eternal 
 Covenant of Redemption between the Father and the Son, and the Everlajh 
 ing Covenant of Grace, made alfo with CHRIST principally as Represen- 
 tative of His Heirs ot Grace and Glory, that in the former, CHRIST 
 our Sponfor is to be confidercd. as the Son and fecond Perfonof the TW- 
 nity, Co-equal and Co-effential with the Father^ tranfa&ing about His 
 Mediatory Delegation in the buifinefs of Redemption •, in the later He is 
 to be considered as the Mediator, the Fathers Servant and Delegate. In 
 the former the Promifcs are made conditionally to CHRIST; upon 
 condition of Hisfatisfying Juftice in the fulnefsof time, and abfolutly to 
 the Elc£t,without refpeft to any thing forefecn in therein the later they 
 are made abfolutly to Chrift, now having fulfilled h ^undertaking, and 
 conditionally, or by way of Teftamentary dilpoficiori to the £k<3\ But 
 as GODS making Covenant with Man is a wonder of never enough ad- 
 mired Condefcendency v Co His admittingMea to make a Covenant 
 with him,is no lets matter of Admiration. Yet this he hath not only 
 offered and allowed, but perfwaded unto it by Commands, Promifes, 
 Thmtnings, Arguments, Expofhilations, Invitations and Jntreaties in 
 the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament: Where we find Cove- 
 nanting with GOD, both Perfonal. and National, hath the fanftion of 
 Divine Approbation. For Perfonal Covenanting with GOD, it may 
 be proven by Scripture Precepts, Promifes, and Praftifes of the faints. 
 AllthefeCommands and Calls given to come and buy the Covenants Be- 
 nefits (which fuppofes a Bargain) to come to the Marriage^, inferring 
 aconfenttotheTerms of a con jugal Covenant, do prove it to be a ne- 
 ceflary Duty. All tbefe Promifes offubferibing with the hand unto the 
 Lord, Jfa. 44.5* That they Hull call the Lord their Father, and not 
 turn from Him, Jer, 3, 19. That they fhallcall him Tfhi, and no more 
 Baali, HoJ. c \6< That he (hall (ay It if my People, and they (hall fay 
 Ihe Lord it my GOD. Zech. 1 3. 9. do clearly imply and infer this. There 
 are alio Precedents and Examplcsof the Saints confirming this, fuchas 
 Jacobs Vow, Getu 1$- 2C to the end, Davids, Pfal. \6. 2. Pfal. 11$, 57, 
 106. Pfal. 132. 2. 5» and many others. Upon this ground they took 
 ccmfidencc-to'lay particular claim to the Lord as their own GOD, Sa- 
 viour and Portion 
 
 But our purpofe at prefent is to fpeak o{ National Covenanting. For clear- 
 ing and vindicating which, it will not be unprofitable to cenfider what 
 
 may 
 
7:< 
 
 < 3 ) 
 
 may be gathered From this one place of Scripture, the igtk Chapter of 
 Deuteronomy, the fulleft and plaineft that can be found for this purpofe ; 
 whereof the compendious Analyfis may be here offered. 
 
 In this Chapter we have to confider,thefe fix things. I. The Infcriptitn 
 of the Covenant here Renewed^ containing the Divine Prelcription of 
 it, v* !♦ 2. The Motives and Inducements here adduced and preffed by 
 Mofes, to invite and incite the People to Renew the Covenant at this 
 time, from v. 2. to v. 9. Containing alfo,not obfeurely, their Acknow- 
 ledgement of the Breaches thereof* 3* The extent of the Obligation there** 
 of, from v. 10. to v. 15. 4. The danger of the Breach of it, from a 16. 
 to v. 19. 5. The Greatnefs and Obfervablenefs of the Punijhment of that 
 Breach,ptedi&ed and defcribed from i>. 20. to z/. 28. 6. A Conclufory Go- 
 rotary inferred from all,v. laft. 
 
 I. The Infeription in the firft Verfe, doth hold out to us both y er r g 
 the Inftitution of GOD, the place where, or time when it was 
 Tranfa&cd, and that this was not the firft time it had been engaged into, 
 but was here Renewed, Jhefe are the words of the Covenant which the Lord 
 commanded Mofes, to makg with the Children of Ifrael in the Land of Moabjbefidt 
 the Covenant which he made with them in Horeb. Whence we may have 
 ground for moving and folving fcveral difficulties. 
 
 I. It may be doubted, If Covenanting with GOD ^ cfpecially Na- G) ue a t !# 
 tionsl, be a neeeffary or expedient Duty ^ approven in the Scriptures'! 
 Anf. The Lawfulnels of Oaths, Vows,, and Covenants, to, for, or be- 
 fore GOD, willbequeftionedby none but Qua^rs, and other Entbufi- 
 ajisy or Fanatickj. In the Old Teft. it is here evident th~ Lord Com- 
 manded toenterinto this Covenant and Oath v. 1. and 12. And it is 
 never Abrogate in the New Teft. except in ordinary Communications, 
 wherein it was condemned in the Old, as well as in the New. And it 
 h fo far from being Abrogate,that it is Confirmed by the Apoftle,[aying, 
 A Mans Covenant once confirmed cannot be difanulled^ Gal. 3* 1 5« And con- 
 cerning even Prom iffory Oaths, faying, That an Oath for confirmation 'it 
 an endoiallflrife^ Heb. 6. 16. Nor can the expediency or thencccUky of 
 this Duty be doubted by any who confiders the Commands enforcing ic, 
 the uicfulnefs that the Saints experienced in it, for redrawing from Sin, 
 for Aggravating ir in their Humiliations, from thiscon(idcration,Thac 
 they had Vowed and Covenanted to the contrary, tor flirting uprothe 
 Duties bound upon them by the Law, and for encouraging themielves 
 in the hope of Pardon for their Short-comings: We mull not think it 
 is inconvenient to Vow, or that it is indifferent to Vow, or not Vow* 
 
 A 2 It 
 
< 4 ) 
 
 It is laid indeed Ecckf. $. J, Bttttr it U thai tboufhwldd not Vow, than that 
 thou ffavkiejl Vow and not fay. But chat does not make Vowing either In* 
 convenient. Inexpedient, iior. Indiflerent, or not good Amply \ No more 
 than the Apoftlcs faying, 2 Pet, 2. 2 1, b had keen better not to havejqiawn 
 tbewaycfRigbtmfnffs, than after it is kuown, to turn from it , mil make 
 knowing the way of Right ecu fnefs y to be either Incon ven ient, tar Iacxp-dient, 
 or not good /imply. For V<wwg,as well as P^**£ is expresily command- 
 ed, Pfal. 76. 11. And in lome cafes ( cfpeciaiHy in neceflary things ) 
 Votings and Breaking, is better than not Vowing, and yet Breafyng the 
 Law ; for the later is two Sins, Orniffion in not Vowing, andCommif- 
 fion in Breaking, the former only the fin of Breaking the Vow, as Mr 
 Durham clears it at iarge, on Command. 3. Pag. 135. 136*. &c. 2. As 
 for National Vowing or Covenanting, it isevidently approven in Scrip- 
 ture Precepts/ Prom ifes, and PraSifes. Here is a -Scripture Pncept for 
 it in the Old Ted. never Abrogated in the New. There arc alfo Pro- 
 ww/e/and thefe relating E0j the New TeuVtimes, not only ofPerfonal, 
 but of National Covenanting, as Churches, and Chriftian Societies, Ifa. 
 19. 1 8, 21, 23. to the end* Jer. 50. 4* 5. Ztch. 2. u. And as for 
 Precedents, we have very many of National Covenants, made and re* 
 newed again and again, for Prdervation and Reformation of Religion, 
 Extirpation of falfe Worfhip, maintaining their Laws, Liberties, and 
 Government, punilhing and rcftraining the Wicked, keeping the com- 
 mon Peace and mutual Defence,againft the common Enemies* As here, 
 alter that in Horeb, Ifraels Covenant is folemnly Sworn, under the Con- 
 dud of Mofes. And Renewed by Jofhua, Jo(h. 24. By Afa y 2 Cbron. 1 J, 
 13, 14. Jebojadah,, 2 Kings I J.17* 2Cbron.2\ 16. Hezefyah, 2 Chron. 20. 
 10. Jofiab, 2 Kings 2^ 2. 2 Cbron. 34, Ezra chap. 10. 3. Nehemiah, chap, 
 p. ult. and 10. 2&\ 10. Yea alwayes in times of Humiliation and in- 
 tended Reformation we find they fell about this Duty, That the Lords 
 fierce IVratb might turn away. 2 Chron. 29. 10* 1o confirm Ifraels hope^Ezra 
 jo. 1. Nebem. 9- ult. As alfo in the NewTeffament iomewhatlike 
 this is hinted at, 2 Cor. 8. 5. Where the Churches of Macedonia gave 
 their own felves to the Lord,and to the Apoftles, which at leaft implies 
 a Covenant. 
 
 a n II. It may bequeftioned, What was the Nature of thefe Covr, 
 
 **£*'*' *' nants at Horeb, and of this in Moab, and other National Covenants 
 in Scripture? Was it a Covenant of Works or of Grace, that was fcveial 
 rimes Renewed ? And do we ftand bound to them, as the Ifraelius then? 
 An). Thefe Covenants as to their Nature, were neither the Covenant 
 •f Works, nor of Grace formally, though materially partaking of 
 
 both. 
 
7^9 
 
 C 5 ) 
 
 both: They have the famxf mutual contra&ing forties^ GOD and Man 
 (thohae Man is to be confidered, not in hisAbura& 3 Singular^ Indi- 
 vidual, or perfonal Capacity- But as a Member of a Community un- 
 dertaking Vows) The fame obligations to all the duties of theiVfure. 
 mentioned Divine Covenants ( tho here they are to be taken as Pubiick 
 and National Duties, in reference to Religion as a pubiick Intereft) The 
 fame fan&Ionsand certifications of Bleffings and Curies ( here to be un- 
 Jerftoodas National) With refpe&to the Matter of them, in the Old 
 Tcftament Difpenfation, theyobligedtotheobfervation of the whole 
 Moral, Judicial, and Ceremonial Law ot GOD, ^sit was then calcu- 
 lated) the judaical Pedagogie 5 requiring indeed perfe&ion legal ,accord- 
 jding to the Tenor of the Covenant of Works, but admitting Repen- 
 tance, and through Faith, accepting Perfcdion Evangelical, according* 
 to the Tenor of the Covenant of Grace. And in the New Teftament 
 Difpenfation, they oblige to the fame obferva nee of the fame Laws that 
 arc not abolifhed, and of thefe Ceremonial Inftitutions of CHRIST, 
 that are fubflitute in the place of the former Pedagogical and Typical 
 Ceremonies, calculate to the Meridian of Gofpel Light , Purity and 
 Simplicity* With refpeft to the End, in both Difpeniations, they had, 
 and have the fame (ubierviency to the Covenant of Grace, the fame with 
 the Law to reftrain Sin, to manifeft it, and to lead to CHRIST tor Re- 
 mirtion of it. And with refpeft to the feveral forts of People engaging 
 under thefe Bonds, they were to Believers, according to the Tencr of 
 the Covenant of Grace; and to Unbelievers, according to the Tenor of 
 the Covenant of Works. But as to their Form and Formality, they were 
 the Ecclefiaftick and National Covenants of the vifible Community of 
 the Lords People, engaging to be His, and to keep His Wayes and 
 Teftimonics. Firft Trania&ed Exod. 19- 5, 8. Exod. 24. 7, 8. Re- 
 newed here, Deut. 19. and feveral times afterwards. 
 
 III. Another Queltion is, Who may under or impofe it ? May it guttf. 3. 
 be without the Magijhate > Here the Magistrate Mojes is Autho- 
 rized to make it : But w^ it fa done without him ? Or when it is fo, k I 
 cbligation of it Binding^ when the Magijhate or public]^ Father difahtves or dtp- 
 charger it. The realon of the doubt is taken from tiumb. 30. 5L J, b\ 
 Where it is fa id, if a Woman in her Fathers houfc (or Husbands) vow 
 a Vow unto the Lord, and her Father (or Husband) difallowhcr,not any 
 of her Vows or Bonds, wherewith (he hath bound her Soul, (hall fbn.i, 
 but flnllbemadeofnonecffcft. Anf. JuhVcc and Order requires, that 
 whoever hath the gteateft Influence upon, or Authority over ti. 
 
 minity, 
 
( * ) 
 
 munity fhould tender the Oath, and it belongs indeed to Magistrates to 
 enjoynit, but not fo as to exclude themlclves fromicoming under the 
 Bond of it ; And in that cafe, they mud have fome to tender it to them. 
 we find the Officers of the Church ( as Mofes alfo was an extraordinary 
 one ) impofing it, as Jebojadah, both to King Joafh and to the People, 
 1 Kings 11.17. iCbron, i\ \6 a precedent justifying Mr Robert Douglafs^ 
 by Comraiffion from the Gm. Jffembly^ his tendering the Covenant to 
 King Charles the II. at his Coronation. m And Ezra made the Priefts,thc 
 Levites, and all 7/rje/tofwear it 5 and it was acknowledged that this 
 matter belonged unto bim. Ezra IO. 4,5. even without the confent ofthc 
 Magiftrate, or him to whom they were fubjed at that time, then a Hea- 
 then, the King of Perfia. And if it be fo tendered and taken, without 
 ' the confent of the Magiftrate ; yethisafterdiflentor difcharge, cannot 
 look the obligation otit. As to that of Numb. 30. It is altogether befide 
 the purpofe; For the Magiftrate is neither the Father nor Husband of 
 the Church, tho iu fome ienfe to the Church, l[a. 49, 23. having! 
 power as a nurfing Father, not as a generating Father, Comulative not Pri- 
 vativei Nor hath he fuch power over his Subje&s, as a Father over his 
 Child, or Husband over his Wife. Certainly thefe heads of Tribes verf 
 I . were Politick Fathers, as Magiftrates •, yet it is nut allowed to them to 
 Difanul, Vacate, or make void thef<* Vows, but to the Father or Hus- 
 band of the Party making them, from whom, thefe heads of Tribes 
 arc Ipoken to, as. diftinft-, and the command is given to thefe Magi- 
 ftratsonlytofeeitobferved and ratified. Again, National Covenants 
 for Religious Ends and Interefts, are not to be fuppofed of that nature 
 of thefe Vows, which were not about necefTary, but indifferent things, 
 and it feemsrafhly and unadvifedlv engaged into; for the Father had 
 no power to make null, or of no effect, the Maids engagements to ne- 
 cefTary and indifpenfable Duties. And as to thefe things which he might 
 difallow and difanul, itisfaid, The Lordjhallforgheher y intimating there 
 was fomething in ; quous in it. However, as the Father holding his 
 Peace, did ratifie the Vow. verfe 4, and was not to reicind it afterwards, 
 ■verfe 15. So this Achillean Argument of the Prefatical and Malignant 
 Party, againft our Covenants adduced from this place, hath no Nerves; 
 becauferhe hathcr, as they fenlc it, or the Magiftrate held his peace at, 
 and gave his confent to the Renewing both the National G vcnant,and 
 Solemn League and Covenant, tho afterwards he made Inquirie^Prov. 
 10. 25. and refcinded it, by an audacious Heaven-daring Law* , But 
 dare thefe Gentlemen fay, that it was in the power of fuch a politick Father 
 
 as 
 
as AbaZi or Joajh, or Jecomab) or Zedek^ah, who after Vows made In- 
 quiry, to difallow or difanul the Covenant oilfrael, and yet it was with- 
 out their conlcnt, and againft their will that any fuch Covenant was 
 made, being made in their Minority, or in their extremity, when for- 
 ced to it, 
 
 A Fourth Qxejlion may be. If the Covenant be to be Renewed, Qiieft. 4. 
 in what form* Whether in the firft unalterably* Or may it be Re- 
 newed teitb Alterations* Anf. As it is plain here is lomeway another Co- 
 venant, befide the Covenant which' he made with them in Horeb ; So it is as e- 
 vident, it is rather a Renovation of the former, than a Subftitution of 
 another 5 rather a Tranflai ion of the Form, than of rhe Matter, with 
 accommodation to the Circumftances , Sins and Duties of that time, 
 when they were in the Land of Mhab, fomeway altered from the cale they 
 were in at Horeb : Which were the Motives of their Renewing it at this 
 time, and may conduce for our dirc&ion at other times, when to Renew 
 National Covenants. For then at Horeb, they were newly delivered ouc 
 of Egypt) and had feen the Wonders done there, and at the^e^/^ 5 and 
 in conducing them to Horeb. Now after theit abufe of thefe, and many 
 fuperadded Priviledges afterwards, after they had gone through the 
 weary lVildtrm[s> they were arrived ar the Borders of Canaan, and put 
 in expectation of the complement of their promifed Deliverance, when 
 they were to receive, and did receive from the Lord right Judgements, 
 true Laws, good Statutes^ and Commandements Covenant wife, with 
 alluring Propofalls, that if they would obey His Voice, and keep His 
 Covenant, then He would make them His peculiar Treafure, and a 
 Kingdom of Priefts, and an holy Nation, Exod. 19. 5. &c. Now they 
 had torlaken, broken, and forgotten in a great mcafure this Covenant 
 Then they were (olemnly adopted into a Covenant relation with GOl>>, 
 to be His People ; Now they had made Apoftafie and Defection , in 
 many refpefts. In a word, they had received many more Mercies, and 
 had committed many more Sins,now, then at that time. Therefore it 
 was expedient they fhould Renew it: And it is eafie to oblcrve feveral 
 Alterations as to the Form of it, from that in Horeb, Exod. 19 and 
 Exod. 14. 3, 7« The former was more full and particular, fuiti'ng all 
 times- The Book^ of the Covenant contained all the Judgements promulga- 
 ted upon Mount Sinai: This, as here Renewed, did alfo contain the 
 fame, but mote generally propofed, with a particular Acknowledge- 
 ment of the Sins againft, and Breaches of that Covenant, from verfe2. 
 to 9. and with a new Engagement to the Duties thereof, and a more 
 
 expreis< 
 
(8) 
 cxprets explication and application of the univerfality and extent of its 
 Obligation : As we find likewife in all the Renovations of the Covenant 
 cilfrael formerly mentioned. Which makes it lawful for a People chat, 
 would now Renew Scotland* Covenants, to do it with fuitable explicati- 
 ons and applications to the times. 
 
 II. The following part of the Chapter, from verfe 2, to verfeg, doth 
 hold forth to us, both their Acl^vwUdgement of Sins introdu&ory, and 
 their Motives inducing to cake on new Engagements. 
 G) He a r Queft. What may be the Motives to Renew the Covenant > 
 
 ; ' y Anf. t. The firit thing here is the confidcration of the Won* 
 ders of Wifdom, Faithfulnefs, Power, Juftice, and Goodnels of the 
 Lord, appearing in their Deliverance out of Egyfc which they had feen 
 
 done before their Eyes, v.i. The great lemptatims where- 
 Verf. 2. 3. with He proved their Faith, Patience, Humility and Love, 
 
 and the great Temptations wherewith they provoked Him to 
 Anger, the Signs of His preiencc,prote£tion.and power conrinu-d^many 
 great Miracles wrought in their behalf,noc with (land ingot all thete Temp- 
 tations, v. 3, Which confiderationfhouid exceedingly aggravate their 
 Sins, or their Acknowledgement, and animate their Zeal in taking on new 
 Engagements, This alio may be a Motive to the Godly in Scotland to Re- 
 new their Covenant with GOD, with humble acknowledgement of the 
 Breaches thereof, aggravated from all the wonderful appearances of 
 GOD, in ordinances and providences, Ixxh of Judgement and Mercy, 
 wherewith this poor place of the world hath been fignalized beyond o~ 
 thefs. We are called to remember what the Lord did, in delivering this 
 Land from the darknefs of Paganifme, Popery and Prelacy, how early He 
 planted a Church in this Land, how purely He purged it, with what 
 purity of Reformation, and unity of Profeflio 1 He beautified ir, with 
 what excellent Priviledges He honoured-it, eipcciallyin bringing it un- 
 der the Bond of Solemn Covenants ^ whereby its Name became Beulab 
 and Hephzibah, a^f -what excellent Teftimonics for CHRIiT's Prero- 
 gatives as King, and His Kingdoms Liberties, He did concredit to it, 
 to contend for. Our eyes alfo, and our Fathers have feen great Tempta- 
 tions in Providences, whence we might have learned great experiences 
 of the Lords Wifdom and our folly: Alwaycs when we were at thelow- 
 eft extremity, diffpairing in our felves, then He appeared in Mercy; Al- 
 waycs when we thought our felves ftrongefr, and weremoft confident 
 in our felves, then we were confounded. The Lords Temptations to 
 try us have been manifold, andourTentations to provoke Him, have 
 
 been 
 
7 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 been as multifarious. The Signs and Miracles in the conduct of His Provi- 
 denccs,in this day of Temanon, have been obfervable : As Ifimlin the ' 
 Wildernefs, fo we have had cur Maras, and our M«Jps 3 at d Myites 
 Taberabi, and Kibroth Hattaavahs, at Pentland bills , Botbtrel bridge Airds- 
 ntofs, Sec But above al), the faflajes of Providence fincc the lat'e Poptjk 
 Ku.g mounted the Throne, railed up wonderfully for qui fcourge, have 
 been wonderful, both for the manner of his Advancement andfubfe- 
 quent Emergencies. -After all che former breakings, two Rartierin bo:h 
 Kingdoms appearing againft bim, very feafonal ly, when ic would have 
 been thought all wonld have concurred and concerted the fame Caufe 
 againft Poperx and lyrannyjQt were brokenrAnd nothing was like ro with- 
 ftand his dchgns of introducing the blacked of Popery & baleft of -Mavery, 
 at the opened Gap of the Holkration, had nor a Fori rigri Prince ,in Zeal for 
 Religion,Pity to thefe Lands,and in purfuit of his own Right, incerpot 
 ed tor our refcue, by a very propitious providence; which, in a way 
 as of Signs and Miracles, hath given us this enlargement and reviving 
 in our Bondage. .Shall not therefore the Godly horn thefe confidera. 
 tions, be ftirred up both to Acknowledgements of Sins and new tngage- 
 ments. 
 
 2 . The confidcrationof rbeir Obduration, Occecation and Verf. 4, 
 Obftinacy, fupine Stupidity, and unanlwerablenefs to thefe 
 great Miracles and Mercies f rementioned, which they had neither got- 
 ten Hearts to perceive, nor Eyes to obferve, verfc 4. is both-a Motive to 
 their acknowledgement of Sins, and to their engagement to covenanted 
 Duries. As this is a fad truth, as fuftably applicable to Scot/and, as to 
 Ifraeh, fo the confideration thereof, fhould have moved the Godly to 
 renew their Acknowledgements and Covenants, if yet they bad gotten 
 Hearts to perceive, and Eyes to fee &c. Alas! all the pains the Lord 
 hath taken on us to reclaim and reformc us, have not profited us, Pri- 
 viledges have not prevailed with us, Proiperiry hath nor allured us,Ad- 
 verfity hath not awakened us to our duty, and all the fruit and ttk6t 
 of the Word and Works of Grd, (eems to have pi educed nothing but 
 the judicial Plague of bearing indeed , but not under^andini ; fieinr indeed, 
 but not perceiving •, and making our heart fat, &c. Ifa 6. 9. 10. Is it not 
 time then wc were confidering ourwayes, and turning to the Lcrd,and 
 Covenanting with Him. 
 
 3. The confideration of the Lords gracious Conduct of Vtrf. y. 6, 
 them in the Wildcmefs fourty Years, providing them with all 
 nccefTaries for Food $c Cloathing,tho in an extraordinary way, wherein 
 
 B they 
 
 « 
 
l m io ) 
 
 they might know the care and kindnefs of f ' and their relation to the 
 Lord their God, verf 5.6. is made ufe of as a Motive to induce them 
 to Acknowledgement ol their Sins, and a newEugagcment to the duties 
 of their Covenant. Since our Covenants were renewed in Scotland^with 
 a Solemn Acknowledgement of the Sins, and Engagements to die duties 
 thereof, the Lord hath led us full 40 Years through the wildernels of 
 the Settarian Invafions, and the Prelatic^Eraftian, aqd Antichrijlian Ufur- 
 pations; Wherein, rho we did not meet. with Miracles, yet truly wc 
 have experienced Wonders of the Lords care and kin inefs, and for ail 
 the Haraffings and Huntings, Spoiiings and Depredations of Perfecuters, 
 the poor Wildernefs- wanderers have looked as Meat- 1 ike and Cloaih* 
 like (as we ule to fay) as others that (at at cafe in their houfes, and drank 
 their Wine and their ftrong drink. 
 
 V r n 9, 4* ^ e confiJcration of the glorious Vfftory obtained in 
 erj. 7. tf. t j 1 j s p| ace5 j n t [ ie J_^ n( j Q f Mo^ ovcr t ftp J^j n g f Hefhbon^ 
 
 and the King of Bafhan, who withstood their progrefs unro the ft?/* they 
 were ieeking, whofe Lands fell unto the two Tribes and the half for an 
 Inheritance, verf. 7. 8. is likewife adduced as an Argument to excite 
 them to this duty. So in our day, theTrophees of Triumph, that the 
 late revolutions of Providence have.ere&ed, to the Honour of our God, 
 and the advantage of the Covenanted Reformation, in removing out of 
 the way 9 two Kings^ that were withflanding its propagation, and ieeking. 
 its deftru&ion ; and in abolifhing two wicked Ertablifhments, kt up on 
 the ruines thereof, viz. lyranny in the State ^ and Prelacy in the Church .may 
 ftirup all Lovers of Reformation to the fame duty of Covenanting, 
 for itsReftauration and Prefervation. 
 
 y , ?. Finally, he moves them to it verfg, by apromifeof 
 
 ir y 9* prosperity to enlue upon their keeping and doing this Cove- 
 nant, which now they were about to Renew. Which he preiles as ne- 
 ceflary duty, from all. rhefe Confederations. 
 
 (S) f n $ It may be Queftioned here. What U it to fyep the words of the 
 
 °^ ' * Covenant^ and do them? Is any Man able to keep the Covenant, 
 more than the Command ? And if not, why U this further burden tmpofdy 
 are not the Commands tbemfilves Bonds )\riU enough* An.Thc Covenant is kept 
 and done. ( i.)By a conffanc and Suitable Profeffion ot the duties' thereof, 
 keeping the way of the Lord. (2.) By a tenacious Confcffion oftheTetti- 
 mpnies theieof, sgainfhall oppofition, never denying or forbearing the 
 aiTercing rhe obligation thereof, nor turning afide therefrom, to the 
 right hand or to the left (Jofb. 2\6 J keeping it without (pot, unrealiz- 
 able. 
 
( II ) 
 
 able < f Tim. 6. 14.) efrecially when it becomes the word of His Patience, 
 Rev. 3. 10. (3.) By a mindful &: careful entertainment of it in the mini 
 and memory, never forgetting what we are bound to thereby. f 4 jBy 
 a ftri&obfervancc thereof in the pra&ife, in all-manner of converlacion. 
 Which is to be underftood in the Gofpel feme, not abfolu r ely but re- 
 fpe&ively, with refpeft to our Nature, nowcorrupr,weak and pcrvcrfc. 
 For though we be bound by the Law of Gal to be perfe&ly Holy, yec 
 our Covenants donot rye us to this petfe&ion 5 and this obligation is not 
 from our Covenant, but from the Law-, for our Covenants do not ob- 
 lige to the vidtory over all fin, but to wreftle for it 5 not to the event, 
 but to the means which are in our power ("and therefore the People of 
 God plead they had not broken Covenant, Pfal. 44. 17. tho they had 
 fins J and not to the attaining all things we Covenant tor, but to the 
 aim, defire, defign and endeavour, to live in no fin Covenanted a- 
 gainft, never to approve our lelves in it, to omit no known duty en- 
 gaged untp, and to leave no mean unefayed for attaining the whole of ic. 
 See Mr Durham on 3 Command, concerning the obligation of Vowcs, 
 Page 133. &c. 
 
 III. In the following words from verf. 10. to verf. 15, or 17. Mofer 
 propofes the matter more clofely, fhewing the extant of the obligation 
 thereof, in a threefold refpeft- I. In refpeft of the Universality of the 
 Perrons obliged. 2. In refpeft of the facrednefs and inviolable ftridtnefs 
 of its Obligation 3. In refpedt of the perpetuity of its Obligation. 
 
 Firft, In reipeft of the Perfons obliged, it* is of univerfal extent, bind- 
 ing and obliging all the Members of the Church, and Common- wealth 
 of I/raeloi all ions, qualities, ranks, vocations, ages, fezes, none excluded 
 for thefe things. I. All of all qualities, Captains, Elders or i fr f mj ¥ 
 Magiftrates, Officers, both of Church and State, with all the 
 Menofljrad. Accordingly we find Jofiab taking all engaged, all the Men 
 oijudab, and the Prieitsand the Prophets and all the People both fmall 
 and great, 2 Kings 23. 2. And Ezra made the chief Pricfts and Lcvitcs, 
 and all Ifrael to fwear the Covenant, Ezra 10. 5. None are fo high that 
 they are above the obligation of it; None io imal cr bale that they arc 
 below it. Its very encouraging when there are Nobles anil Captains &e. 
 to take the Covenant. Its very nccciTary they fhoulJ go before others 
 in it, but it does not only belong to them, 
 
 Quer. May the Covenant be renewed without theft Captains, Quell. 7. 
 Elders, Officers, or Primorcs &c Primates Rcgni, when they mill 
 not concur? AnJ. Certainly this exrenfive obligation reaching all Perlons, 
 
 B 2 i« 
 
( Jl ) 
 
 Is to be underflood pofmvely, that all chefe arc obliged to enter into Co- 
 venant, but not negatively , that without any of thefe, the Covenant fhould 
 not be entered into. The Motives mentioned are common to the fmal, 
 as well as the great, and without them, as well as with them, the Arti- 
 cles of it, and the keeping and doing them are common to both alike : 
 The relation that the Imal and meaner fort of People have to God ( the 
 other contracting party ) is the fame that the Nobles and Great-ones 
 have, tierf. u. and the Priviledges of it, to be eftablifhed as a People unto 
 Himfelf, and to have him for their God, vtrf. 13, do no more belong 
 to the one, than to the other ; and confequently the Smal may renew it 
 as well as the Great, but not Nationally, to bind the whole Nation for- 
 mally, to which indeed the concurrence of: its Rcprefcntarives is neccf- 
 Verf 1 1 kry.i. All of all Ages and Scxes,even their Littk-ones and their 
 ' ' ' Wives ^verf 1 1. are obliged Co take it, if they be capable. Con- 
 §>utft- 8. cerning which, Qiier. If Children may be admitted to the Covenant* 
 Anf. It cannot be doubted but they are under the bond of it 
 materially, being Children of the Covenant AU*\ 25.. to whom belong 
 the promifes fand alio the duties how foonthey arc capable J of ihe Co- 
 venant of Grace Att.% 19. and that they are obliged to take it if they 
 be capable ^ othcrwife their Parentsare to engage for them* According- 
 ly in Scotland it hath been in ule for faithful Minifters to take Parents en- 
 gaged to the covenants when they prefented their Children 10 Baptifm. 3« 
 Queft'.Q* ^ °f a ^ rar) ks or relations ,even Strangers &ServantsJromtbe hew- 
 ji er of wood Jo the drawer of 'water. Quer.// Strangers be obliged s or to be 
 admitted to the Covenant ? Anf. As in Ifrael, Strangers being admitted to the 
 covenant jogethev with their circumtifvm was one bage ot their being proftly- 
 tes ( of which Strangers only this is to be underflood,. lo now,tho the cafe 
 differ very far, fuch jhangers as are naturalized and refide in the country ,may 
 be admitted to the National Covenant of that Nation whereof they are 
 lubjefts, and wherein they are Church Members : Othcs are only to 
 be 1 eft rained from doing or laying any tfcingagainft it. 4. Neither on. 
 ly thefe that flood there before the Lord in that place, but the abfent 
 ~ . alfo verf 13. 14* Some might have had as good reafon then 
 
 c^Mejt.io t obje& 9 as many do now fooliihly, that perfpnallyi^mW 
 tioh^the Covenant firing not prefent when ir was taken. But it is plain here, 
 abfence will not abfolve from the obligation of it •, lo ir is in all real Co- 
 venants, that are not meerly Perlonal. All the Members of the Com- 
 munity covenanting are under the bond of the common Covenant* It 
 would be a ridiculous exception for one to alledge, they are not oblig- 
 ed to (land to the Allegiance fworn to a King, or to a Covenant of Peace 
 
 made 
 
( «3 ) 
 made &ith an Indrpendant Nation by chc Community of that Nation, 
 whereof they are Members, becaufc they were abroad when thefe Tranf- 
 a&ionswere made. But with reference to all thefe ic may be a igwe- 
 ftitQ) May the Covenant univerfally be impofed upon all rankj and forts 
 cfPer/ons> Or, May all be admitted to takg it > Ar,f. Tho all be <§^' ir * 
 under the obligation cf it materially , and all are bound \o rake it formally^ 
 extent paribus, if they be qualified ; yet neither ought it to be impoled, 
 nor fhould any be admitted but with refpe£t to their capacities Gracious 
 and Legal. 7 he Wkk$d^ that arc fcandalous and obftinatc in WickcJ- 
 nefs, Error, Profanity or Malignancy, hating Inftru&ion, and cafting 
 the Lords Word behind them, have not Gods right to ir, for unto fuch 
 He faith, what baft thou to do to take up my Covenant in thy mouth. Pfal. 50. 
 16, 17. Seme were legally incapacitate, as the Enemies of Truth and 
 God]ine's,wkh whom they were not to aflbciate,EW. 23. 32. Exod. 34. 
 15. Veut. 7. 2. Judg.2. 2. Ezra 4. 3. Ezra 9. 14. Who is to be under- 
 fiood with this exception, except the y were Profelytes and Penitents fuch 
 as Rabab , Jofh. 2. It is clear from the Scriptures tho all ate bound to 
 it, ir is to be impofed upon and tendered co none but thole that fubferibe 
 to it with choife and refolution, Jofh. 24.15.22. None but fuch as are 
 reformed from the Defections and Complyancics of the time, AW;. 10. 
 2& None but fuch as have knowledge and undemanding of the Sins 
 and Duties contained in the Covenant- ibid. None but fuch as can (wear 
 and fubferibe it according to thefe qualifications of an Oath, Jer. \.yi. in 
 truth in judgemmt and in rigbtcouftufs. 
 
 Secondly. The Obligation of this Covenant isfhewed to be Jtr: l2: 
 very great, not only extcnfively but intensively 3 Ferf. 12. i}. It mutt be 
 very facred, inviolable &: firicligimi juris fince 1. it is a Covenant and Oath 
 mutually entered into bv Vtsel with the IW their God, and by the Lord 
 with them, vcr: 1 2: and confequcntly cannot be diflolvcd but by content 
 of both Parties. 
 
 It is a grave Queftion^ Can nothing loofe the Obligation of a law- Qu<{h 12: 
 ful Oath ? Anfrv: i . It may be clear enough that thole things 
 will not, which falfe (wearers prerend ; and which they that would call 
 oft the yoke of thefe Covenants do plead fomctimes ; As no 
 mans temporal lofs or prejudice will m^ke an Oath null, or loofe from 
 the Obligation of it, ( though we fwear to our own hurt , we mull 
 not change ■ Pf*h 1 5: 4: ) nor tho the Oath do engage to lomcthing in 
 its own nature indifferent f*for by an Oath, even in things indifferent 
 antccedcndy,our Souls are bound. Numb: 30; 2: ) nor the extortion ol it 
 
 by 
 
 77 
 
r 14 j 
 
 by fear or violence, if the matter be lawful ; nor the deceit and guile of 
 others,if the deceit be circumftantialonly,as in that oath to the Gibeonites; 
 Nor finf ul rafhnefs in the manner, if lawful in the matter, as Jojhuahs 
 oath to the Gibeonites. Nor any good meaning or intention in reverfing 
 the oathOSWwas punifhed for breaking that oath with the Gibeonites many 
 generations after,tho he did it out of his zeal to the Children oilfrarf^am. 
 iv. 1:) Nor tho the Oath be conceived by Creatnres (as by the Altar or 
 Temple, Heaven, &c Math, 23.20, 22*) Nor wiien the thing becomes 
 impoffible, if that impoflibilicy could have been torefeen or prevented. 
 Nor when the condition is unlawful, it already fulfilled ( as Jud*\ pr<j- 
 mifiug a Kid to 7&jw*r) Nor another meaning afterwards deviled, nor 
 according to the Impofers mind , nor our own ar fir ft who teok it (chat's 
 but a fwearing deceitfully PfaL 24:4;) Nor any other fecrec meaning by 
 Equivocation, or mental Reservation; Nor any DHpcnfauon \rom' tope 
 or Kmg. None of thefe things can make an Oath void, bnt if we have 
 bound our fclves,God will require u^ tor whofo deipiicth an Oath by 
 breaking the Covenant when lo be bath given hk band, he liiall not eicapc, 
 Ezekc 1 7. 18, 19. God will recompence it. But (2) Oaths have no force, 
 when the thing fworn is finful and unlawful in it lelt: Or unlawful to 
 him that fweareth ; Or (imply impoffible : Or when the thing fworn is 
 not in our own power, Numb. 30. 5. Or when there is deceit in it, not 
 in Circumftantials, but in fcflentials: Or when it hinders a greater good ; 
 Or when the cafe materially alterethOr when the party fworn to relax- 
 eth us. In which refpe&s the third Article of the Solemn League and Cove- 
 nant did not oblige us toowne the Authority of Tyrants and Ufurpsrs 
 when reigning over us, becaule in that cafe the obligation was unlawful, 
 and .there was a deceit in EfTentials, puting in Tyranny for Authority, 
 and the cafe materially altered ( we being bound in the Covenant to a 
 King or Magiftrate defendiug Religion and Liberty, nor to a Tyrant 
 overturning thefe) and the party fworn to had relaxed us long ago by 
 refcinding the Covenants? But none of all thefe things can any way 
 enervate the facred Obligation of Scgtlands Holy Covenants with God, 
 -which ft ill muftfland in inviolable force* 
 
 7. The Covenants Obligation mull be very facred and ftrong, fince it is 
 
 propoied for luch gracious ends^SCin order to enfure inch glorious priviledges^ 
 
 j ~. which are two or three , ver: 1 3: refpc&ing the mutual 'jl 'ipulathn of 
 
 ^* the Parties contradting (l)7hat be might eft ablifk them that day for a 
 
 people untoHimfelf. To be cftabliflied a people unto the Lord not only 
 
 bycreation^ which is common to all 5 or Profeffton^ which is common to 
 
 the 
 
7 v 
 I 15 ) 
 
 the Cburchvifible 9 but by Covenant engagement to be His and for Him, is 
 both the Lords end,znd fhould be ours in publick or perfonal Covenant- 
 ing. And it is a very glorious privikdge to-be His people in a peculiar 
 manner, of whom He will take particular notice and infpe&ion > and 
 who have ?'nearer relation to Him than other people* As likewife, it is 
 the great duty of Covenanters to avouch themfelves to be his people, to 
 walk in His waves, keep His flatutcs, and hearken to His voice,E>e»f: 26: 
 16, 17, 18. which is the comprehenfive/fr/>»A**/M of all Covenants with 
 GOD. d.) And that He n>igbt be unto them a GOD^ not only by universal 
 Vtminion, nor only by Redemption, fad by price, and then by power , but 
 bv Covenant, is the Lords end. our privikdge ( the greatclt of priviledges, 
 Honours and HappineiTes,in getting hereby all His Divine Attributes, Co- 
 venant Relations, X) e di at ory- Offices , and all that He hath purpofed Of pro- 
 miled, or Cbnfi hath purchased tor the good of His people, to be ours ; ) 
 And it is the mutual (tipuhthn of both parties. The Lord for his pait un- 
 dertakes to be a God unto us, and avouch us to be His people ; And we 
 for our partlhould piomife and engage to be His people, and avouch 
 Him tobeour God, Deut. 16 16, 17, 18. Or as it is, Zecb. 13. ult. He 
 will fay, it U my people, and Covenanters will fay the Lord is my God. (3) 
 And that He might confirm nor only what He had fa id unto them, buc 
 what He had /»w« unto their Fathers* This is the Lords End in all Co- 
 venants which He ownes with His People, that by two immutable things 
 in which it is impoffible for (W to lie, they may have iVong Confola- 
 tion, Heb.6: 1$: having fuch ample fecurity to rcpofe their confidence 
 upon : This is the privikdge of his Covenanted People, to have not only 
 the Lords word for their fecurity, but his Oath , confirmed by Covenant, 
 which not only they } but their Fathers before them did experience, that 
 He did confiantly keep, verifie and fulfill. And as here,Hc undertakes 
 to make it good 5 (o they engage to depend upon it, and to keep what 
 they and their Fathers had (aid and fwom in point of Obedience. Now 
 in regard of thefc Ends, Priviledges and s tipulations, the Covenant mil ft 
 have a ftrict and iacred obligation as inviolable, as we would defire thefc 
 to be inamiflible* or as we would not come fhortof beint* a people unco 
 Hfmfelf , and having Him for our God, as He hath faid unto us and 
 fworn unto our Fathers. If the Sgtftion be then, IFbattbtbet. 
 ter (hall x*e be of making and keeping a National Covenant ? Here is ?& e l ^ 
 the Anfoer, Hereby (ball we be cftahlifhcd a people unto Himfelf, and 
 
 He ftull be unto us a God, as He hath laid and fworc^ which comprehends 
 
 all advantages imaginable, 
 
 7birdly, 
 
( i<5 ) 
 
 Verf. I4 3 15. Thirdly^ Here not obfcurely is demonftrated die cxrent 
 of the Obligation of this Covenant, in refpeft of ihcperpetui- 
 tie of it. It is a Covenant obliegingtiot only the prefent, verf. 14: but the 
 abfent, verf 1 5. And not only the abfent in regard of />/*<*, but in re- 
 •gard of time* It obliged all the Children of //we/ that were not tberetbat 
 day: Which comprehends not only thofe that were then living, but ?u T 
 ture Generations. The reafons added do clearly enough confirm this. 
 I- The probable hazard of Apoftafie and Preemption in breakin^this 
 Covenant was perpetual, verf. 16, 17, 18, fg Not only that Generation 
 that day which came out of Egptt, and parted by the Nations and taw 
 their Abominations and their Idols, were m hazard of turning away 
 from the Lord, ferving the godsoftheNations ? having among them a 
 Root bearing Gall and Worm wood, who might blefs themfelves in 
 their preemption of Impunity, notwithftanding the threatned curfe. But 
 much more in afcer Generations , they that ^ never dwelt in the 
 Land of Egypt (and never (aw the plagues punifhing that Lands wicked- 
 nefs) but afterward might fee rhe abominations and the Dungy-gods (as it 
 is in the Hebrew) of other Nations, were in hazard of that defection and 
 preemption, when the Covenant mighc be worn antiquatcd,out of date 
 and mind,which might encourage them (much more than at that time 
 when it was in every Bodies mouth and memory) to fay ljhallbave peace 
 tbb I walh^in tbe imagination of mine hearts 2. The threatned punifhment 
 of the breach of this Covenant was perpetual The Lords anger and jea- 
 loufiefhallfmokagainu: Covenant- breakers, alltheCurfes written fliaJl lye 
 upon them, their names (hall be blotted out from under Heaven, verf 
 20. He fhall feparate them unto evil. verf. 21. Not only in that age 
 wherein the Covenant was Renewed, but the Generation to come of 
 their Children that fbould rife up after them, fhillobfervethe pun.'fh- 
 mentofthe Pofterity, when they fhall have forfaken the Covenant of 
 the Lord God of their FatTiers, and tbe Lord fhill have rooted them 
 out of their Land for the fame, verf. 22* to 28. which was not accompli- 
 fhed till many Centuries afterwards. 
 
 n Quer. If the Obligation of National Covenants , wbere tbe matter is 
 
 &2 e fl' r 4' lawful f, be perpetual and binding upon Pofterity ? Anfw. If any 
 Engagements can be (uppofed binding to Poller ity, certainly National 
 Covenants to keep the Commandments of God, and to adhere to hfsiri- 
 ftiturions, mud be of rhat nature. It cannot be denyed that feveral O- 
 bligationsdobind Pofterity. Publick Promifes^ with annexation of curfes 
 to the breakers, make the Pofterity obnoxious, as well as thofe who per. 
 
 fonalfy 
 
( 17 ) 
 tonally caine under the Engagement, ZVefc; J: 12, 13: That promifcof the 
 Jewifh Nobles and Rulers would have brought their Poflerity underthe 
 Cuife, if they had exacted ufury of their Brethercn, as Jojhuah Adjura- 
 tion did oblige all poflerity never to build Jericho, Jojh. 6, 26, and die 
 breach of it did bring the Curfe upon Hiel the BeiM/feinthedayesof A- 
 hah. Publick Vowts do bind Poflerity, Jacobs Vow Ge/?.2o\ 21, did e- 
 blige all his poflerity, virtually comprehended in him, Hof 12. 4. The 
 Reebubitet found them felves obliged to obferve the Vow of theii Pore-fa- 
 ther Jonadak Jer. 35. 6. 14. Publick Oaths do oblige poflerity, jeuph 
 took an Oath of the Children of Ifrael to carry up his Bones to Caman a 
 Gen. 50, 25. which did oblige the poflerity feme hundreds of years aiter^ 
 Exod. 13 19 Jojh.2^. 32. Narional Covenants with A7e« before G<^, do 
 oblige pofler icy 5 zs.lfraels Covenant with the Gibeonites, Jojb 9 15. 19 .' 
 for ih.e breach whereof, many Ages after, the poflerity was plagued, 2 
 Sam. 21. I. SoZedekjaPs Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar , £xW^. 17. 18, 
 19. Efpecialiy National Covenants with G^ before Men, about things 
 Moral, Objectively obliging, are Perpetual, Jer. 50. 5. And yec more 
 efpecialiy (as Grotius obferves) when tfuy are of an Hereditary nature, 
 that is, when the fubjeti i* permanent 3 the matter Moral,the end Good, 
 and in the form of them there is a Claufe exprefling their perpetuity. 
 All which Ingredients of perpetual Obligations are clear in Scotlands Co- 
 venants: Which are National Promifes, adjuring all the Members of 
 the Scottijh Church.under a Curfe to preferve and promote Reformation, 
 according to the Word of <W, and to extirpate what is in Do&rine, 
 Worfhip, Difcipiine or Government oppofite thereto : National Voms % 
 devoting the then engaging and fuceeding Generations to be the Lords 
 people, and to walk in H:s wayes: National Oaths, folemnly fworn by 
 all Ranks, with bands lifted up to the Moft High GOD.ncver to admit 
 of Innovations, or fnbmitto Ufurpations contradi£tory to the Word of 
 God: Nationai [Covenants wherein the King, Parliament, and People did 
 Covenant with each other, to perform their repeftive duties, in their 
 feveral places and ftarions, inviolably to preferve Religion and Liberty: 
 Yea National Laws, folemnly ratified by King and Parliament, and 
 made the foundation of the Peoples Corapaft with the King at his Inau- 
 guration : And Finally, they are National Covenants with God as party 
 contracting, to keep and do the Words of His Covenant. The fuhj.cl 
 or panics contracting are permanent, as long therefore as Scotland is & 
 land, and God is Unchangeable, who bath given His revealed Will for 
 the Rule of Mans Obedience, Scotlands Reformation in Dodrinc, Wor- 
 
 C fhip, 
 
 sry 
 
fhip, DjTcipIineandGovetnmerjt, mult be endeavoured to be g^ferveij 
 in a conformity 'to it. Tbe K^^pftn^rfi is mir.il, containing nothing 
 but what is antecedently an i eternally binding, albeit there hij never 
 been a formal Covenant. The Ends of 'them perpetually, good, to win, 
 For defence of ihetrui Utifjbiifa* as ft was then ref^med, and is eottorejftd in the 
 Confepott of Faith. and I - m znv years, with a bhffinr from Reiiivil 
 
 predebed and profit d'mtfts $r\ mi Kingdom^ as Gods mi ubted Truth ground- 
 ed only upon Ha written Wocd. Ani.for maintaining ths Kings Mi)c[iie bis Per- 
 fonand Ejiatc SCC. Hvj'mg b if ore our eyes the GhrfdfGod^ and the advance* 
 mentof the Kingdm of our Lord Jejits Gbrift^ the honour and bappimfs of tht 
 Kings Mtjefty^ and bis P-fierit\\ and the trite public\Liberty, Safety and Peace 
 eftfoe Kingd^ms^ wherein cviry ones. private condition is included. And in the 
 very forme of them, there are Glaufes exprefli.ig their perpetuity ; As 
 in that Article of the National Covenant , fublcribeJ anno 1638, there are 
 thefe words. Being convinced in our mind^ and confining with our month /, that 
 ibe prefent and fucceeding Generations in this Land^ are bound to bgep the forefaid 
 National Oath and Subfcription inviolable. In the Solemn League thefe ^Art. I. 
 That we and 1 our psflerity after ns may as hi ether err live in Faith and Love, and the 
 Lord may delight to dwell in the midji of its. Art, 5* We (ball endeavour that they 
 may remain conjoined in a firm Peace andVnion^ to all pofierity. 
 
 IV. Next, from ikrf. \6. to io< Tbisfaithful Watch-man 
 
 VerJ.10.17. warns ^ that, and all Generations, of the danger of breach ot 
 
 Covenant. Shewing, F^Vf?, The Ihdu&ives.to this fin, expofing people 
 
 to the danger of it, and involving them in the guilt ot it, before he lay 
 
 , before them wh.it (hall be the punifhment of it. 
 
 ^j If it be enquired then , What are the chief 'temptations 
 
 •«<w/r. I J. inducing to this fin of Covenant-breaking ? Hermit is Anfwered. I. 
 Dwelling among , and converfc with a People of a falfe Religion,, for 
 ye ktiow bow ye have dwelt in the Land of Egypt. — and ye have feen their abomi* 
 nations &c. (as it is noted in a Parentbefu^ v. 1 6, 17* ) This induces both 
 Perfons, Families and Tribes, verfi$. ( and in this order, fir ft Perfons, 
 then Families, then Tribes) tofymbolize with them in perjury. People 
 are more readily feduced to fin, by the perverfe example of thefe they 
 live .among, than they can be induced to abide in duty, by the bed In*. 
 ' flrudh'ons of thole that watch over rhem. No wonder that a people 
 dwelling among Infidels, be in hazard of fedu6lion,when a few Infidels 
 tollerated to dwell among the Lords people , will readily feduce them, 
 therefore is that command given, Exod. 23- ult.Tbey fkal not dwel in thy land^ 
 hjl tbey makg the fin againft me. The example of the Popijh y Prelatical and 
 
 hUlig: 
 
( *9 .) 7 ^ 7 
 
 Malignant fa&ion in Brittain and Ireland, the fuScring them not only f 
 dwell, burto creep into places of Power and Truft in Scotland, after they 
 were oneein a good meafu re expel led ^ And efpecially,inprocefsof time, 
 the ftupid fubmiffion to theReititution of their Government of Church 
 and State, and to the Re-introdiTftion of their wicked Lftablifhmcnts, 
 abjured by Covenant, and to the imposition of wicked Laws contrary 
 to the Covenant , did gradually induce, firft particular pevfons among 
 us, then whole Families, after that Tribes, Par ifhes and Provinces, to 
 this dreadful fin ofCovenant^breaking. 
 
 7. Heart defe&ion,7fo heart turning aw*} from tbt Lord,ver. 18. VerfiS. 
 is the firft ftep to external defe£tion,}m Profeflion, Pradtifeqr 
 •Principle, from the Covenant of God, Jhe bac^flider in Heart fhal be filled 
 with bis own way. If any Man draw back^the Lord will have no Fleafure in him^ 
 and then he is Plagued with Hardncfsoi Heart, andBJindnes of mind, 
 to run upon fins againft the Covenant of God,not for feeing nor fearing 
 the curie of it.The Lords People in Scotland, turned firft away from the 
 Lord in Heart, fell from their fir$ Love, Livelinefs ,Tenderne(SjSinceiity 
 and Fervor in Heart Religion , and then they could not but be a Prey 
 to the tentationsof the time, the wicked Examples and Laws, drawing 
 and driving to Covenant breaking. 
 
 3. Inclinations to Idolatry of any fort ^ Togo and ft) ve the gods of theft 
 Nations, ver. 18. Idolatry is a breach of Covenant , and inclination to ic 
 does eafily ininare in the guilt of it. Where a man begins once whorifh- 
 ly to look after idois of any kind * he isreachlyand righteoufly left to 
 follow his look. Not only is it Idolatry to worfhip Wood and Stone, 
 Silver and Gold, but to giveGodsdue to any other Ob j eft (contrair 
 to the uhComnand^ ) And to worfhip Him any other way then he hath 
 commanded (comrair to the 2d: Command^ There arc many heart idols , as 
 SclfchclI'orld^&cc.Covetoufnefs being Idolatry.There are manv land- this ot 
 jcaloufie, as when any wicked htenfl and Courfe is fet up, in competiti- 
 on with, and oppofitionto, and complied with in prejudice of drifts 
 , Inrereftand Caulc. Thus in this Land, theEftabljfhmcntof Eraftvufimp, 
 Prdac\\ Supr-macv, and' Abjolute Power, afcribing to Kingsof Clay, what 
 is tbe incommunicablePrero^ative of the Prince of the Kings of the earth, 
 and Peoples lave of the lVurld,felfpctce, eafejiberty, 86_\ Incomplvancc with 
 -thefelntereftsjiavc been the Idols oftbejehatiotu: And their heart turning 
 away from the Lord to tlicfe, have led them to torlakc anr. 
 
 4- Hct'Ciipcn follows the root that 
 
 which is abiibcdjblindcd, or icarcd Confcicnce, or aH tp{ 
 
 C 2 Ik in 
 
(\ 10 > 
 
 in departing from tbt Living God, Heb. 13, t% A } root of bittern fs fpringini 
 */>, whereby many are defiled, Heb. 12* 15. When the heart turns 
 away from Sod, then it inclines to Idols ]t when it is fo bewitched, then 
 the Confcience, that is firft Reclamant, gets a bribe from the perverted 
 will aud affe&ions to hold its peace at, and to excufe fin, and then its 
 di&ats are Gall and Wormwood, being blinded with Error, it feeks ar- 
 guments to juftifythe finful Pra&ice, and at length is fo feared, that it 
 is proof againft all reproof, and wholly benummed with the deceitful- 
 nefs of fin under the energy of ftrong dclufions, which are bitter in the 
 end* This hathbeen the fourth ftep leading in breach of Covenant in 
 Scotland; when firft the Tenracion was prefented, of bowing to thefe Idols 
 of jealoufic above mentioned , and the ^ueHion flared, (hall we Com- 
 ply, or Renounce the Covenant/ People firft coniulted their owning 
 tcrcft and Credit , and then when that was determined to befecured, 
 the Confcience was foon lulled afleep, and perfwaded to applaud the 
 fleftly conclufion, and then the judgement wasfet on work , to find out 
 plaufible Arguments,W after vows tomaks inquiry to get fhifts, excufesand 
 defences for their complyancp, and to excogitate pernicious principles 
 about the Magiftrates power in Church affairs, his power in loofing the 
 obligation of Covenants, and the indiffrrencie of^rw/ of Church Go- 
 vernment, andfhefmalnels effuch points to be heads of fuflerinp, e^*. 
 to juftifie their breach of Covenant. Thefe roots have brought forth the 
 titter fruits of -gall and wormwood \ that have brought this Land under 
 thecurfe of the Covenant; 
 
 5 Secure (elf-flattering preemption, bkffirighimfelf and faying, 
 Verje 1 9. j.ft, a }i bavepeace, tbb I walhjn the imagination of my heart^&e.ver.lQ 
 This is the higheft ftep of preparatives to, and the heinoufe'f aggrava- 
 tion of the fin oiperjury^ -and the bittercft fruit that gt ewes from the root 
 of dpofi'jcy trom God) including many ingredients of the unpardonable 
 fin, trampling upon Lights the prefumer being fuppofed to bear tbe words 
 »f tbisenrfe, and to tu(h at all threatnings, Welling himfclf in his deliberate 
 finning with deligbt , not on\y fecurely, but felf- willed 'A/, and refolutely 
 proceeding from evil to worfe, promifing to himfclf peace , not only 1 
 outward, pnrchafed by refolved perjury, but inward, in the flap of a 
 feared confcience. A man fofar left of God, cannot withftand the tcntati- 
 onstoCovenant-breaking. ; No bonds can retrain his running head* 
 long down the precipice to definition. Yet^the full amount of all this 
 preemption, hath been very frequent in this apoflatizing Generation , on 
 the front of whofe perjury and £erfidy, in complying with the mifchiejs 
 
 framed 
 
( 11 ) 
 
 framed into Lam, by a Throne of iniquity, this m»Hoh&th been legibly 
 
 Written, I Shall have peace, thb 1 nralfyn the imagination of my heart. 
 
 V. From verfe 20, to 28. the punifhment of breach of Covenant is 
 threatned, predicted and defcribed, with reference to a twofold breach 
 of Covenant, procuring a twofold punifhment : perfonal perjury , threatned 
 9/ithperfinal; National, with National judgements. 
 
 Firft, Perfonal perjury is in two verfe/ made obnoxious to ma- Verfe 2D ¥ 
 ay terrible thrcatnings, every claufe thundering vengeance. 
 
 If itbea^ked, What may every Covenant- breaker txpeQl The Qitijl. 16. 
 ?pftit of God Anfwcrs* I* The Lord vaill not [pare him. This IS 
 i Mehfis, imporcing far more than isexprefTed, to wit , a threatning 
 )f inexorable, inelu&able and irrefiftible judgement wherein there fhall 
 >e no allay ot Mercy, as Ezek. 5. 11. Ezek. 7. 4. 9. implying neverthe- 
 eCs alwyes an exception of Repentance. Otherwife, the Lord will not 
 pare the prefumptuous Covenant- breaker , be who he will , be lie 
 ting or Beggar , Mam'rfrate or Minifter, or private Perfon. 2. But 
 hen the anger of the Lord , and His jealoufie fhall fmokg againfk that man. 
 D who can exprefs or conceive the horror of that mifery , of being rhe 
 >bje£l of Divine indignation, in its full, vigor and rigor, as the fmok^ng of it 
 mports / Yet this is the doom of the Apoftatizing, prefumptuous, felf- 
 latcrng Covenant breaker; Deut: 31: 16, 17. Ihey will breakmy dvenant, 
 ben my anger fhall he hjndhd againfl them in that day, and I will fore f ah them, 
 nd I will hide my face from them, and they fhall he devoured, and many evils 
 nd troubles fhall befal them, &ZC. Jojh. l^.ult. When ye have tranfgn fled the 
 Covenant of the Lord your God, then fhall the anger of the Lord be kindled againfc 
 on. Mai. 3. 5. The Lord will come near to judgement, and will be zfwift 
 oitnefs at>ainjl falfe fwearers, &CC 3* ^^d all the curfes that are written in 
 hi* bookjhall lie upon him. All Covenants have a Curie, Neb. 10 29. The 
 mv[c of this Covenant is lome way greater than the Curie of the Law, 
 elcrving and procuring the Mediators vengeance, which is a forer pu. 
 ifhment than vengeance of a broken Law, Heb. 10 2b, 29. Compre- 
 endingall Miferies, Temporal, Spritual and Eternal. This isthe J /7)<- 
 !£ Roll, the length whereof is twenty Cubits, and the breadth thereof ten Cubits. 
 lech. 5. 2, 3.4. We have a black and broad roll of Curfes appointed 
 nto Covenant-breakers,Lfz>. 16. 1 5. to the clofe, Tcrr©rs,Con{umption, 
 urning agues, Enemies prevailing, Rage ot Tyrants reigning, Bar- 
 Minelsof Land, Wild beaffs devouring, the raping Sword, Peftilence, 
 amine, Defolation Fainrncfe, and pining away in Iniquities, &c Arnl 
 tiother, may Cubits long and broad. Dent. 28. from ij. toiheend. 
 
 Wc 
 
( 11 ) 
 
 We fee what Curfes are threatned againft the Men that tranfgrefs His 
 
 Covenant, Jer, 34. 18, 10. &c. He will give them into the hand of theit 
 
 Enemies, and into the hand of them that leek their Life. Ezekc 17, 
 
 I 5, 1 8, 19. Shall be profper > fljall heifcape > (hall he break the Covenant^ and 
 
 be delivered? feing he defpifed the Oatb^ by breaking the Covenant^ when lo^ hi 
 
 bad given bis hand\ be ft) all not escape. As I live^ I will recompence it upon bu 
 
 $wn bead, 4. And the Lord Shall blot out his name from under Heaven. Men 
 
 think to cfcape by Iniquity, and to purchafe, fometimes, not only eafc 
 
 and reft, but efteem and renown, by perfidious and perjurious time- ferv- 
 
 ing. And the greateft Complyers, who kept their boufes, when other: 
 
 for adhering to the Covenant of God^ loft or left them, have thought 
 
 that their houfes fhall continue for ever, they call ttuir Lands after theii 
 
 Names { Pfal. 49. 1 1. ) But the Spirit ofGo^ lakh, their name fhall b< 
 
 blotted out, and fhall ftink. Job.-l%. 17, 'Ibeir remmembrance fhall perifh 
 
 and they jh all have no name in tbejlreet. Job, 20. 7. He JhaU perifh.for ever, hh, 
 
 his own dung f bey which have fcen him, (hall fay , where is. he ? Job^ ij. ult 
 
 Men (hall clap their bands at him, and fhall hifs bim out of his place. Pfal. 77 
 
 35' 3^' Tho f° r a time, he may be great in power^ and fpread himfclf 
 
 like a green bay tree, yet he fhall pafsaway, and fhall not be found 
 
 Pjal. 52. 5, £, 7. He fhall be pluckt out of bis dwelling place^ and rooted out 
 
 the hand of the Living. Ihe righteous alfo fhall fee and fear , and fhall laugh a 
 
 him* Lo this is the Han that made not God bis ftrength, but trujiedin the abun 
 
 dance of his riches , and jlrengtbned bimfeWin his wick? due fs. Prov. 10 7. Th 
 
 name of the wicked fhall rot. Prov. IX 9 The lamp of the wicked fhall be put cm 
 
 when the light of the Righteous fhall rejoice. J. And th 
 
 yerfe II. L or dfhall feparate bim unto evil, out of all the tribes of If rael, accord 
 
 big to all the Curfes of the Covenant, that are written in this biokj)ftbe Law, ver 
 
 aiJ Tho all Sinners are obnoxious, yet in a more fpecial manner, th 
 
 Coven ant-braker fhall be fcparare, or finaled our toexamplifie the Lore 
 
 Indignation and Jealoufic. He flnll particularly be the Butt of His ver 
 
 geance. Many evils fhall befal him, efcape who will, Deut. 31.17. a< 
 
 cording to all theCu es of theCovcnant, Tern* il, Spiritual and I 
 
 temal. He fhall be a prey to all the evils if fin, given up to all the evi 
 
 of trouble, and devoted, as a Faggot, for Hells fire, forever. 
 
 Secondly, National covenant breaking is threatned with a^omflnngNation 
 iudgmmts ft om verf. 71. to iS.Whereinjhe obfervablencfs and a{hni(hii 
 areztmfs of them.js not only threatned, but predicted ^ compare Deut. 3 
 1<5 3 17 5 &cr with the event ) and defcribed. Shewing, 1. The Obfc 
 •vers. a. The thing obferved, or the cccafion of their obfervacicr 
 
 3. The 
 
....-■( 4 ) * 7 
 
 5|. Their enquiry upon their oblervat ions. 4. Their Anfwcr obvious and 
 readv. 
 
 1 . The Obfervcrs of the Lords Judgements upon the Nation Virf 11 
 of Ifrael, breaking Covenant with God, are, 7 he Generation to 
 come of their Children, and the Stranger that (hall come from a far Land, vcrf. 22. 
 Yea, even all Nations, verf. 24- I he Juflice ot God, in piinilhing Na- 
 tional breach of Covenant, .will be fo rminife&ed, and magnified, that 
 all Men may know, and mud acknowledge ir* Nor only the Godly 
 will be affe&ed with horror, and rivers of Tears will run down their 
 eyes, and they will with their heads were fountains of Tears, at the fight 
 of the fin procuring, and the judgement punifhing: Nor only faithful 
 Teacher j, that warned the people of thefe things before, will obferve when 
 they come to pafs. Jer. 5. 19. To whom the mouth of the Lord hath 
 fpoken, thar they may declare, for what the Land perifherh, who can 
 eafily tell, that it is for forfaking rhe Lord, and His Covenant, Jer, 9. 
 12,13. Jet. \6. io, 11. Nor Covenant breakers themfelves, that are left 
 in that day, when many evils and troubles befall them, will fay, are 
 net thefe evils come upon us, becaufe our God U not among us\ Dent. ^l. I J, 
 And will be forced to acknowledge that the Lord is righteous^ 1 Ckron. 
 12. %6. But it ftiali be obfeived and acknowledged by the Generation 
 to come, and by Strangers, and all Nations about, 1 Cbron. 7. 19 &c. 
 Jer. ii. 8, 9* Yea by Adverfarks, imployed as the Inftrumcntsot thci'c 
 punifhmentS, Lev 16. $T 3 1 will bring the Land to defolation, and your ene- 
 mies which dwell therein, (hall be afionijhed at it. Jer.40 1, Kebuzaradan ,the 
 chief Captain of the Guard, faid to the Propher, The Lord thy Ccd hath pro- 
 nouneed this evil upon this place, notv the Lord hath b fought it, and done according 
 as He hath faid, beaufeye have finned againtl the Lord, and have not obe\ed his 
 voice, therefore this thing is come upon you* Jer. 50- 7, All that found them' 
 devoured them, and their Adver[aries faid, we offend not, becaufe they have fumed 
 againft the Lord the habitation of jufr ice, even the Lord,the hope of their fathers. 
 
 It may be a Quefhon, Why n the punijhment of National breath G) iiC ft t j — 
 of Covenant fo public^, that it is olferved of Po(}eritv b and Strangers ? 
 Anf l.To vindicate the glory of God, which would be very much obfeu- 
 red and wronged, in the fight of the Narions, if the punifliment were 
 not as publick as the fin, which wasobferved by them; And to vindicate , 
 true Religion, from the imputation of allowing perjury , hateful to all 
 Nations. 2. To proportion the punifliment wirii rhe fin, in JufticcJ^ ; 
 5: 19: Ezek: 16:59: the delpifing the Oath oiGod, and breaking Hi* 
 Covenant was public! and National , and thcrcfote muff be punii: 
 
 with 
 
( H ) 
 with Judgements, that are publick and National 3. To remove the 
 ftumbling- block from the Nations about , and Poftcrity, that this inu 
 punity would lay before them , iffuch a fin might pafs without fignal 
 and ftupendious ftrokes. And to fet up a Beacon 5 to warn all of the 
 hazard of (plitting upon this Rock. And as the warningof it is a witnefs 
 againfl them that will do the like, Vent: 31: at: So, much more the ac- 
 complilliment will be.AU Nations have obferved and admired Scotland* 
 Eminency, when owning Gods Covenant : All Nations have again defpiled, 
 derided, and hiffed at our unparalleled perjury, that the very Tut hs bluft 
 to hear of. It may be, if Repentance prevent it not, as we have been a 
 hiffing and a taunting proverb, for the guilt of it, fo we may be a curfc 
 and execration, for the puniQiment of it. 
 
 2. The thingthey flull obfer^e, or theoccafion of their obferving, fa 
 (l) When t bey fee the plagues of the Land , and the fickpefles which the Lord hath 
 laid upon it-, ven 22: Land plagues are here threatned, for this land^flnol 
 breach of Covenant 5 And Land-fickneffes of all forts,Moral and Payfi- 
 ca!, even all mentioned Lev. 26. and Deut. 28. The plague of the word, 
 of Tyrannizing Rulers or inwading Enemies, or opprdiing Robbers or 
 Rebells, the plague of Famine, Dearth or Poverty, the plague otPefti- 
 lence, or fnfeding contagious Difeaffes and Sicknefleson Peoples Care ales 
 or Spirits, or on the managements and Adminiftraaons of publick In- 
 terefts, making a Sick and Difturbed Church and State. Whence come " 
 all thefe Diftempers ? Whence have flowed all thefc Grievances, under 
 which Scotland hath groaned thefe 40 years ? The bed grounded An- 
 fwer is only this, Becaufe we have forejatyn the Covenant of the Lord God of our 
 fathers. We have (een many of thefe plagues and fickneifrs already, we 
 
 Verfe 2l ma ^ ^ ee ^ ct more 5 ^ we ^ ve * 2 ' Al1 ^ f ^ at tl)e w ^ oie ^*^ there- 
 of is brimflone and falt s and buming^and that it is not [own, nor beareth, 
 nor anygrajsgroweth therein ■,//'% the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrhah, Admah, 
 and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in His wrath; ver\ 23- 
 Here is threatned ( tho not peremptory predicted as the reft is J the 
 total and final defolation of the Land of Ifrael, ifchey (hould forfake the 
 Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which is compared ad terre- 
 rem^ or ad equivakntiam, to the overthrow of the Cities of the plain. The 
 Lord doth nor zlwzycs ad litetam fulfill this threatning ; but here fhews, 
 what every Land, avowing and perfifting in breach of Covenant, may 
 fear, and in Juftice expeft. Jtift ice requires , that any land guilty of 
 Sodoms fins, fhould be lyable co its Judgements. If we compare Scotlands 
 fins, and breaches of Covenant, with the fins of thefe Cities, we fhal find 
 
 none 
 
7*9 
 
 , ( *5 ) 
 ■dnc of thclc abominations here wanting ; which brought down j«ft 
 vengeance on the Cities otthe plain ; In Gen: ig: c bap: We find their fin« 
 were chiefly the breaches of the fwtmb Command. And in EzeJ^ i<5. 4^ 
 thele were their Iniquities, Pride, fulnefs of Bread, abundance of ldknefs % neL 
 tber did fie firengtben tbe band of the poor and needy ', andtbey wen haughty, and 
 tommitted abomination, tberefort tbe Urdtook^tbm away as He faw good. In 
 no Nation under Heaven thefe fins have a louder Cry for Vengeance, 
 than in Scotland, which declares thefe fins and many more that Sodom was 
 never in capacity to commit, without fliame or fear as Sodom, and hides 
 them not, Ifa* 3. 9. Whole Rulers, of a long time, have been Rulers of 
 Sodom, and whofe people have been People of Gomorrah, Ifa. 1. ia Yea, 
 wc are lyable to the Lords Upbraidiqgs more than Sodom, Math. 1 1. 23. 
 14. For if the mighty works which have been done in Scotland, had 
 been done in Sodom, it would have remained untill this day , therefore it 
 may be feared it fhall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom , in the 
 day of judgement, then for Scotland. And from what of this threatned 
 curfeof the Covenant we have fecn accomplifhed in any mcafurc, wc 
 may have grouud to fear what further fhall be fecn in future fulfil- 
 ments of it, if repentance do not prevent it. We have feen parts of the 
 Land, fometime fruitful and well inhabited, and many Families for- 
 merly well provided, in our day laid defolate, neither fown nor reaped: 
 We have feen fome Cities almoft burnt to afhes, wc have (een great Po- 
 verty and Sterility in the Land. What is the Caufe > Even this, becaufe 
 we have forfaken tbe Covenant of tbe Lord God of our fathers. Ifa. 24. 5, 6. The 
 earth hath been defiled undir tbe inbabitants thereof beeaufe tbey bave tranfgrejfed 
 tbe Laws, changed tbe Ordinance, broken tbe everlafting Covenant, tbtrefore bath 
 tbe Cnrfe dtvoured tbe earth. 
 
 From all this here threatned as the confequent punilhment gueft. f 8. 
 of National breach of Covenantee may further inquire,^** 
 may this Nation, or any other guilty of tbe likg Perjury, fear or expicl in jujlice, in 
 tbe day He vi ftts us \ Befides the Text, we may gather, mcumulo, thele 
 Cmfes of the Covenant* [1] Terrors and tormenting panick diftra&ing 
 iFcars,the hag of guilty Confidences, Lev- 16. \0. Cauiing to flee when 
 none purfues, v. 1 7.36- Veut. 28.67. Felt in part already,in many fhameiul 
 yeeldings>flights,and difcomfiturs [2] Mortal & contago is diltempers of 
 body, confumptlons,buining agues 5 L«//>. 26. \6 Peftilcnce v. 25 Inflam- 
 mations, Veut.vi. 21; 22. Wagucs/"V. 27, 35, gfcjH* The great mor- 
 ality now very ordinary in the Land, is the fruit ot breach oi Covenant. 
 t3] Enemies Dcpradations,DcpopuIations and Devaflations, eating up 
 Jiefeed, Lev. z6. 16. Slaying and chafing, v. 17. A Sword to avenge 
 
 D the 
 
the quarrel of the Covenant, r it T>ent.i%. 25, 34, 49, ji. Jofi.j.'ii, 
 iy. 7 er * *5' 2, J er -34* ^i'lO. Who can tell but the S^vori, now drawn 
 jn Britten and Ireland, may avenge the quarrel of His broken Covenant. 
 E4] Tyrants domination, Levit. 16. 1 7. Dent. 28. 43, 48. Our long op- 
 preffion under the two preceeding Tyrants,hach been the defervei puniftV 
 ment of our breach ofCr/emm: Cfl Barrennefs and unfruitfulnefs of 
 the ground, Levit\i6. 19,11. Dent.2$. 23,14, Ifa, 24 Qtf] Wild hearts 
 devouring, Lev. 26. 22. Ier. 1 J. 3: The Lord can (end thefe alfo, oc 
 men as bad as beafts. [7] Famine, Levit.i6: 16,19, Dent. 28. 73, 57* 
 7«r. 15. 2. Many poor people have felt (omeivhat'ot this, itisealy with 
 the Lord to reach the rich alfo when he will. £8] Deflation of Ci:ks vi 1 
 Sanftuaries, Lev. 26, 3r, 32, 34. 2. 'King. 17. 15. i$ #*. 24, 6. We 
 have long languithed under Sanftuiry-defolations, the other may fol- 
 low* [9] Exileand (livery, Lev. 16: 33, 38: Veur. 28: 25, p, 37,64. 68. 
 This hath been in part literally acccmplilhed , in the deportation of 
 many to America, more maybe coming. £10] A curie and vexation in 
 and upon alien joyments and employments, Dear: 28: iftio: iChron: 
 24: 20: Since ever we forfook the Lord, nothing hath profpered with us. 
 fl I] Infatuation, Vent: 28: 28: Quos Veos vult perdere dement at, ,hath been 
 written on all our projects, for which we arc a fcorn and derifion to all 
 Nations about us. £12] Defertion from God, and hiding g! His face; 
 JBWt^iUT? 7 er * *£ I: Vifibly leen in Ordinances and Providences, the 
 fruit of onrforfaking H*'sCovenant. In a word, many troubles, Vmt: 
 31: 17; All evills, even to utter deftru&ion, Joflr.iy 15, 16. For all 
 which, our hearts may meditate Terror. 
 
 3* Their Enquiry or Queftion, upon their obfervation of 
 Verfl^ c j ie creiTiendous punifhment of this fin, is, Wherefore hub the 
 ^mji. 19: hrd dor? thifs unto thit Land? What meaneth the hat of this great 
 after ? This is frequently predicted to be the Queftion of fpe&3- 
 fors, that (hall obferve the National Punifhmcnt of National Crying! 
 -fins; As hi the cafe of the Temples defolation for Temple polluting fhs r 
 1 Kings q. 8, 0. 2 CWwij 7. 2 [ , 11. The like alfo, Jer. 22 8, 9. WhenJ 
 this fball be cue queftion of the Nations, it willbe eafie to anfwer it Ic 
 is not io at the beginning of the Lords contending?, when it is only thei 
 queftion of the Apjfbtizing Generation it felf; Then only the faithful 
 Watchmen, infirucred of God, will anfwer k fuitably, Jer. 5. [9, J<:r 
 l6. 10. It is not eafie C€> find the wife man that ma\r understand this, and ti 
 whom the month of the Lord hjtbfpifyn, that he may declare it f}rr what the Land 
 
 $m(httb, Jer. 9. 12, 1 J The mod guilty may alleage the more mnoj 
 
 cenrf 
 
( 27 ) ' J **, 
 
 cftit,tb be the caufej of the Lands trouble,as ^^ faid to Elijah,! Rhg.\% 
 17,18. And even the Prophets not difcovcring the Lands iniquity ,may/ee 
 falfe burdens and caufes of bam/foment y Lam, 2. 1 4. However,it will be no rail- 
 take to pitch upon ieveral caufes of wrath agaioft £co*/W,evenany,or all 
 that ever brought down Vengeance upon any £er eration of wrath recor- 
 ded in the Scripturs,or in any Hiftory^fuch is^ofamty of all forts, HypocrL 
 fiejdoljtry, Adultery preach 'ry^Pride^BIotd and Oppreffion ^Contempt of the GofpeL 
 dec. and theie attended with the greatcft aggravations. Wkh thefe indeed 
 rhe Land hath been troub!ed,polluted,andforthe fame is yet perilhing: 
 But chiefly, that which bath incenfed the anger of the Lord to all this 
 heat, ha'-h been, and remains to be, Breach of Covenant. And all thefc 
 abominations* not (imply becaufe Breaches of the Law of G^but as un- 
 der this fpecial aggravation, that they have been, and are Breaches of 
 Covenant. As is evident from, 
 
 4. The ready Anftver here given, Becaufe thev baveforfaken Verf.2^. 
 the Covenant of the Lord God of tbeir fathers, which be made with 
 them, rvbin be brought them forth out of 'the Land ef ', Egypt, ver. 25. This A n- 
 fwer (hall be extorted from Men, all Men, that are Men of any confidc- 
 ration,Pro/>fof/, Jet. 5. \$.\Jer. 9. l-j, Jer.16. 10. Covenant breakers them- 
 felves, Veut. JI. 17. Strangers, 2Chron. 7» ^1, 12- fa* 22. 8, 9. Let it 
 be enquired then, wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto Scotland* 
 What meaneth the heat of all this great anger, in which it hath been 
 confuming now thefe40 years,and yet notconfumed? The Anfwer, mull 
 be, We have forfaken the Covenant &c. It appears hence.that breach of 
 Covenant is a great fin, and caufe of wrath. And is further confirmed 
 from many Threatnings of wrath for it, Levit. 26, 25. Deut* 31. 16, 17. 
 Jofh. 23. 15, 16. 2 Chron. 7. II, 22. Jer. 22. 8, 9. From fad and ftupen- 
 dous executions of thefe Threatnings, Jofh.j. n, ij. 2Kings 17. 15:^. 
 Ifa: 24. 5, 6: And from the confeffions and complaints of it, 1 King: 19, 
 jo: Neb: 9: Dan: 9: It may be alfoobferved from hence, that no fin is 
 m ;re aggravated than breach of Covenant, as appears from thefe words, 
 to ver. laft -, wherein this Anfaer of the Nations. 1. Aggravates this fin in 
 general, v. 25. 2. Specifies the particular kind of it, v:i6. 3. Juftifics 
 the punifhmenr of it, v. ^7, 28* 
 
 1 Here is aggravated the heinoufnefs of breach of Covenant, in a con- 
 texture cf words that ftrws forth its hatetulncis.There are lcveral degrees 
 of this fin, but this is the worft. 
 
 n Quel? How may a Nation be guilty of breach of Covenant ? Anf: 
 
 gjKc/f; 20. ^j oc Qn ]y ( 1 ) by tranfgreliing any of the Articles of it, as 
 kere, by ferving other gods, wr: 2(5 ; putting forth the hand to any ac- 
 
 D 2 curled 
 
( »8 ) 
 •urfed thing, which, tho it was the perfonal fin of Achan only, yet the^ 
 whole Congregation was involved in it, Jojh: 7: u, 1 j. efpecially wherf 
 it is difcovered, and yet connived at, not witnclTed againft, nor mourned 
 •ver. But fa) by rafhnefs or falfliood in making it, Hop to: 4: [waring 
 ftljly in making a Covenant, when it is not taken in truth, righteoufnefs and 
 judgement, when only in Hypocritical flatterie, without right and ftcd- 
 faft nearts it is engaged into, Pfal: 78. 36, 37. (3) By forgetful nefs, Deut. 
 4"l3 : 1<A$ bted unto your fehes lefi ye forget tbt Covenant §ftbe Lord your God% 
 Forgetting is a ftep towards forfaking. Pfah 44: 17; The perpetual Co- 
 venant fhould not beforgocten, Jen 50: y. C\) By leeking {hifts to c- 
 lude it, and Arguments to defend the breach of it, Prov: 20: 25: (5) By 
 defpifing and undervaluing the Bond of ic, EzeJ$ 16: 59.- £«ej^ 17: 1^19. 
 (6) By dcfe£Hon to the iniquities abjured in it, Jerem: 11; io* (7) By 
 changing the inftitutions (worn to be maintained, Ifaiab 24:5: Either 
 the State Government, without confulting Divine dlteUions and boundaries^ 
 Hof: & J , 4. Or the Church Government, without refpe& to the Pattern * 
 ot the revealed will of Chrift, 2 Cbron, 1 3 . 9, ia, 11. (8) By difowning 
 it, and downright denying the obligation ot it, Van: \\: 30. (<$) By 
 iiating an oppoftuon to it, and perfecting them that adhere to it, 1 Kin: 
 i$ 10. Dan. li« 30. The two lafl are properly forfaking the Covenant, 
 which is more then breaking it, ( here may be gathered the 
 g#e#. 21. anfwertothis ^suf. Wliataretht Aggravations of this fin > ) 
 This Forfaking, ^ implying willing and wilful deliberation 
 fefolution, and preemption in avowing the breach of it* This is a greac 
 Isngth in -perjury, yet ftiort of the amount of Scotland* unparalleled Ef- 
 frontery in enacting the breach of ic.making the renunciation of ir a qua- 
 lification of pcrfons capable of publi<3 Truft „ fiUtlUllfi; it W ttfZ &mtt> 
 OfttjZ |W!l($UWlMnd making die owning of it Criminal. Again, here 
 is a forfaking of the Covenant, which, as it includes a forjakjng of the Com. 
 mandmwtsof God, which hath a brand of a hateful heinoufnefs, i Kin: 18: 
 18: 2 Cbron: 12: I, 5: Ezra 9: 10.* Jik 9: 13* So, it imports and inferrsa 
 greater aggravation, to forlake a Covenant of fo long (landing , a perpe- 
 tual Covenant, Jer: 50: 5. A Covenant fo holy, Dan: 1 1: 3a A Covenant 
 fo folemnly engaged into , Jer: 34: 18; fo frequently renewed, and under 
 fuch ianctions, certifications, ad jtirarions and curfes, in thisc^t Joib:i\: 
 and Jet: II; 2, 3^ Further, it is a forfaking of the Covenant of tbt Lord 
 God. Tho it were but a mans Covenant, yet it could not be forfaken, 
 without the bafefi of treacherie, much more to forfake Gods Covenant, 
 which is to forfake Himfelf, a dreadful fin, fo much aggravated in 
 Scripture, V$m* 3c 16. Veuu 32. 15. Jo(h. 24.19,20. Judg. 10. 13. 
 
 2 Gbnml 
 
( *$> ) 7 L ) J 
 
 2 «rw.i4. io. Ifr. 1:4: Jer. 1. 10, n, 13. To forfake tne Covenant 
 of the Lord our Husband is Adultery. To forfake the C0vena.1t of the 
 Lord our King y is unnatural Rebelling To forfakc che Covenancof the 
 Lord cur God , is Idolatry, worfe than is to be found among Heathens, 
 who will not difown their gods. Finally, its a forfaking of the Covenant 
 of the Lord God of their fathers, which He made with them when Ht brought 
 them out of the Land if Egypt. Forfaking a Redeemers Covenant, who had 
 delivered their Fathers from Slavery, whofe mercy and faitbfulncfs their 
 Fathers had experienced, and from their experience of the good of keep- 
 log Covenant with Him, had commended it to their pofterity-, A Co- 
 Tenant, not of a late date, or a new invention, buttranfmitted from 
 their Fathers -, A Covenant, whrch,upon that head, the Lord hath refpeft 
 unto, and for which, fometimes He will not deflroy, but have com- 
 panion upon the unworthy pofterity, 2 King. 1 3; 13. This is charged as 
 a great aggravation of breaking Covenant, Jer, 11. 10. Mai 2. 10. Be 
 cauie it was the Covenant of their Fathers, or of the God of their Fathers. 
 
 2. Here is fpecified the particular way of their forfaking the 
 Covenant^ v; 16: For they went and ferted other gods, and w or- VeY J* ^ : 
 fhiped them. Indeed this is the grofleft 1 way of breaking Covenant, to 
 ferve and worfhip other Gods: But this hath alfo its degrees, whether 
 this Idolatry be confidered as a breach of the Firft, or of the Second 
 Commandment, as was fhewed before, and undeniable in the Scriptures. 
 There is external and internal Idolatry. There is Idolatry that hath a 
 wrong object, and Idolatry alfo that may pretend the true object of wor- 
 fhip, but confining in a worfhip not of His appointment. However, 
 by the way it may be noted, that Service and JForfhip h all one. Hence 
 the Vopifh diftinclionor Vowleia and laueia is groundlefs and Ant:-fcrip«f 
 rural. This Serving or JForfhiping of other gods, is aggravated from two 
 grounds. £Q They were gods whom they kfienmot, worfhiping an unknown 
 god (according to the Motto of the Athenian Alter) isa peculiar (hetch of 
 of Idolatrous fuperfh'tion,^ff. 17:22, 23: Ignorancethen (of theobjeft, 
 or ot the way of worfhip) is not the Mother but the Murther of true De- 
 votion. The Introduction of any unknown or uncouth thing, whether 
 it be in the object, or manner of worfhip, or any New Invention, or 
 Inuovation in the fervice or worfhip of God ? is hence inferred to b 1 
 breach of Covenant. [V) They were gods whom he hjd not glvtn who 
 them. If any tiling then be received, admitted, or allowed in rtorftip 
 or Religious fervice, which God hath notgiven^ranted, or command- 
 ed, it isa breach of His Law and Covenant. His Law is fo per. . . 
 
 not 
 
( So ) 
 ml only what He hath forbidden is fin, but what He hath not commanded 
 in Religious fervice. 
 
 • ^ 3. Here is jufiified the punifhment of that forfaking of the 
 
 ^r/. 27,2b: Lords Covenant, iw27,28: (1) In vindicating thejufticc 
 of it, in that all the effeft of th^ Anger of the Lord kindled agav$ the Land y 
 v; 27: was according to the Cutfes that are written inthU bo^ The pu* 
 nifhment of a Land breaking Covenant, is only what ic deferves, and 
 what the Lord hath threarned in the Scriptures. (2) In indicating and 
 acknowledging the feverlty of it, v. 28. How the Lord rooted them out of 
 their Land in anger , and in wrath , and in great indignation dCC. Hence it may 
 be inferred, that if Covenanters will not extirpate what pollutes the Land 
 according to their Engagements, the Lord will be provoked co extir' 
 pate them out of the Land, according to His Word. 
 
 VI. In the clofe, verj. uk. there is a Conclujory Corollary fur> 
 VerJ. 29. j ; nc J to a }]. ihe fecret tilings belong unto the Liad our God : but 
 thofe things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our Children for ever, that 
 we may do all the words of this Law* This may be taken either abftra&ly, 
 as an Apothegm by itfelf, or with relation to what follows in the next 
 chapter, or to what preceecis inthis. Sin and Duty is here clearly reveal- 
 ed, and that fhould be the matter of our exercife: But Lvents are fecrets 
 belonging to the Lord. He hath revealed it is our duty to hgep the words 
 of this Covenant and do them : But, who (hall endure to the end fo doing, 
 is a lecret known to Himfelf. He hath revealed it is our duty to enter into 
 Covenant with the Lord our Godjhat He may eflablifh us for a people unto Himfelf: 
 But who (hall get this priviledge made good unto them, without rever- 1 
 fion t Or, who (hall turn away, and have a root that beareth Gall and Worm- t 
 wood, &:c. is a fecret. In the general it is revealed that the keepers of 
 the Covenant (hall have thebleffings of it fecured,and the breakers (hall 
 have thecurfes ratified: But who they (hall be by name and furname, 
 is a fecret belonging uuto the Lord. He hath clearly revealed, that the 
 great procuring cauie of Divine Vengeance,is, Forfakjng the Covenant : But 
 when He will inflict and execute this Vengeance, how, and upon whom, 
 and by whom or what Inftrumerjts,or in what meafure^or how kng^Thdc 
 are iecrets. Again , in the following Chap. He hath clearly revealed 
 when thele Threatnings have come upon us, atu! we (hall call them to 
 mind, even in captivity, and [hall return unto the Lord our God, andjhall 
 obey His voice, that then the Lord our God will turn our Captivity, and will have 
 Compaffion upon us. SCC. But as for the feafons of if, it is not for us to kpow 
 them\ A&. I. 7. Whither it fhall beat this time, in our day, or after- 
 
 wards ; 
 
ward? ; whether by thefe difpen fattens or inftrumenrs now made u:c of, 
 or others, are (ecrct things belonging to the Lord cur God. 
 
 But, to put a Clofc to this Introduction, iris apparent from what is faid 
 there can be very few doubts, or dark, difficulties about National Ccvenants^ 
 but what may be refolved from this Chapter^ andfecntobe, not among 
 the fecrets cot to medlcd with, but among the things Revealed^ belong- 
 ing to us and our Children. Particularly thefe ghtejtions here touched, 
 which have been Scumbling ftones to many, and Topicks ( f objections 
 againft our Nathnal Covenants, areinfomc meafure cleared. Which 
 may here together be prefented to the Readers view. 
 
 Que ft. l Whether it be Lawful and expedient, for Nations to enter into Cove- 
 nantt withG$d> from iferf. I . 
 
 Q^ 2. What is tht Nature of this Covenanting ? ibid. 
 
 (T 3. Whether it may be d<me without the Magtftrate \ Or, when it Is fo, 
 is the obligation of it binding > ibid. 
 
 Q 4. When the Covenant is Renewed \ may it be done with Alterations and 
 "Accomodations to tbe time ? ibid. 
 
 Q± 5. What may be MonVes to Renew the Covenant ? from V. 7: to V. p. 
 
 Q^ 6* What Is it to keep Covenant ? from V. 9. 
 
 Q^ 7. May tbe Covenant be renewed without tbe Primores, wben tbey will 
 not concur > from ver: 10: 
 
 (y 8. May Children be admitedtothe Covenant ? from v: IF. 
 
 Q, 9. Art * trangers obliged, or may they be admitted t$ tbe Covenant > ibid. 
 
 Q^ 10. Does tbe Covenant bind the abfent, and them that did not tak$it\ 
 hoxwver: 13. 14. 
 
 Q. II. May tbe Covenant be impofed upon all ? or may all be admitted to 
 takg it ? fbid- 
 
 Q^ 12. V/bat may to* fe tht obligation of it I from V; 11. 
 
 Q. I ]. What the better fli all we be of makjngand keeping d National Coie- 
 nant? ver: 13. 
 
 CV 14. Is tbe obligation of National Covenants ( upon the matter LaW- 
 full) perpetual and binding ttponpefterity* from ver: I 5' 
 
 CL * 5- W$*t are the chief tentations inducing to the fin of Covenant -brcal^ 
 ingi. zvAjvh at are the gradual jhps of it? from 1 6: tolO. 
 
 CV id Whit are the Curfes and PuniftmentS threatned agaM C. 
 navt-bnakers Perfonal, from:'. 10. 
 
 CV 17 Why is the pumfhment of National breach of Covenant fo Publick, 
 that it is obfprved of pcfierity and Strang', rs ? from ver. 77'. &c. 
 
 Q^ 1 8. What is the threatened Punifhment of National breach of Covenant > 
 komverf 77. &c • d 
 
Q. 19 What is the procuring Caufe ofalltb&Nations Mf/eWf />from z>; 14:25: 
 Q^ 20. How may a Nation ^e guilty of breach of Covenant > frojav: 2 J; 
 Qi 21. JPfotf *re f£e aggravations of that fin > ibid: 
 
 THefe being premifed , there is the lefs need to inlargc in the vindi- 
 cation ot the Renovation of thefe Covenants , here f ub joy ncd, as they 
 were Sworn and Subfcnbed at Lefmahego* March, 3. 1 689. Their Motives 
 are before touched on ^ueflion 4. from verf. 2. top. They Confider- 
 ed what the Lord had done before their eyes, the great tentations in their 
 day, the figns and the great wonders of the Wifdorn, Faithfulnefs, Power, 
 Jumce and Goodncfs of the Lord, appearing in His way with them and 
 their Fathers.They Confidered the univerial Obduration, Stupidity, 
 and unanfwerablenefs to rhefe wonders in themfelves and others, how 
 they had^not gotten hearts to perceivc,nor eyes to fee in to rhar very dayv 
 They Confidered the Lords greacious Conduft of them and their fathers, 
 and their own experience ot His care and kind nels towards them, in pro- 
 viding fo tenderly and wonderfully all ncceflaries for their Wildsrmfs Lot. 
 They confidered, how at length the Lord lielped them to overcome two 
 Kings,that eudeavoured by all means to deftroy them. They confide- 
 red, that, as the Lord promifes :profperity to the keeping, and doing 
 the words of His Covenant j So, in the dayes of their Fathers, when 
 they entered into, and kept Covenant with God ? He profpered them 
 in all that they undertook, went forth with their Armies, and made 
 their Enemies to fall down before them, certifying in His providence 
 His approbation of His peoples Covenanting. They confidered alfo, 
 how thefe Covenants (tho of Eternal obligation, as is cleared <§W(f. 14. 
 from verf 1 5.) were broken, their breaches enabled by Law, they were 
 Burnt^ the owning of them declared Criminal by an A£i of Qneensberries 
 Parliament, and the obligation of tbem,was like to be totally buried in 
 oblivion. And therefore,as they Thought this a Cafe ofConfeffion^v/hcn they 
 could do no more,to give their Testimony for the Covenants, with pro 
 feffion of the Sorrow of-their hearts, and abhorrence of their fouls a- 
 gainft thefe indignities (as was done in the Printed teftimony, anno. 1688.) 
 So, upon the fame motives, they thought it no lefs neceflary, now, in 
 this oppurtunity, to revive the memory of them, and atleaft to break 
 the ice for others to renew them more Solemnly, At that Critical fea«| 
 fon, eipecially, when in the univerfal expectation of War, upon the 
 change oftheGovemment 3 allpartieswere Affociating for their own de- 
 fence, and ailerting^the quarrell and party they would efpoufe: They 
 alfo thought it expedient, by the rencwing.of thefe .ancient Covenants , 
 
 / to 
 
( 33 ) "7^7 
 
 fcclare what Caufe they would avouch, and appear for; what King 
 ;hey would owne, and upon whattermes they would offer, and oblige 
 :hjpir fubje&ion to the pre(ent Government, then tobeeftablifhed,who 
 iad before declared a revolt from the former, aad for this end,to make 
 :his the bond of their Aflociacion. 
 
 It is objected^ With a great deal of clamour by many, that this was an 
 Uegaland prefumptuou:. A6Hon, without all Authority^ r concurrence 
 )f per ions that had Authoiity to tender an Oath. Buc as this is looted 
 }y what isfaid above, on gurft. 3, and ^.7* from:;. 1. and v. 10. So we 
 its for entering into,and renewing Covenants, tor Defence 
 it Re igi nanJ Liberty, without the Authority then regnant, in fevcial 
 usances before, and fince the eiiabhfhed Rcf jtmation^As that Covenant 
 \iEMnhurgb i amo'l'tfj, for the maintenance and advancement ot K.e- 
 oinvtioo, ano defence of one another adhering to it. Another Cove- 
 ah, 1559 And aLttiiirling* the fame year. Anothei at Leitb, 
 3. Another at "A\r\ ipi. All thek without the concurrence of 
 lublick Authority. And in toe year i<5$, the National Covenant was 
 Renewed liefore they obtained Authority for ir. And anno \666. at Latterly 
 .fmall handful of honneft and faithful patriots renewed the Solemn 
 .eaguealfo, without andagainfr the Authority that was then. But this 
 t LefmahegO) tho it w.is without Authority, yet it was notagainft Au- 
 hority, being in the time of the Interregnum^ before the fcttlcment of 
 luthoritvfor. which Cauf^in Oead of the ufualExprcffions of the Ringficbis 
 4ajejlyjhey read as in the margent,ffir Higknefspr the Civil MjgijiratejDC- 
 aufe the prefent K: was not then declared. And that party who renewed 
 he Covenants then did not pretend to any Authority tt> do it as a Nttionil 
 f#,to bind the whofe Nation -,Only to take on the vowes of God upon 
 hemfelves, and to invite others to do the. like. If thofe that tendcied 
 he Covenant at that time, did take upon them any Authority, it was 
 lot to impofe it upon any, but rather to exclude fomc from i r , and to 
 linder their admiilion to it, who were groisly ignorant and fcanda 
 iy laying out before them the hazard of fwearfng faKely. Anddi 
 harging them , in the mme of the Lord, to devour thefe holy things, 
 rhisalfo was an Offence to fome and occalion of obloquic again fl the 
 ^£lion: Buc it is jullifi ■ I above, by whar is faid on §Wf. If* fromv* 
 o, 1 1, 11, &c. And bv an A& of Affembly , July 2 
 649* Debarring profs Co-rip! vers from the Covenant, and Ordaining 
 i that none of thofe who uc. i d I aired, fhould be admitted, but 
 1 as after cxa6r trial, fh mid be found for iome Compe em time, before 
 c or after the ofier of their Repentance , to have in their ordinarv Con- 
 
 E w<i vcrfa- 
 
( 34 r 
 
 "verfations given Teftimony of their diflikeof tbcfe Complyances. And 
 it is not to be forgotten, when the Minifter was enlarging on the fins of 
 fuch as had voluntarly given in the lame to him, with their names, in 
 Write, beforehand (viz. fome that had gone a great length in Sinful 
 and Scandalous excefles, with that Impoftor JobnOib^ and many ethers 
 who had been involved in feveral lad defe&ions, in the late defiling times 3 
 as, Hearing the Curats^ paying the Ce/>, taking the Oath of Abjuration^ 
 &c) Offering , and defiling to make publick Acknowledgment before 
 the Congregation ( then to the Field* )of thefe their publick fin ; Not 
 only feveral others, who had not g{vcn up their names, role up, and 
 openly declared that they were guttty of feveral fleps of defection - 9 but 
 alfo fome declared their guilt of perlonal Scandalsjtill at length the Mi- 
 nifter was necefEtate feveral times to crave forbearance, the day being fo 
 far lpenr, that ( after the Covenants were fworn) the fubferibing of them 
 was hereby (happily) prevented untill night, which was done in the 
 CifwrckThe great out cry is againft the Alterations and additions in this 
 Renovation of the Covenants : Bat as this objection is taken off by what 
 isfaid above on ^nefi. 4. from verfe r. So, that Renovacion of the Na- 
 tional Covenant, fn the year 1638, With very large additions accom- 
 modate to the linae.is a precedent justifying anvAlterations ot Additions 
 in the Covenants Renewed ac Lefmabego , whicn are only in thelc words 
 of the Covenants, that cannot luit the prefent times, as is obvious from 
 every Alteration, marked -only in the Margcm, without expunging the 
 old words- 
 There are indeed rriany Additions in the Acknowledgment of fins and 
 Engagement to duties ( which alfo were then Solemnly Renewed) betaulc 
 thefe Late unhappy times of dcfc&ion have produced many other fins, 
 than could be Confeffed' in that Acknowledgment, Anno 1 649. 
 Bur the whole of the former is retained in a Large Cbar after 5 And 
 the AJcltions fubjoyned in a DJfer Cbarjfter , for diftinftion-, The 
 fame is clone, upon the famegrounds > in the Engagement to duties 
 annexed. In the former , the fins of thetiroe are acknowledged^ impar- 
 tially, without concealing any of dieir own, fo far as they had light, no 
 more than the fins of any other party. In the Latter^ the duties of the 
 Covenant ace particularly and plainly engaged into, according to their 
 Confcience of them, even thole that are, or have been Controverted: 
 That If others may nothereby be excited to conifer diem •, Yet them- 
 ielves might come to, and intertain a determined (enfe ot them, and no* 
 halt between two opinions. And to the end the Material and Moral ob- 
 ligation of the Covenants may be confidered and discovered, to wit, 
 
 that 
 
 
7 99 
 f 35 J 
 :hat the duties thereof are antecedently Commanded, and ihe fins thcrer 
 if antecedently forbidden, tho there had been rofuperadded Covenant; 
 rhertfore, in the Acknowledgment of fins ( ?ccotding to the Order ot 
 ;he Articles of the Covenant, which are thetc repeated ) the Scripruics 
 :onfiiming every Article andCJaufe thereof, are annexed. 
 
 Finally, 1 he Ofyftion which is moft commonly infifled on and fecms 
 o have moft weigh t,is,That tho it were tolerable to Renew the Katierul 
 Covenant; Yet, for a party in Scotland io lenew the Solemn I eague and c$- 
 fenant with England, is folly and preiumptien.wi'thout tbeii concurrence 
 ind confer*, a League without Colleagues being abfiird and ridiculous. 
 Anf. This indeed were a very thorny point, it it were pleaded or prei 
 tended that the Solemn League ar.d Covenant was, or is to be Renewed, ei-I 
 ther by a party, or the whole body of Scotland, in the ptefent ciicum- 
 [fanccs, under the fame and adequate formality, confederation, and 
 extent of /.flociation and Confederation with England or Ireland, as it was 
 it its firft framing •, that is , as a League Offenfive and Dcfenfive 
 pvirh the Colle&ivebody of thefe Kingdoms, and the Noblemen, Ba- 
 rons, Knights 3 Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgefles, Minifters of the Gof- 
 pel, and Commons of all lorts, in Scotland, England and Ireland ; For 
 that would involve in an Affjciation with the Prelatical and Mal.gnant 
 party. In regard of which, as the cafe now (lands, it were very hard to 
 Elenew that Le.igue for Religion, between thefe Nations, albeit their 
 :oncurrenceand content were obtained,for fear of a finful AlTociation, fo 
 much Condemned in Scripture, except they were more Reformed, and 
 better difpofed for Reformation, and except the things ro be Reformed 
 in both, were more particularly exprefled, with accommodation to the 
 Feveral corruptions of thefe times; that were not known, and could not 
 be forefeen, at the firft making of the Solemn League and Covenant : But it 
 is not abfu-d.that the whole Nation, or even a party in it, renew That 
 Holy Engagement, ;*s it is a Covenant with God: wherein He Is refpe&cd 
 not only aswitnels, but Party Contracting, or with whom they Contract, 
 and to whom they vow obedienee: Wherein alfo, they oblige themselves 
 to nothing, either with reference to God or Man, or thole that lome- 
 times were Colleagues, now broken offfrom the League, but what they are 
 bound to antecedently , if there had never been any iuch Covenant, or 
 League^ or Colleagues. And if it be Confidered as a League or rtilociati- 
 on; It isRenewed, not in the lame extent as formerly, but only with 
 thofe that did then renew it, or with all that ownc it in Scotland, England 
 or Ireland. Upon this Confideration, thefe words in the begining of the 
 
 E 1± Solemn 
 
( 3<5 ) 
 Solemn Lugtte and Covenant^ exprefliag the federal ranks, and the extent 
 of the Covenanters were not read, at the Renewing of it at Ufmabtgo. 
 Becaufechey owned themlelves to be under a League with none, bnt fuch 
 as owned the Covenanted Reformation. Nor is it altogether unprece- 
 dented, that a Nation Renewing the Covenant, from which their Col- 
 leagues have receded* The Renovation of it in Sot had, anno 1649, was, 
 after the prevailing power oi England did refile from their Engagements 5 
 thofomedid chen, as to this day a few do adhere to them. All the 
 Tribes of Iftacl were once in Covenant together: The revolt of the Tea 
 Tribes, did not hinder the Godly in Judib to renew it, in thedayes 
 of 4/*, H?z?kj*b, Joftib,nov did it preclude afmal party of Ephraim Mi- 
 naffeb, Sec, to take part in it, rCbron rj. 9, 12. Bat tho there might 
 be fome informality or inconveniency in keepiig the old Form of the 
 Solemn League^ with f uch alterations only annoted on the M-trgent 5 zs night 
 make it acconamo lable to the prefent time: And perhaps it had been 
 more fuitable, to frame it altogether in a New Form, if the Reprefen* 
 tativesof Church and State had con;ucred : Yet, that party at Le/mabe- 
 go^ not daring to take fo mach upo? them, and therefore adhering to 
 both Matter and Form, (o far as it could ferve the time, and the Engage-' 
 ments thereof quadrate with their capacities, are not to be rafh'y con- 
 demned for their Renewing old Vows, which were (and in fo far only 
 as they were) before, ani^hen, and are alwayes binding. Yea rather 
 it were fuirable and fcalonable for the Reprefetr atives ( who can cafiiy 
 mend, what was not within their (pherexo do) in (lead of defp'fing the 
 meannefs of that parcv, and carping at the imperfections of that aftion, 
 to imitate their Zeal, in Renewing; thele National Engagements, with 
 folemn Ackn..«w!e igemenrsof the Breaches thereof, in a Form that will 
 better p.leafe them. This would be a notable mean of turning awav the 
 Lords fierce Wrath from the Nation, 2 Chron. 29. 10. Hereby >Refor-. 
 mari.cn in Church and Srate might be promoted and prefetved ; Order 
 
 2nd Union in theChurcb, which bath been long wanting, might be fettled and efhbJifh.dj. 
 former Defe&ions might bshoneftly and honourably removed and remedied; Future In- 
 novarionsand Corrup:ior.s, Schifmes and Diforders might br prevented and precluded; 
 And all Malignant Enemies of Reforms tiorftaight be by this' Te^: discovered, and excluded 
 fromallTruftinCh'jrcho:S'3-c, and capacity todo either hut' : Yet without- any conftraint 
 or reftram? upon any Mans true liberry. How p!e?fant and ?ct3epr3ble,b->rh toG odand Man, 
 would i be, ask may behoped it will be, when the Lord? people in *hefe L3r»ds, nowfore 
 and iongfeartered and diyfded, (hill return going and weeping, Seeking he Lord their God, 
 and asking the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward, That, at leaftrhe Owners &r Lovers 
 of Reformation, were faying, Come and let usjoyn tiu felves unto the Lord, in a perpetual 
 Covemit, that flull not he forgotten. 
 
 THE 
 
( 37 ) *<>' 
 
 
 THE 
 
 JNational v> 
 
 OVEN ANT 
 
 O R 3 
 
 7&e Confeffiou of Faith of the KirkjfScoihndJiibfcribed at fir$ by the Kings 
 Majf.iiy and h'vs Houfhtld, in the year I 580. Thereafter, by Perfons of all 
 rankj, in the year 1 58 1. By Ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Council, 
 and Ails of the General Aflembly. Svbfsribed again by all forts of Per- 
 font in the \ear I 59O. By a new Ordinance of Council, at the defire of the 
 General Aflembly: With a general Bandar maintainana of the true Re- 
 ligion and the Kings P erf on. Andfubfcribed in the year 1 6 38. By the Noble- 
 men, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgffes, Mtnifters 3 and Commons, then undcrfub- 
 fcribing . Together, with their refolulion and promt fes for the ca.fs after 
 fpecified, To maintain tbefaid true Religion, and the Kings Maj city Recording 
 to tbe Confejjivi forefail, and A& of Parliament. And thereafter, upon the 
 Supplication of the General Affembly to His Majefijes high Commifjt mr and 
 the Lords of his Ma] e files Honourable PrivyCiuncil, fubfer in the 
 
 Tear 1639. b\ Ordinance of Council, and Aft of General Affembly. And 
 now again by Vs this pre fent Year 1 689. Acknowledging thepublicl^b 
 es thereof, and engaging to the JDuties contained therein, with Accommo- 
 dation to our C aft and Time. 
 
 E AH, and every one of Us underwritten, Prorcft, that, 
 after long and due: Examination ofo^rovvn Coafcicoccs, 
 in matters or true and falfe Religion. Wc arc now 
 throughly refolved of the Truth, by the Word and 
 Spirit of God •, and therefore we believe with l 
 — confds with our mouths, fubferibe with our hands and 
 :onfhntly affirm bef re God, and the whole World, that 1 
 :bc true Chriltian Faith and R.e 1 .:i \ pleafinfcGod, and bringing k a}. 
 fation to Man a which now is by the Mercy of Go J revealed to the wor Jd s 
 
 by 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 by the preaching of the Blefled Evangel, and received, believed, an 
 defended by many and fundry notable Kirks and Realms 5 bi 
 
 tfmesb " Cllicfl) ; by . the K »kof Scotland, * the Kings Majejty, andUreel 
 me y ftates of this Realwe, as Gods eternal Truth, and only ground c 
 our Salvation: As more particularly isexpreiTed in thcConfemonofoi 
 Faith,(rablifhed,and pnblickly confirmed by fundry Acts of PaiFamcn 
 and now of a long time hath been openly profeffed by the Kings M; 
 jefty , and whole body of this Realm, both in Burgh and Land. T 
 the which Gonfeffion and Form of Religion , We willingly agree i 
 our Confciences in all points, as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Ver 
 ty, grounded only upon his written Word. And therefore weabhoi 
 and deteft all contrary Reiigion and Dcdtrinc : But chleflly all kind i 
 Papiftry,in general and particular heads, even as they are now damnc 
 and confuted by the lVordofGod y and Kirk of Scotland : But in fpecial,\A 
 deteft and refufe theulurped Authority of that Roman Anti-thrift upc 
 the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the Civil Magiftrare, and Coi 
 fcience of Men, all his Tyrannous Laws ma< e upon indifferent thin 
 againftourChrfftian Liberty, his erroneous Do&rineagamftrhefuffic 
 encyof the written Word, the perfection of the Law, the Offices 
 Chrift, and His blefled Evangel. His corrupted Do&rine concemii 
 Original Sin, our natural Inability and Rebellion to Gods Law, 01 
 Juftification by Faith only, our imperfect San&ification and Obedien 
 to the Law,tbeNature,Number, and U(e of the Holy Sacraments, ti 
 five baftard Sacramenrs, with all his Rues,Ceremonics, and falfe Dcxf 
 rine added to the miniftration of the true sacraments,without the Woi 
 of God. His cruel judgement againft Infants departing without the S 
 erament: Hisabiolute neceility ofBaptifm, his blafphemous opinion i 
 Tranfubftantiation, or Real pretence of Chr'fi's Body in the Element 
 and receiving of the fame by the wicked, or Bodies of Men. His D 
 penfations with folemn Oaths,Perjuries,and degrees of Marriage fotbi 
 den in the Word : his cruelty againft the Innocent divorced ; his dev 
 liflaMafs; his blafphemous/Prieft-hood , ^ profane Sacrifice for the S 
 of the Dead and theQuick,his Canonization of Men,calling upon A 
 ;elsor Saints departed, worftiipping of Imagery, Relicjcs, and Crofli 
 ledicatingof Kirks, Altars,Dayes, Vowesto Creatures , bis Purgator 
 Prayers for the Dead, praying or fpeaking in a ftrange Language, wil 
 his Proceffions, and blafphemous Lirany,and multitude of Advocates < 
 Mediators : his manifold Orders,auricular Confejlion, his defperate ar 
 uncertain Repentance } his general and doubtfome Faith,his fatisfa&ioi 
 
 i 
 
. ( .39 ) 
 
 Men for their fins, his Juftification by Works, opusoperatwn, Works 
 "Supererogauon, Merits, Pardons, Peregrinations, and Stations : his 
 'oly Warer, baptifing of Bells, conjuring of Spirits,Cro(fiag, Waning, 
 nointing, Conjuring, haJJawitlg of Gods good Greatures, with die fu« 
 :rftitious opinion joviied therewith. -his worldly Monarchy,and wicked 
 !ierarchy:his three lolemnVowes 5 wich all his Shavellingsof fundry forts 
 Is Erroneous 3C Bloody Decrees madeat7Wtf/, with all the Sublcribers 
 id Approvers! of that cruel Sc bloody Band, conjured againft the KJ'rk 
 'God: And Finally, wedeteftallhis vain Allegories, Rices, Signesand 
 traditions, brought into the Kirk,without or againft the Word of God, 
 id D o&rine of this true reformed Kirk, to the which we joyn our felves 
 illingly, in Do&rine, Faith, Religion, Difcipline , and uleorthe 
 [oly Sacraments, as lively Members of the fame, in Chrift our Head : 
 romifing and Swearing by the Great Name of the Lord our God, that we 
 all continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Difcipline of this 
 irk, and (hall defe id the fame according to our Vocation and Power, 
 1 the dayes of our lives, under the pains contained in the Law, and 
 anger both of Body and Soul, in the day o\ Gods fearful Judgement ; 
 nd feing that many are ftirred up by Satin, and that Roman Anti- 
 irift, to promife, {wear, fubferibe, and tor a timeufe the Holy Sacra-. 
 lents in the Kirk deceitfully againft their own Confciences, minding 
 lereby, fi:ft under the external Cloak or Religion, to corrupt and fub* 
 ere iccredy Gods true Religion within the Kirk, and afterward, when 
 me may ferve, to become open Enemies, and Petiecurorsof the fame 
 nder vain hope of the Popes Difpcnfation, dcWfed againft the Word 
 [ God, to his greater contufion , and their double condemnation in the 
 ay of the Lord Jefus* 
 
 We, therefore, willing to take away all fufpicionof Hypocrific, and 
 ffnc'- double dealing wirh God and His Kirk/Proteft, and call The 
 earcber of all hearts for witnefs, that our minds and hearts, do fully 
 gree with this Our Confefion, Promije, Oath^ and Subfcription^ (o that We 
 re not moved for any worldly refpeit, butarc perfwaded only in Our 
 lonfcienccs, through [be knowledge and love of Gods true Religion, 
 jrinti d in Our Hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we fh til anfwet to Him 
 ay. when the lecrets of all hearts (hall bedilclofed. And becaufc 
 re perceive tha the quietnefs and liability of our Religion and Kirk, 
 oth depend upon the fafety and giod behaviour of * the ^ ^ f H 
 ungs Majefty, as upon a comfortable; inftrument of Gods e^J,^ "$J m 
 deicy, granted to this Cpuntry^for the maintaining of prcmMjgtftuL 
 
 this 
 
 9TOJ 
 
( 4° ) 
 this Kirk, and miniftration of Juftice amongft us , wc proteft and pro- 
 mifc with our Hearts under the fame Oath, Hand writ, and Pains, that 
 we lhall defend bis Perfon and Authority , with our goods, bodies and, 
 lives, in the defence of Chrift his Evangel , Liberties of our Countrey , 
 miniftration of Juftice, and punifhment of Iniquity, againft all Enemies 
 within this Realm, or without, as we defire our God to be a ftrongand 
 merciful Defender to us in the day of our death, and coming of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift; To whom with the Father, and the Holy Spirir, be 
 all Honour and Glory Eternally. 
 
 Like as many A6ts of Parliament not only in general do abrogate, an- '. 
 mil, and refcind all Laws, Statutes, A£ts 3 Conditutions, Canons, civil ; 
 or municipal, with all other Ordinances and pra6tick Penalties wh.ufo- 
 ever, made in prejudice of the true Religion and Profeffors thereof 5 
 Or, of the true Kirk difcipline, jurisdiction, and Free dom r hereof 5 Or 
 in favours of Idolatry and Supcrftition; Or of the Papiltical K'r!<: As 
 AH. 3, A& 1} Pari I. A&. 23. Pari. II. Aft H4 Par/. 12 ot King 
 James the iixth. That Papftry and Superftition may Be utterly fupprei-* 
 fed according to the intention of the Ads of Parliament repeated In the 
 5* Aft. Pari 20. King James 6th. And to that end t 1 all Pi \ f fts 
 
 to be punifhed by manifold Gviland Ecclefiafticil pa:ns, as Ad\ erUnVs 
 to Gods trueReFgiou preached, and by Law eitah,ifLed within this 
 Realm, A3 24. Pari 1 1. King James 6th. As common Enemies to all 
 Chriftian Government, AH iSParl }6. King James Oth. As Rebellers 
 atidGain-ftanders of our Soveraign Lords Authority, AH 47. Pari. 3. K. 
 James 6. And as Idolaters. AH 104. Pari. 7. King James 6. But alio in 
 particular ( by and attour the Confeflion of Faith ) do abolifh and con- 
 demn the Popes Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land, and orders 
 the Maintained thereof to be punifhed, Aft 2. Pari \. AH 51. Pari 3 Act. 
 io<$. Pari 7. AH 114. Pari 12. King James 6. Do condemn the Popes 
 erroneousDo&rine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Qhvl* 
 ftian Religion publickly preached, and by Law eftablifted in this Realm; 
 And ordains the fpreaders and makers ot Books or Libels, or Letters,or 
 Writs of that nature, to be punifhed, Aft 46. Pari 3? Ail 106. Pari 7. 
 AH 24. Pari 11. King James 6. Do condemn all Baptifm conform to the 
 Popes Kirk,and the Idolatry of the Mafs, and ordains all layers, wil- 
 ful hearers, and concealers of the Mais,* the mantainers and r-fetters of 
 Priefb, Jefuits, traffiquing Papi(ls,to be punifhed without anv execpei n 
 or reftriftion, All 5. Pari I. AH 120. Pari 1 1. AH 164. Pari 13. AH 193. 
 Farl 14. AH I. Psrl 19. Aft 5, Pari 20, K, James 6. Do condemn ali er. 
 
 '-" ;" r roneous 
 
9^ 
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 rbneous Books and Writes,contaimng erroneous Dcftrine againft the Rc- 
 igion prefently prolefled, cr maintaining Uipetftiticus Rites and Cere- 
 monies Papiftical, whereby the People are greatly abufed , and or- 
 dainesthe heme trirgeisd ihtmichc$i,r,i{kcQ,*a 25: p ar l: n.K. James 
 6: docondemn the monuments and dregs of by gone Idolatry^ asgo- 
 irg- to the Crcfles, tbicrving the Feftivai da>es ©t the'Sainrs, and fuch 
 xher fupcrftitious and Papiftical Rites , to the diihencur of God,con- 
 :empc ot true Religion, and lowering of great crrcur among the People, 
 md ordains the nfers of them to be puniflied icr the fecond fault, as Ido- 
 laters, Aft I r 4: Pari: 7: K: Jamss6. 
 
 Likcas many Adte of Parliament are corceaved fat maintenance of 
 Gods true and Chriftian Reiigicn ? and the purfry thereof in Doflrine 
 mdSacra'mentsofthe true Church of God , the liberty and freedom 
 :hercof, in her Nations!, Synodal Afiemblies, Presbyteries, Seflkns, 
 Policy, IWIcipiineand Jutisdi&ion thereof, as that purity of Religion 
 md liberty ci the Church was tiled, protefled, exercifed, preached and 
 ronfeffed according to the Reformation of Religion in this Realm* As 
 for 11 farce, The 99: A8 Pan: 7; M 2^: Fori vuAtl I 14: Varh 12: A8 
 \6o. V*rL 13. of King James 6. Ratified by the 4 A& of King Charles 1. 
 So that the 6 M Pari 1. and 68 AU Pari 6. of K. James 6. in the year 
 oi Cod 1579. Declaresthe Miniflc rs of the blefled Evangel, whomGod 
 of Kis Mercy 1 >ad raffed up t or hereafter fhould raife, agreeing with 
 hem that then lived in Dcftrine, and A dm in iteration of the Sacra- 
 nents, and the ptople thar protefled C brill, as He was then offered in 
 he Evangel, and doth communicate with the Holy Sacraments, (as in 
 he reformed Kirks of this Realm they werepublickly adminiilrat)ac- 
 :ordingto the Confcflion of Faith, to be the True and Holy Kirk of 
 thrift JefuswithinthisRealm 5 and decernsand declares all and fundry, 
 vho either gain laves the Word of the Evangel, received and approved, 
 is the heads ot the Confcflion of Faith, proiefTed in Parliament, in the 
 fear of God 1560, Specified alfo in the fir ft Parliament of K.James 6. 
 \ud ratified in this prefent Parliament, more particularly do fpecifie ^ 
 >r thatrefu'es the adminiftration o! rhe Holy Sacraments, as they were 
 hen minillrated, to be no Members of the (aid Kirk within this Realm, 
 md true Religion prefently profeflcd^ (o long as they keep themlelves 
 o divided from the feciety of ( hrilts Body : And the fublequent AQ(( y 
 *arU &• of K. James 6. declares, That there is none other Face ot Kirk, 
 ior other Face.. f Religion, f han was prefcntly at that timc> by the fa- 
 vour of God cftabliflied within :h is Rca!tn : which therefore is ever ft illed, 
 
 F 
 
( 4*' > 
 
 Sods true Religion , Chrifls trm Religion , t be true and Chriflian Religion, and a 
 perfe& Religion, Which by manifold A6teof Parliament.all within this -™ 
 Realm are bound to fabferibe the Articles thereof, iheConfeflion of Faith, 
 to recant all Doctrine and Errors, repugnant to any of the faid Articles, 
 Aft 4 and 9 Pari. I. Afttf, 46, 47. Pari %. A8 71. Pari 6. Aft 106. 
 Pari. 7. Aft 24. PaW. 11. A8 123. tBir.;i n. ^# [94., and IQJ.Parh 14. of 
 K. James 6. And all Magiftrares," Sheriff &c, Oa the op spirt are or- 
 dained to (earch, apprehend, and, pan Ifh all Contra veen^rs - For in* 
 ftance, AH 5«. Pari I. Adt 104, Pari 7. AS 2$i Pad. II. K. James 6. 
 And that notwithstanding of the King's licences on the contrary, which 
 are dilcharged and declared to be of no force, in fo far as they tend in 
 any wayes, to the prejudice and hinderance of the execution of the Acis 
 of Parliament againfl: Papiftsand Adverfarics of true Religion, AH io5, 
 Varl. 7. K. James 6. On the other part, in the 47. Aft Pari. 7. K. James 6, 
 It is declared and ordained, feing the caufe of God's true Religion.and 
 his Highneis Authority are fo joyned, as the hurt of the one is common 
 to both : And that none (hall be reputed as Loyal and Faithful Subjects 
 to out Sovereign Lord, or his Authority, butbepunifliableas Rebellers 
 and Gain-ftanders of the fame, who (lull not give their Cbnfeflion,and 
 make their profeflion of the faid true Religion , and that they, who af- 
 ter defection, fhall give the Confeflion of their Faith of new, they flullj 
 promife to continue therein in time coming, to maintain our Soverai^a 
 Lords Authority, and at the uttermoli of their power to fonifie, affift 
 and maintain the true Preachers and Profeflbrs of Chrifts Evangel, a- 
 gainft wbatfoever Enemies and Gain-danders of the fame : And namely 
 againft all (uch ( of whatfeever Nation, Efface , or Degree they be ) 
 that have /oyned, and bound thernfelves^ or have affifted, or affifts to 
 fet forward, and execute the cruel Decrees of Trent, contrary to the 
 Preachers and true Profeflbrs of the Word of God, which is repeated] 
 word by word in the Article of Pacification at Perth the 23 o f Febn 1 57 21 
 Approved by Parliament the laftof April 1 573. Ratified in Parliamea 
 1587- And related, AU. \i\ Pari \i.ok^James6. with this addition 
 - That they are bound to refill: all treafonable Uproars 8c Hofii!ities,rai( 
 cd againft the true Religion,the Kings Ma jefty, and the true Profeiior; 
 Likeas all Liedges are bound to maintain the Kings Ma jefties Royal 
 Perfon, ^and Authority^, • the Authoritie of Parliaments, without th 
 which neither any Laws or lawful Judicatories can be eftablifhed^tf 1 y 
 Aft 131. Pari 8 K. James 6. And the Subjects Liberties, who cugl 
 •niy to live and be governed by the Kings Laws^ the common Laws* 
 
 < tl* 
 
< 43 ) 
 
 this Realm allancrly, Ad fi. Pari. 3. K. Jmes the fcrft, 'Ail ~g. Tar!. 
 tf. K. James 4. repeated in the Aft 131. Far!. 8. King >w fJ 6. 
 Which, if they be innovated 01 prejudged , the Com million anent 
 the Union of the two Kingdoms ot Scotland and Etgland , which 
 Is the fole AH of the 17. P*r/. of King James the 6. Declares iuch 
 Gonfufion would enfuc, as this Realm could he no more a free Mo- 
 narchy, becauiety thefuncamental Laws, ancient Privikdgcs, Offi- 
 ces and Liberties ot tbisKineek m, not only the Princely Authority of 
 his Majeflies Royal deicent hath teen thcic many'/ges maintained, buc 
 alfo the Peoples iecurity of their Lands, Livings, Rights, Offices, Li- 
 berties, and Dignities prefeivcd, and therefore for the prefervation of 
 the iaid true Religion, Laws, and Liba ties of this Kingdom, it is fra- 
 tuie by the 8 A& Pari. j* repeated in the 99 Ail Pari 7. ratified in the 23 
 AU Pari. I I. and 1 14. Ail Park 1 2. of K, James 6 &C4A8 of K. Charles I. 
 That all Kings and Princes at their Coronation and Reception of their 
 Princely Authority, (hall make their faithful Promiie by their Solemn 
 Oath in the prefence ot the Eternal God, That, during the whole time 
 of their Lives, they {hall ferve the fame Eternal God to the mtermeft 
 of their power, according as Ke has required in His moft Holy Word, 
 containcdin the Old and New Teftament* And according to the fame 
 Word, (hall maintain the true Religion of Chrift Jefus, the Preaching 
 of His Holy Word , the due and right miniftration of the Sacraments, 
 now received and preached within this Realm (according to the Con- 
 feffion of Faith imnaediatly preceeding) and fhallabolifhand gain-ftand 
 all ialfe Religion contraiy to the fame, and fhall rule the Pec pie com-] 
 mitted to their charge, according to the Will and Command of God, 
 revealed in Hisforeiaid Word, and according to the laudable Laws and 
 Conflitunons received in l is Realm, no wayes repugnant to the faid 
 Will of the Eternal God 5 and fhall procure, to the uttermofl of their 
 power, to the Kirk ot God, and whole Chriftian People, true and per- 
 fect peace in all time coming : And that they fhall be careful to toot out 
 of their Empire all Heretic ks, and Enemies to the true Worft pe i Cod, 
 who fhall be conviftcd by the true Kirk of God, of the foreftid crimes, 
 which was alfo obierved by*hi\ Ma y fly. at his Coronation in *k.(W« 
 Edinburgh 1 63 }.As may belecn in the order of the Coronation. tiie fi ft - 
 
 In obedience to the Commandment. of GOD, conform 
 to the practice of the Godly in former times , and according to the 
 Laudable Example of our Worthy and Religious Proccni 
 * " ■ ". ' which was warranted alfo by Aft 1 ■ hvt' 
 
 a general Band to be made and fubfenbed by nisMajcftics Subjcfb, ot 
 
 F 2 all 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 all Ranks, for twocaufcs: One was, For defending the true Religion, 
 as it was then reformed, and is expreffed in the Confeffion of Faith above- 
 written,and a former large Confeffion eftabii&ed by fundry Adts of law- 
 ful General Afttmhlks, and o( Parliaments , unto which i% hath relation, fet 
 down in publickCatechifms, and which had been for many years with a 
 Bieffmgfrom Heaven preached, 8c profeffled in this Kirk and Kingdom, 
 as Gods undoubted Truth, grounded only on His written Word'Thc other 
 caufc was, for maintaining the Kings MajeSy, hisPcrfon, and Eftatc: 
 The true worftiipof God, and the Kings Authority, being fo ftraitly 
 joytyed, as that they had the fame Friends, and common Enemies, and 
 did ftand and tall together. And finally, being convinced in our minds, 
 and confefling with our mouths, that the prefent and fuccecding Gene- 
 rations in this Land, are bund to keep the forefaid National Oath and 
 Subfcription inviolable. We i — «- — tmder-fubferibing, confidering. 
 divers times before, and especially at this time, the danger of the true re- 
 formed Religion, * of the Kings honour, and of thepub- 
 *HisH^nefs's Ifck peace of the Kingdom : By the manifold innovations 
 whofenobieen- anc * evn ^ s generally contained and particularly mentioned 
 terprilefofignal in — — Supplications, Complaints, and Proteftations , 
 l y countenanced f Do hereby* profefs, and before GW, His Angels, and the 
 h f ve e obu^ed e World fo'emnly declare, That, with our whole Hearts 
 thirrevivlngin we agree and rcfolve, all the dayes of our life, conftantly 
 curbondage; to adhere unto, and to defend the forefaid true Religion^ 
 t Remonftran- and (forbearing the pta&icc of all Novations* introduced 
 §6 \ 3 s^Tt^ime ld t ' ic macrer °* theWorfhip of God,or approbation of the 
 nieV, of oidTnd corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk, or 
 of late. civil places and power of Kirk-men, * till they bettyed 
 
 , : and allowed in free Aflemblies,and in Parliaments) to la- 
 f cr ormer °* at " hour by all means lawful to recover the Purity [3c Liberty 
 * Or any other of theGofpel,as it was eftablifhed&profeffcd before the fore 
 Corruptions of ( a ' K \ Novations : And bccaufe.aftcr due examination, We 
 the publick Go- p] a ; n iy perccivc,&: undoubtedly believe.that thelnnovari- 
 
 \rrnrrent of the ^ _/ r ., • i • <> i- • ^ i • i 
 
 KJrkPrelatickor 0n s & evils contained in our iupphcations,C>omplaints,ancf 
 Eraftian, either Proteftations thave no warrand of the word of God^xc con- 
 tried or to be trary to the Articles of the forefaid Confeffions, to the in- 
 tned - tention and meaning of the bleflfed Reformers of Religioa 
 
 t Remonftran. ; a£ hisLand, to the above written A£fc ofParliamenr,and 
 tfons, a«dTeilt do fenfibiy tend to the Re-eftablifhing of the Popifh Reli- 
 »o»ies. gion and Tyranny, and to the fubverfion and ruiae of the 
 
 true 
 
( 45 ) VOJ 
 
 rue reformed Religion, andofour Liberties, Laws andEfiates, We 
 Ifo declare, chat the forcfafd Confeffions are to be interpreted, and 
 ught to be undcrftood of the forefaid Novations and Evils, no lefs than 
 •every one of them had been expreffed in the forefaid Confeffions,and 
 bat wc are obliged to deteft and abhore them as well as the particular 
 cads of Papiftry abjured therein. And therefore from the knowledge 
 nd Confcieace of our duty to God, to * pur King and * TheGovpm- 
 kuwtrey, without any worldly refpeft or induceraent,(o pentaodCoim- 
 ir as hunjane infirmity will fuffer,wi(hin£ a further mea< trc :- 
 ire of the Grace of God for this efle&, Wepromife, and fwear by the 
 ■reat Name §f the Lord our God, to continue in the Profeflion and Obedi- 
 tice of the forefaid Religion : That we fhal defend the fame., and refift 
 11 thete contrary Errors and Corruptions^ according ro our Vocation, 
 rid to the uttermoft of that power that God bafh put in our hands, all 
 ledayeso! our life - And in like manner with the lame heart, Wc 
 eclare before God and Men, That We have no intention nor dcflre to 
 ctemptany thing that may turn to the difhonour of God, or to thedi- 
 linution of the t Kings Grcatnefsand Authority: But fTheCvil Ma- 
 tt the contrary, we promife and fwear, that we fhalj, to g Grates. 
 le uttermoft of our power, wkh our means and lives, ftand to the de- 
 mceof * our dread Soveraign the Kings Majefty, his Per- $u* Hitbwtfitfi 
 >n, and Authority, in the Defence and Preicrvatfon of Pufon, andAu- 
 le forefaid true Religion,Liberties,and Laws of the King- tboritr » when 
 ora : As alio to the mutual defence and affiftance, every 1 ^ u L\f-r, 5° 
 ne of us of another , in the fame cauie of maintaining a sKing, or su- 
 le true Religion, and hisMajefiies Authority, with our prem Magiftratc 
 eft counfel, our Bodies, our Means, and whole power, over us. 
 gainft all forts of perfons whatfomever. So that whatfecver flinll be 
 one to the leaft of us for that caufe, fhall be taken as done to us all in 
 encral, and to every one of us in particular. And that we (hall neither 
 ire&ly nor indirectly ftififer our (elves to be divided or withdrawn by 
 /hatfoever Suggeftion, allurement, or terror from this Blefled and Loy- 
 1 Conjunction , nor fhall caft in any let or impediment , that may 
 tay or hinder any fuch rcfolution, as by common content (hall be found 
 o conduce for (o good ends. But on the contrary, fhall by all lawful 
 ncans labour to further and promote the fame, and if anv Inch dange- 
 ous and divifivc motion be made to us by word or writ, Wc, and every 
 >neof Us, fhall fupprefs it, or if need be, (hall incontinent make the 
 ameknown 5 that it may bctimeoufiy obviated: Neither do we fear 
 
 the 
 
( 4<5 ) 
 
 the foul afperfions of Rebellion, Combination, orwbatelicour Advcr- 
 farics from their craft or malice would put upon us, feing what we do i* 
 fo well warranted,and arifeth trom an unfeigned defire to maintain the 
 *Honourof the true Worfhip of God, * the Majefty of our King, and 
 Government, peace of the Kingdom, for the common happinefs of our 
 felves, and the pofterity. And becaufe we cannot look fcraBlefling 
 from God upon our preceedings, except with our ProfefEoii and Sub-; 
 lcr iption we joyn fuch a Life and Conversation, asbefeemeth Chriftians, 
 who have renewed their Covenant with God ; We tbcfltfore,faithhilly 
 promile for our felves, our followers and all other under us, both in 
 publick, in our particular Families, and perlonal carriage^ endeavour j 
 1 to keep our felves within the bounds of Chriftian liberty, and to be ' 
 good Examples to others of all Godlinefs, Sobernefs,and Righteoufnefs, j 
 and of every duty we owe to God and Man 5 And that this our Union j 
 and Conjunftion may be obferved without violation, we call the Living. \ 
 God) the Searcher of our Hearts to witnefs, who knoweth this to be our fin- 
 cere Defire, and unfaigncd Relolution, As We Shall answer tojefm Lhnfi, 
 in the Great Day, and under the pain of Gods rverlafting Wrath, and of 
 Infamy, and lofsofall honour and refpeft in this World. Mofl hum- | 
 bly beieeching the Lord to ftrengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end, ■ i 
 and to blefs our Defires and Proceedings with a happy iuccefs, that Re- I 
 ligion and Righteoufnefs may floutifh in the Land, to the Glory of God, 
 t of our sove- the honour t of the King,and peace and comfoitof us all. 
 raigns. j n witnefs whereof, we have fubicribed with our hands all 
 
 the Premiffes, &e. 
 
 This Article of the Covenant, which was attbefirfl Subfcription, 
 Annoj6 8 * referred to the determination of the General Affembly, 
 * ' being determined, and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth, the 
 Government of the Kirk by Bifbops, the Civil places and power of Kirk- 
 men, upon the reafons and grounds contained in the A£ls of the General 
 Affembly, declared to be unlawful within this Kirk, We fubferibe ac- 
 cording to the determination forelaid. 
 
( 47 ) 
 A 
 
 Solemn League and Covenant. 
 
 For Refermation, and Defence of Religion 5 , 
 
 TT7E 1 — Having before cur Eyes the Glory of God.and 
 
 *^ the Advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrifr, * the Honour and Happiriels of the Kings Majefty * Tbeefkbiift. 
 and his Pofterity, and the true publick Liberty, Safety, me m & prefer" 
 and Peace ot the Kingdoms, wherein every ones private vationokheGj. 
 condition is included ; And calling to mind the trac herous vernmcnt ' 
 and bloody Plots, Confpiracies, Attempts,and practices of the Enemies 
 of God, againft the true Religion and Profeffors thereof in all plates, 
 eipecially in thefe three Kingdoms 1 , everfince the Reformation of Re- 
 ligion, and how much their rage, power, and preemption are of lace, 
 and at this time increafed and excercifed 5 whereof the deplorable cftate 
 of the Church and Kingdom oilreland^thc diftrefled eflate of the Church 
 and Kingdom oi England^ and the ^dangerous ellate of the Church and 
 Kingdom of Scothnd^ve prefent and publick Teftimonies: * i>iftre0eil 
 we have now at lafttfaftei other means of Supplication,Re- t(Aftcc all the 
 monflrance^Proteftation 8C Suffering) for the prefcrvation Supplications, 
 of our feives and our Religion from utter mine and de- R=™onftranc:s, 
 ftru&ion, according to the commendable practice of thefe J£ T^ 
 mgdoms m former times, and the example of Gods Fatherland oyc 
 People in other Nations, * after mature deliberation re own c 
 folvedanddetcrmii ed to enter into a murtial and Solemn Su ff er, ngs and 
 League and Covenant: Wherein wcallfubfcribe,and each ConrcndiD £ s -) 
 one of us for bimfe If, with our hands lifted up to the Mod * x,f " *\\ ;l ? 
 HigoGod, do Swear, - s 
 
 1. That we (hall finccrelv,rcallv and conftantlv through our circ 
 the Grace of God, endeavour in our fcveral places and cal- cejcouid alio*. 
 lings, the prefervation of riie Reformed Religion in the C ' 
 Imd. in Do&rine, VVoifhip. Difcipline,andGovcrnrocn >ur 
 
 common Enemies 5 The Reformation in the Kingdoms of England and 
 
 mi 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 Ireland, m Do&rine, Worfhip, Difcipline, and Government, accord- 
 ing to the Word of God, and the example of the befl reformed Churches-, 
 And (hall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three King- 
 doms to the neareft conjun&ion and Uniformity in Religion,Confeflion 
 of Faith, Form of ChurchGovernraent,Dire£iory for Worfhip and Ca- 
 techizing 5 That we and our pofterity after us, may, as Brethren, live 
 in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the m;dft of us. 
 1. That we fhall in like manner, without refpe£t of perfons, endea* 
 vour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, ( that is, Church- g>verment 
 by Arch-bifhops, Bifhops, their Chancellouis CommhTaries, Deans, 
 Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, and all other Ecclefiaftical Officers 
 depending on that Hierarchy ) Superllition, Herefie, Schilm, Prophan- 
 nc6 s and whatfoever (hall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine, 
 and the power of Godlinefs; Left we partake in other Mens fins, 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. 
 
 3. We fhall with the fame fincerity, reality and conftancy, inourfe- 
 veral Vocations, endeavour with our b dates an J Lives, mutually to pre- 
 ferve the Rights and Priviledges of rhe Parliaments, and the Liberties 
 * The Ova Ma- of the Kingdom •, And to prefer ve and defend * the Kings 
 giftrares Perfon Majefties Perfon and Authority, in the prefervation and 
 and Amhomy. defence of the true Religion, and the Liberties of the King- 
 doms; That the World may bear witnefs with our ConfciYnces of our 
 Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intention to diminilh his 
 juft power and greatneis. 
 
 4. We fhall alio with all faithfulnefs endeavour the difcovery of all 
 fuch as have been, or (ball be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil Inftru- 
 ments, by hindering the Reformation ot Reiigion,dividing \ the King 
 t Between the f rom ni ? People, or one ot the Kingdoms from another, 
 Magiftrateahd or making any faction, or parties amongd the people con- 
 sulate, trary to this League and Covenant. That they may be 
 brought to publick trial, and receive condignepumfhmenr, as the de- 
 gree of their offences fhall require or deferve, or the Supreme Judica- 
 tories of both Kingdoms refpefh'vely, or others having power from 
 them for that tffeQ:, fhall judge convent 
 
 5. Andwher-asthehappinefsof ablrffed Peace between thefe King- 
 doms, denied in former times to our Prog is By "tl good Pro- 
 4: '^;sin the vidence of God grant": u ,o , and * hath been lately 
 dayc* of oarfra- concluded, and fettled by bdih Parliaments, We ihall 
 thcrsconciuded. eachoneof us, according to our place and intereit, endea- 
 vour 
 
( 49 3 
 our that the'y may remain * conjoyned in a firm Peace &: * As they were ^ i 
 Inion to all Posterity, and that Juftice may be done upon ** m 
 ie wilful Oppoicrs thcreofjn manner ex pic fled in the precedent Article. 
 6. We (hall alio according to our places and callings in this commo* 
 uile of Religion, Liberty, and Peace of the Kingdoms, aflift andde- 
 :nd all thofe that enter into this League and Covenant, in the main- 
 lining and put fning thereof; And (hall not fuffcr our felves directly or 
 idirectly by whatloever Combination, Perfwafion or Terccur, to be 
 ivided and withdrawn from this blefled Union and Conjunction, 
 hether to make defe&ion to the contrary part, or to give our felves to 
 deteftableindifferency or neutrality in thfe caufe, which fo muebcon- 
 :rneth the Glory ot God, the "good ot the Kingdoms, and honour 
 of the King: But (hall all the dayes of our lives zealouily f of the Go. 
 id confiandy continue therein,againft all oppofition, and vemmenr. 
 romote the lame according to our power, againft all Lets and Impe- 
 imems whatloever ; And, what we are not able our felves to fupprels 
 : overcome, we (hall reveal and make known, that it may be timely 
 :evented or removed : All wliicb we (hall do as in the fight of God. 
 And ? becaufe thefe Kingdoms are guilty of many fins and provocate 
 is againft God , and his Son Jefns Chrift , as is too manifeft by our 
 •efent diftrefs and dangers, the fruits thereof, We profefs and declare 
 :foreGod,and theWorld,ourunfaineddefire to be humbled for our own 
 is, and for the fins of thefe Kingdoms, efpeciallytbat we have nor, as 
 z ought 5 valued the ineftimable benefit o( theGofpel , that we have 
 )t laboured for the purity and power thereof, and that we have not 
 ideaveured to receive Ghrift in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of hina 
 our Lives, which are the caufes of other fins and tranlgn ffionUb 
 lucIi abounding amongft us, and our true and unfained purpofe, delire, 
 id endeavour tor our (elves, and all others under our power 5c charge , 
 )th in publick and in private,in all duties weow to God and Man,to a- 
 iend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a. 
 al Reformation • That the Lord may turn awav his wrath, and h 
 dignation, andcftablifh thefe Churches and Kingdoms in truth and 
 :ace. And this Covenant we make in the prefence of Aim'-. 
 ie Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the lam : 
 efball anfrper at that great day, when the fecrets of all hearts dial I he 
 '(doled; Molt humbly befeeching the Lord to ftrengthenus by his 
 [oly Spirit for this end, and to blefs our defires, and proceedings with 
 ich fuccefs, as may be a deliverance and (aiety to his People, and en- 
 
 G coura- 
 
( 5° ) 
 
 couragement to other Christian Churches 5 groaning under ,or in danger ol 
 the yoke of Antichriftian Tyranny, or to joyn in the fame or like AC 
 fociation and Covenant 5 to the Glory of God, the enlargement of the 
 Kingdom ofjefus Chrift, and the peace and tranquillity of Chrifcian 
 Kingdoms, and Common wealths. 
 
 Ibefe Covenants abovevprhien, formerly Nationally Tallin and Renewed, ana 
 ftill Nationally finding,, We^ in oar private Station only, Swe%r and \ub> 
 fcribe in their genuine fenfe y confsrm to the ExpUnati&n and Application th^re 
 $f y in our prefent Acknowledgement of the publick Stasand Breache 
 of the lame, and Engagement to the Duties contained therein, which 
 d$ in a fpeeial wa\ r elite to the prefent times , and are proper for ottr capaei 
 ties therein. 
 
 A Solemn Acknowledgement of 
 
 PUBLICK SINS, 
 
 AND 
 
 BREACHES of the COVENANl 
 
 AND 
 
 A Solemn Engagement to &\\ the DUTIES contained 
 therein,namely thefe which do in a more fpeeial way 
 relate unto the dangers of thefe times. Anno 1689. 
 
 WE attend everyone ©fu$ — by the good hand, of God upon us, taking 
 ferious confideration, the many fad afflictions, and deep diftreS 
 wherewith we have been exerctfed for a long time pad And rememberii 
 
 that as the Land, in the dayes of otr Fathers, was foie Wafted, wilh the Swo 
 
 and the Peftilence, and thrcatned with Famine, fbuheir Breacnes of Co 
 
 nant Portly after they fit'ft entered into it.Forvvhich.Shame 6^ Concempt was pOlir 
 
 out from the Lord againft many thoufandsof our Nation,whcn they did 
 a fintul way make War upon the Kingdom of England jn the year 1648.ee 
 trary to the Teflimony of Hts Servants,and defues of His People^ nd t 
 remnant of that Army returning tothisLand,fpoiled Scopprefed ma 
 
 oftheFai'hful, arthattime. And after our Fathers in their Solemn Acknowledgement 
 Sins, stad^Dgagement to Duties, had confeffs'd the guilt «f that Malignant Afiociaiion, 'a 
 
 Obh'j 
 
( 5i ) 
 
 •bilged therr fclvef for rhe future, neveranymore to conm'veat, ccoc-ply w«th , or counte- 
 nance Malignancy ; Yet they joynedtbemfelvesjgain with the people cf tbefeabcnv;r.2tici:5* 
 And upon termsdefiTuftivetotbeNationsandCburchcsIntereft, difhrncurabletcGod,and 
 prejudicial to Pofterity^ccepted their mock Rrpentar.ce,8nd jcmmed Maligns r.:s:c places 
 of Pouer and Tiufi: And by a precipitant Treaty ztlnda wirtnbe head of then Charles II. 
 brought him over and made b?m King , tpo* his meek- fubferiptien of tbe Covenant, not- 
 vitbiianding he had given maniftftdifccverics of his Treachery and Ecmity tc Religion ari 
 Liberty, i»b« Cemmflionatirg/rftfe/ Graham to invade this. Kingdom, in themeant:nie or 
 theTrearyj Whereby Gcd was mocked, his Cbureh cheated, and the State betrayed. And 
 then a woful defection and divifioi!W2S caufed, and carried on, by thePrcmo rersand A- 
 berters of the Pubihk Kefilaticns, who, notwithftanding the Malignant Party was 
 
 fiill numerous, and retaining their former Principles, waited for an op- 
 portunity toraifea new and dangerous War , not only to the rending 
 of the bowels ot this Kingdom, but unto the dividing them frcm Eng- 
 land 3 and overturning of the WorkofGcd in all the three Kingdoms 5 
 
 did ye: interrain and encourage them in their Armies. For which breaches of Covenant, the 
 anger of the Lord was evidently feen to fir- eke againft the Land j which, alter tbe defeat at 
 Vunbdr and at Worcefler, wasbrcugbtin fubjection to tbe Eit^lifh, for feveral years. So in 
 procefsof time, call/rgto mind hew the Malignant?, again tecoverirg power ard rcftored 
 to the Government , were fufTcred peaceably attheircwn pleafure and leafure'o overturn 
 the Glorious Work of our Covenanted Reformation, and to cut dewn the carved wok of the 
 Houfe of ouvGcd, as it were with Axes and Hammers, byrefcinding all the Ac"band Laws 
 made in favours thereof,and to reintroduce the abjured yokes oi^inti-chrijlian Prelacy } Eraflian 
 Supremacy, znd ^bfolute Tydnny ; Which, through our finful and fcandalousComrlyance 
 therewi b, have been fo far advanced, that there wasted little to the re-eftablifhnoem cf 
 Popery it feifintbefe Lands. Having it alfo is recent memory^what indignities have been 
 done to our Covenants,in not only breaking them,and declaring them void and of no force, 5c 
 enacting the breackesoftbem, and abjuring of them, but in burning them, and makingit 
 a capital Crime to own them. Which horrid violations and villanies have bsen generally 
 complyed with, or connived at without control. For which, we cannot but acknowledge 
 and adore the Righteoufnefs of the Lord, ingivingusupunto,and (ufferingus long tohoul 
 under many miferiel and cclamities of graflant Tyranny , Oppreflion, Perfecution, and 
 Murdering violence, tbefeEiahtard Twenty years: Whereby the Land hath been reduced 
 
 aimoft to defolation. And confidering alfo , that a cloud of calamities do 
 fiill hanc* over our heads, and threaten us with fad things to come, we 
 cannot but lock upemthefe things as from the Lord , who is righteous 
 in all his wayes, feeding us with the bread of tears, and making us to 
 drink the waters of affliction, until we be taught to know how evil and 
 bitter a thing it is to depart away from him, by breaking the Oath and 
 Covenant which we had made with Him, and that wc mav be h 
 led before Him, by coufeffing of our fin , and forfaking the evil ( 
 way. 
 
 Therefore being prcfTed with fo great neceffities and ftraits , and war- 
 ranted by the word of God, and having the example of Gods People of 
 old, who in the time of their troubles, and when they were 10 i 
 
 C i 
 
( 5* ) 
 
 livery, and a right way for thcmfelvcs , that the Lord might be with 
 them to profper them, did humble themfelves before Him, and make 
 a free and particular confeffionot the fins of their Princes, their Rulers, 
 their Captains, their Ptiefls, and their People : And did engage them- 
 selves to do no more fo.but to reform their wayes,and be ftedfaft in His 
 Covenant. And remembring the practice of our PredccefTors, in the 
 year 1596. wherein the General Affmbk and all thr Kirk Judicatories, 
 with the concurrence of many of the N >bility 3 Geotry , an J Burgef- 
 ics , did wich many tears acknowledge before God , the breach of 
 the National Covenant, and engaged themfelves into a Reformati- 
 on , even as our Predeceflors and theirs had before done , m 
 the General AJfembly and Convention of States , in the year [ 567. 
 
 Andthe more recent pra&ice of the Godiy renewing -he National Covenant, and Acknowledge. 
 ingthe breaches of it, both before they obtained Authority, for it, in the year 1.638. And 
 again by Authority, in the year 1639; And that noble Precedent of that National Solemn 
 Acknowledgement of TublickSins. and Breaches otthe Solemn League and Covenant, and 
 Solemn Engagement to ail the Duties contained therein (which we are here enlarging) conde- 
 Iccnded upon by the Commiffion of the General Aflembly, approven by the Commitieof 
 Eftates, and publickly owned in all the Churches, at the renewing of the Solemn League, 
 Annoit4%. and 1649* Together with the Solemn Renovation thereof, accompanied with 
 iucb confeffionof Sins as did fuit that time, yet frefh in our memories, by that fmall Army 
 of the Lcrbs People, ztLanerk, before their difcomfiture at PemUnd- bills. And per- 
 ceiving that this Duty, when gone about out of Confcience ? hath very 
 often been attended with a reviving out of troubles, and with a Bleffing 
 and Succels from Heaven : We do humbly and fincerely, as in His 
 fight who is the fearcher of hearts. Acknowledge the many fins , and 
 great tranfgreffions of the Land: We have done wickedly, our Kings, 
 our Princes, our Nobles, our Judges, ' our Officers, our Teachers, and 
 our People. , Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly fpoken unto us, we 
 have not hearknedunto His voice: Albeit He hath followed us with 
 tender mercies , we have not been allured to wart upon Him, and walk 
 fin His way: And tho He hath flricken us,yet we have not grieved: Nay, 
 tho He hath conlumed us, we have refufed to receive corre£tion. We 
 have not remembred to render unto the Lord according to His good- 
 nch) and according to our Vows and Prom ifes •, But have gone away 
 backward , by a continued courle of backfliding. And have moft finfuliy 
 
 and flaamefully broken the National Covenant, and all the Articles of theSo- 
 
 Jcmn League and Covenant, which our Fathers fwore before God, An- 
 gels and Men. 
 
 Albeit there be in the Land fome of all ranks, who be for a TefK-; 
 spony to the Truth, and {91; a name of Joy and Praife unto the Lord, 
 
 by 
 
by living Godlyi flnJyfng to keep their Garments pure, and bcin^ 
 ficHtaft in the Covenant and Gaufe of God •> Yet we have rcaion to ac- 
 knowledge that roqftof us have not endeavoured with that reality, fin- 
 cerity, aodconftancy, that did become us 3 toprelerve the wo: k of Re- 
 formation in the K;rk Ot Scotland. Asw^reobiigedbythei.^r.'/c/eoitheSo- 
 lemn League and Covenant, and by ibe National Covenant, wherein we Promts and Swear 
 "by the Great NaT.e of the Lord our God, that we (hall continue in the obedience of the 
 ''Doctrine and D;fc:pitne of thisKuk, and [hall defend the fame accordirgto cur V 
 "and Pqwer all the dayes of our Lives, under the pains contained in the Law, and danger 
 ." both of Body r.r.c Soul, in the day of (Sods fearful Judgement j And refill all contrary Er- 
 " ror'and Corruption?, according to our Vocations, and theuttermoft of thatpev. 
 Cf hath put in our hands, all chedayesof ourlite : Accordingto thefeScriptures, £2^9. io. 
 1[*> 24 5- jet- 9- 13 Dan. 7. 25. Gal, 5. I. I Tim. 4. 16. iTim. i, 1?. Rty. 3. 
 jo, 11. But we have been fo far from fach endeavour.', that we have ftupidly fubrr.m'itted 
 to our Rulers and great Ones breaking down and overturningthe whole Woik of Reforma. 
 tion, raz Jig the Bulwarks thereof, refcinding the Laws in favours of the fame, ar.: 
 ly breaking, but burning the Covenants for preferving it, enacting the Breaches thereof, and 
 declaring the Obligation thereof void, and criminal to be owned 5 And upon the ruines thereof 
 fettiegupabjuredDiocefan,ErraftianPrelacr, with its concomitant bondage ot Patronages, 
 a Blafphemous Sacrilegious Supremacy, ana Arbitrary Power in the Magiftrate,ovcr Church 
 and State. We made little conscience of conftant endeavours to prcferve the Reformation, 
 when we did not in feafon teftifie againft tbofe audacious and Heaven-daring Attempt.'. 
 WhenourMinifterswerebyawicked Edict ejected from their Charges, both they and the 
 people too eafilycomplyed with it. And albeit in the National Covenant we aie obliged 
 " to defend this Reformation,and tolabour by all meat]! lawful to rccovenhe Purity and Li- 
 " berty of the Gofpel,by forbearing the practifes of all Novationsintroduced in the Worftiip of 
 "God; or approbation of the Corruptionsof the Publck Governmentof the Kwk j Yet 
 we gave all the approbation required by Law of the Novatic*n,and corruption of Preiser, by 
 hearingthe Preiatick Curates. We and our Teachers in a great mcafuie complye 
 Submitted unto, and connived at the encroachments of the Supremacy and Abfuluce Power, 
 both in Accepting and Countenancing the former Indulgences, and the lateTol 
 We hive taken, and fubferibed Oaths and Bonds, all which have been imposed thefe 
 Twenty Eight years, for preffing Conformity with the prefemEftablifhments of Church and 
 State, havebeencontraryunto the Reformation we fwore to preferve : Someof them re- 
 ftraining us from all endeavours to preferve ir, asthofe that renounced the Priviledge of Dc- 
 fenfive Anns : Some of them Abjuring tbe Covenants exprefly, and condemningtbe pro- 
 fecutionoftheendsofthem , as Rebellion, vi\. The Dec/<*r<mo* and Te/L Wthi\c Ijfacbat- 
 like, couched under all burdens, inmaintaininganddefendingan Arbioaiy Power, and Ab. 
 Folute Tyranny, wholly imployed and applied for thedeftructi n of rhe Reformation, and 
 payingfucbSubfidiesand Supplies as were declaredly impol^dtor upholding of Tyrants U- 
 [urpations, and fupprefling all endeavours to preferve the Reformation. We have notcoa- 
 [Untly endeavoured to maintain the Doctrine of this Reformed Church : Manv of our M:. 
 Dtfters have in finfulfilencefurceafed from beariagwitnefs to fome perfecuted Trirhs, and 
 from applying their Doctrine to tbefinl and corruptions of the Times j Whereby many of 
 the People have been overcome wiihfnares, and left to feck and maintain other Principles 
 to juftifie their practices of complvance, or extravagance on the right and lefi har. 
 tonfiftent with the Doctrineiand Rules of the Church of Sdtland : Others o' us have btea 
 Eraorant of the Doctrines, not conftant in conlclllng them b«forc men, when ca 
 
 *'7 
 
C 54 ) 
 
 fufferfof and avouch them Hypocritical, inprofefling them , without a fuitabie practice 
 and conversion brcsrning theGofpel, Caufe, aud Crofs of Chrifl-, Andftudyirg more the 
 ,-. Fundamental and V radical Truths of Cbnfh'anity. Wehavecorce 
 fhorin Real. Sincere and cnnftant endeavours to pr'efcrve the Worfhip-of Geo, Publick 
 and Private : Many of our Mint'AefS have left off Preaching, and the People hearing, in 
 times <*f hizard : We have been negligent and remif* in Family- Wcrfhip; And in fiend ol 
 preferring it, many oi us have done much to difequrage and binder it, in feme Families: 
 Ahdinfetret Worfltip we hay^e '->een Formal and carelefs. Man? have fatisfycd 
 
 themfelvcs with the Parity of the Ordinances, neglc£ting the Power 
 thereof; yea, forr\e have turned afide to crooked wayes, deftruftive to 
 
 both. ^e have not been careful to prefcrvc the Discipline and Government, Churcn 
 Cenfures being laid afide , and not impartially exereifed againft Scandals Perfonal and 
 publick : Scandalous perfons being admitted to hold up their Children to Bapiilro, andtc 
 the Communion of the Lc-RDsTable, and other priviledges of the Church, without rcfpe&tc 
 the Rules of CbrtQ, orconftitution of this Church: And man? of us have beenuntender ir 
 givingjntaking, andremoving Offences, without obferving the Rules andOrckrof Chrift 
 And fome inclining fometitnes to wayes tending either to the diflblutionofall Difciplinej t 
 Ufurpation of an Independent or Popular way -of exercifing it. And whereas, inthefami 
 firft^rf/c/ecf the Solemn League, weareboundto endeavonrthe promoting and propagatingo^ 
 the Reformation, and Uniformity in Religion, Confejfion of Faith, Form ofCburchGovsrnmen 
 (which as it was primarlyunderftood, foftill weowne robe only Presbyterial) Vireftoryfo 
 ivorftip and Catecbtfingi According to Scripture, lfa. 10. 18. Jit. 3 2- So- ZHk* J 4- -5 
 A3, z. 46. 1 for. 7. 17 Ibil. 5. 16. Gal. 6. 16. Yet; as cur Fathers had reafon t< 
 
 complain that The profane, looie and infolent Carriage of many in thei 
 Armies who went to the affiftancc of our Brethren in England, and tin 
 tamperings and unftraight dealings of fome Commiflioners,and others o 
 our Nation, in London, the Ifle ot Wight, and other places of that Khg 
 dom, had proved, great Lets to the Work of Reformation, and fetlinj 
 of Kirk Government there, whereby Error and Schifm in that Land ha. 
 been encreafed, and Sectaries hardened in their way. So much more inou 
 
 day, weare obliged to confefs the Offensive Carriage andConverfationof many, thathav 
 gone to England, who have proven very (tumbling io the Sectarians there j And alfo the tam 
 perings of others, in patching up an Union and Communion with them, without a Teftimon 
 againlr their way : And on the other band, wehavehad little Zeal in our endeavours afte 
 fuch an Uniformity ^ Little praying for it ; And little mourning for the obrlruitions of it ; Ye 
 oflate, many have embtaced a Toleration, introducVvs ofaSe&afian multiformity ofRc 
 liglons, without fo much as a Teftimony againft the Toleration of Popery it felf. 
 
 Inthell. article Wearebound, wirhoutrefpectafperfons, to endeavour the extirpa 
 tlonof Popery, conform tothe National Covenant, wh?ie we are bound " to abhor anc 
 "deteftallkindof Papiftry, in general and particular heads, evenastheyarenowdamnw 
 ct and confuted by the Word of God,3md Kirk of Scotland. Likeas, many AGs of Parliamen 
 ■■ not only in genera^do abrogate all Laws, Statutes and Condi tut ions made in prejudice J 
 "the true Religion, and ProfeiTbrs thereof, or of the true Kirk Difcipline, Jurisdiction an< 
 "Freedom thereof, or in favoursof the Popifh Idolatry and Suf)?rttit ; on; Butinfpeci3l,d« 
 "conftitute, ena£t, rarifieand aprove, many Penal Statutes againft Papilb: Whichar 
 fauuded upon Divine Precepts and other Scriptures, Exod. 23. 32/33. Zxod. 34. 12, if 
 
( 5J ) V/9 
 
 )eut. I?, throughout. Judg. 2. 2. Zech. 13. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 4< I, 2, 3. zTbef. 2. 3. 
 2. Zta>. 17. 5, 16. Rov. 18. 4, 5, 6. Yet, alas I We have been (0 defease in this, 
 bat, upon the contraie, the Land hath been polluted again wtbAdohttons Mtffct ; Alters, 
 nd <r-her Monumsnts have been fuffired tobeagain erc&ed; Penal Statutes have been fo 
 at from being executed againft Papifts, that they have been by Arbitrary and Abfolutc Pow- 
 r, ftoppsd, iufpended, and difabled by the Toleration, in its own nature tending, and 
 nitsdefignintended to introduce Popery arid Slavery j Yet this hath been accepted and ad- 
 IreiTed for, by many Minifies, and countenanced, complyed, and concurred with, by 
 nany People,witbout a Teftimony ; or endeavour to withftand it. Yea the A dminift ration ot 
 heGovernrBent,& greateftOffices of Power and rruft,hith been committed to, 5c permitted 
 o abide in the hands of Papifts : And ihe Head of them, & £reat Pillar & Promoter ot Popery, 
 famtsihtjtb. hath been owned as King^ontrary to the Laws olGcd and Man, which inca- 
 pacitatebim; And Covenant obligations- without refpett of perfons, to extirpate Papifts. 
 f\nd all ofushave had too little Zeal or Indignation agiinft, orfearofthe manifeft appear- 
 incesofthecominginofPopery, and intended Eftablifhment of it in the Land ; And little 
 [erious Wreftling tor the ruine and fall of Babylon, and that the Lord would divide and over- 
 :urn the Builders and Supporters thereof. Many, on the contrary, have prayed for Eleflings 
 thePerfon and Government of a Papift on the Throne, the chiefeft Supporter of it in theie 
 Lands. Inlikemanner, We were bonad "To endeavour the Extirpation o/Prelacy, thatti, 
 Zhurtb Government hy Areh-hifhops, Bijhops, their Chancellours, nndCommiffaries, Deans,Veans 
 & Chapters y^ircb deacons and all other Ecclefitflical Officers, depending on tbatHicrzrchy-, As in tbe 
 National Couenant," to abhor and deteft the AmichriftianWickcd Hierarchic, and rofotbear 
 'the practice of all Novations, and approbation of the Corruptions of thepubiick GoNern- 
 "mentoftheKirk, as being contrary to the Article of the forfaid CoJifeflttttt, to the inten- 
 sion Scmeaning ot the blefTed Reformers of Religion in this Land,and to Acls oi Pa i liament 
 ',' infert there,and fenfibly tending to the re-eftablifh;ngof the iop.fh Religion andTyranny, 
 C{ 6c to the fubverfion and ruine of the true reformed Religion, 8c of out Liberties, Laws, &. 
 Eftates. Which Article concerning Prelacy,beirg referred to the General AfTerrib:y,\V2s deter- 
 mined and declared Unlawful, as being clearly condemned in the Word d G-jA.Math 20.25. 
 26. Lv.k. 22. 25, 26. AS. 20. 17. 28, 1 Pet. 5 3- I Job. 9. Ye: w« h-ave been (o 
 farfrompayingiheftourVows, tha? Prelacy hath been by w eked Law efhbt.fiied, andin 
 ftead of Extirpation, hath been fubmitted unto, and complied with by us • Andin evidence 
 thereof, as it was required by wicked and Arbitrary Laws, we heaid, and received Ordt- 
 nancesdifpenfedby the intruding Curats, and payed them SfibefidjandEmt !urriehts,exit"t- 
 ed for upholding that which we were^ound toextirpare. Atn not cr.lv fo, bu: many did 
 bind and oblige thcmfelves, by Subscription, Prcmife, orOa-.h, to be ordinary Church- 
 membersofthePielatical Church : And all of u», even th6 we did ftand at a diitauce from, 
 and witnefled againft that Ja&ion; yet we became very renjifs in our Z;al, and flick incur 
 PrayersagainlYPrelscy. 1 nftead of endeavours to extirpate Supetpiiion 3rd Htrtfie , as 
 we are bound by the fame Article of the Solemn League, andbv he National Govenan*, " to 
 "deteft all Superftitionsand Herefies, without, oragainft the Woid ; K3 * J , in J . Doftrine 
 <f of this reformed Kirk; Accerdiagtothe Scriptures, Deut. 12. 30, 5132. *Acl, 17 22, 
 Gal. 4. 10. Gal',$. 20. Col 2.20,21, 23. Tit. 3. 10. Yet intbedaikn<M ' ot r\c(: me4, 
 many dregs ofPojftfh Saperftition have b en o'jferved, many Omens an"! Frets, too n>ttib 
 looked to; PopifhFeftival dayes, ziPafch,YMlt,Fa(le*s-nen &c, hav< b myj 
 
 AndPrelatical^Hfliaeyfio^-dayes and Veftivirics dsvifed rtf their own Lent, appointed lor 
 Commemorating theKings Birth dayes, zsMay2^. andoBibtr 14. Sec who ft'tffe 'born at 
 aScourgetothisRealm, bavebeencomplyed with by many. Yeif fly 
 
 madeufeof theScripturef, as a Fortun«4>ook, looking to that which was fi;ft c-fl «p <o 
 
C 5<5 ) 
 
 them, or to Impreflionsb*orn In upon their minds, trom fuch and fuch parts of Scripture, as 
 Divine Refponfes, vrithoutaduefearchofthem, as the Lotd hath commanded. And, ma- 
 ny waverip.g and unftable, have been feduced into damnable and pernicious Herefies, as 
 Quakers, and delirious delufionfof fuch as followed JobnGibb. All which have been Breach- 
 es of Covenant, as well as Divine Commands : Yet Heretics of all kinds have been Tolerated, 
 yea encouraged in our day, without a witnefs againft them from many. Moreover, We are. 
 hound in our Covenant, rooppcfe & txtirpare5c^//wontheonehand,a5VvellasD</e5/o«ori 
 ohs other; The Scripture makes this a great fin, Kww.16.17. iCw.ji.i8. 1C0y.12.25. Htb. 1 2, 
 25. Jttd. v. 19. Yer, as many by defection, both in complyance with Prelacy and Erafti. 
 anifcii, have brokentheOhurches Beauty and Bands, Order and Union, inmaking a Faction, 
 repugnant tohereftabliflaad Order, andCenfurableby allherftanding Acts, in bringing ia 
 Novations in 1 he Government, and making a rent in the Bowels of the Church, by caufing 
 Diyifions and Offences, conn are to the Doctrine of the Church.have made themfelvesguilt v 
 ofSchifm: So,othersoa the other hand ,have, upon flender and infuf- 
 ficient grounds, feparate,both from *Minifters, from Chriftian So- 
 cieties, and Families, becaufeof differences in judgement, in incident 
 debates, not neceflary nor material, nor wherein the Teftimony of 
 Chrift was much concerned, or becaufe of perfonal Offences, eaflly 
 removed j Not obferving the Rules of Chrift for removing them, roc 
 having tefpect to His great Commands of Charity, Forbearance, For- 
 giving one another, orCondefcendency. And, between divided par- 
 ties, which in our day, havelongbeen byting and devouring one ano- 
 ther, there hath been too much, bothoffinfu) Union and Confederacy, 
 in termes ptejudicial to Truth and Duty, ontheonehand } andoflln- 
 ful heats, Animofities, Jealoufies, Pride, Paflionand Prejudices, on 
 the other hand j grieving the Spirit ofGoD, and eatingup the Power, 
 and much hindering the holy Practice and Spiritual Exercife of Re- 
 ligion. And too muchalfoof fowing difcords amongBrethren, and 
 promoting our contentions by too credulous and fedulous taking up, & 
 ipreading reports and reproaches one ofanother. What fhall We fay * 
 
 We have been fo far from endeavouring the extirpati- 
 on of ProfannefsCanother evil engaged againft in the Covenant and 
 condemned in the Word of God, De«*. 29. 19. fob, 21. \\.Jtr 23.1 5 £3**22 26.//0/.4. 1,2,3. 
 
 Htb. 12. 15. 16) that Profanity hath been much winked at, and profane 
 perlons much countenanced, and many times employed 3 until Iniquity 
 %C Ungodlinefi hath gone over the face of the Land as a flood; Nay luffi- 
 cient care hath not been had 5 to fepame betwixt the precious and the vile 3 
 by debarring from the Sacrament all ignorant and fcandalous perfons, 
 according to the Ordinances of this Kirk. And hence it hath come to pafs, that 
 
 Profanity beginning at the Court and corrupt Clergy, and defcendingfrom them like a flood, 
 bathoverfpread the whole Land 3 - Sothatthsgreateftpartby far, may rather be called Chil- 
 dren of Sodom, then of a land folemnly in Covenant with God : And fofar have we been 
 
 from rooting out whatfoever is contrary to found Doctrine and the power 
 
 of GodHneis , left we partake of other mens fins, and be in danger to receive of their 
 plagues, that we have maintained much unfound Doctrine in the Arguments which we ufed 
 fer defence ©four ceurfes of complyance with Prelacy and EraftianXm, and walking willingly 
 
 ' after , 
 
 *Meaning 3 {uch 
 Miniflers as 
 were mod faith- 
 ful and zealous, 
 preached in the 
 Fields^nd were 
 not chargeable 
 with Defection 
 and Comply- 
 ance with Ene- 
 mies ; From 
 whom fome fe- 
 parate, is John 
 G/W,and others* 
 
( 57 i) 
 
 after the Commandnaen'.s of Men : And thofe, among others, unfoiind Notions have beei 
 intertained among us $ That It JJ'er and cirxn»fianttal Truths are net to he Offered Jor ; That :c*. 
 ftjfion of thefe Truths bath not been (ailed for in cur day j That Teople are not in hazard oftht 
 fins of others, efpecially Magiftratcs and Mtm/krs, if they do not dircftly -*# the fame fins them- 
 feives; contrary to cxprefs and plain Scriptures, 2Sam.11. j. 2$aw. 24.17. zKingsti. 
 ii, n. lev. 10.6 lf*i.4hZ7, 2* 4 Jer.14.1s, 16. Micab3.11, 12. Whence both Mint- 
 fiers and People have been involved in the fins of Prelacy., Indulgence and Tolleratior, 
 thinking thefe only the fins of Prelates, aud of UfurpingRule*s, while they ytelded all th- 
 Conformity wiihihem, fubmiffionto them, and approbation of them, that was required 
 by wicked Laws. On the other hand, many of us have refted too much in Non-compjy. 
 ance with thefe, and havingaform of Godlinefs, but neglecting the power thereof. 
 
 In the Third article, whereas we are bound in our feveral Vocations. loendeaKeur mtb 
 our TLflates and Lives, mutually to prejerve the Rights and Trivilcdgcs of Parliament, and Liberties 
 0/ the Kingdoms , meaning true real and tightecusPriviledgesand Liberties, confonanttothe 
 Word o* God, Deut. 1. 13. Dent. 16. j6. Jfa. 1. 26. "Likeasall Lledges are bound by 
 " the Lawsof theLand, infert in the National Covenant, tomaintain tht Authority of Par- 
 " liaments , without which, neither any Laws,or lawful Judicatories can be eftablifhed : Yer. 
 
 as our Fathers found reafontocomplain,that neither had the Priviiedgesofthe Par- 
 liament? and Liberties of the Subject been dueiy tendered, but ibmea- 
 mongft hem had laboured to put into the hands of the King an Arbitrary 
 and Unlimited Power deflru&ive to both, and many of tbemhad been 
 accefTory to- -thofe means and wayes .whereby the freedom and privi- 
 lcdges of Parliaments had been encroached upon, and thcJubjeSs op- 
 preflcd in their Conlciences, Perfons andEflates$ So, inourday, fiocttfrii 
 
 long tract of Tyranny began, they have had rather the name and fhew, than the real Pow- 
 er and Ptiviledgesof hwlull by conftitute Parliaments, llnce they advanced the Regal Pre- 
 rogative to fuch a bcundltfs pitch of Abfolutenefs; Being fo corrupted, that faithful Mer, 
 and honeft and honourable Patriots have been excluded, and thofe admit ted for conftiiuem 
 Members, that b} the Law of Gcd and Man mould ba\c been debarred. And fo prelimi- 
 ted, that the Members behooved to take fuch Oath.% for inftance the Declaration and Tefl, 
 abjuring and condemning the Covenants, asengaged them to be peijured and conjured E- 
 nemtel both to our Relgion and Liberty $ Which was flnfully corcplyed with , boh by 
 the Electors of Parliament- Members, and by the Elected. Yet the body of the Land did not 
 m^keconfeienceof endeavouring the recovery of thefe Rights and Priviledges foperverted 
 and polluted. Whence nothing could flow from thefe Fountains fo poyfoned, but injudice 
 and o» predion ; And in flupid fubmifliondid own thefe for their Rrprefentatives who be- 
 trayed their LibertieF, and made Laws to enflavethe Nation , and entail Slaverie on the 
 Pofterity. Ontheother hand, we that difowned them did not mind the Duty of preferving 
 thefe R ghts and'Priviledgesof Supreme Judicatories, when inadvertently and unaivifed- 
 ly we put infuchExpreflions and Stiles in fome of our Declarations , ibar do not belong :o 
 private ferfons, but to fuch Judicatories. Agaio, the Subjells Liberties, Ci\il and Religious, 
 borhasMen anda's Chriftians, which the Scriptures allow we mould prefer Ye, 1 Sam: 14: 
 45: AUs 22: 25: Atlszy. 1 1, 16, 27. Gal: 5. 1. have been mifcrably encroached on by At- 
 bur ary Government, tvhereby tbeSubjeelsbAve beenopprefftd in their Confciences, Verfons, and £. 
 flates^y all the Oaths and Bonds prelling Conformity w th r hefe Corruptions, Novations.anei 
 Ufuipations intheGovernmenr ot ChurchanJ State * And peifecutions for llccufar.cy, and 
 byimpofirions onthe Natural freedom of fecret thoughts, which nolnw of Man oanreach, 
 Jttinoutday extorted by thrcatningsof Torture and Death, if they were not discovered : n 
 
 Jri Anfwerj 
 
. ( 58 ; 
 
 Anfwemoour perfecuters impertinent queftions. In all which impositions on our £iber. 
 ties as men, we have too ftupidly couched under all burdens, and complyed with them. 
 The Churches Liberties have alfo been invaded by the Ecclefiaftical Supremacy, declared 
 bya Blafphemous Law inherent in the Crown, andby an Abfoiuie Power, whichallwere 
 required to obey without referve , which are horrid encroachments on the incommuni- 
 cable Frerogatives of/&H0VAH, andHisCHRIST as onlyKingand Head ofHisCburch. 
 And yet thefe have been eftablifhedand homologated by our feveral involvements in the fin 
 of Prelacy, and its attending Patronages, robbing the Church of the Liberty of election of, 
 Paftors; Indulgence and Tolleration, to the prejudice of, and without a Witnefs for the 
 Churches Liberties. In that fame .Article , we are bound alfo toprefervt and defend the fit* 
 preme Magistrates Per/on and Authority, \p the prefervation and defence of the true Religion and 
 Liberties of the Kingdoms. As in the National Covenant isexprefiedlikewife, lt to defend his - 
 "Perfon and Authority, in the defence of Chrift his Evangel, Liberties of our Country, 
 "Miniftration of Juftice and punifhment of iniquity $ and ftandto his defence, in the de- 
 " fence and prcfervation of the foreraid true Religion, Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom; 
 Asthe Dutyis qualified in Scriptures, 2$am: 5: 3V 2 Kings i\: 17: 1 Kings 12:16: 2 Chrbn: 
 26:16,21: Rom: 12: 3,4: 1 Vet: 2:14. But as our Fathers in their acknowledgement had 
 
 reafonto fay, Neither harh it been our care to avoid thefe things which 
 might harden the King in his evil way; But upon the Contrary, he 
 hath not only been permitted, but many ot us have been Infirumental 
 to make him exercife his Power in many things tending to the prejudice 
 of Religion and of the Covenant and of the Peace and Safety of thefe, 
 Kingdoms •, Which is fo far from the right way of preferving his Ma- 
 jefties Perlon and Aitthorky, that it cannot but provoka the Lord a- 
 gainfi him, unto the hazard of both •, Nay, under a pretence of reliev- 
 ing and doing for the King, whilft he refules to do what was neceflary 
 for the Houle of God, fomc have ranverfed and violated mod of all the 
 
 Atticles Ot the Covenant. So, in our unhappy dayes, it is our Sin, Shame and Sor- 
 row, tbat we have had to do with men mdun^ed on a Throne of iniquity, that have been fub- 
 verting Religion and Perfecuting it , defigning to introduce Poperie it ft\i , 2nd 
 Slaverie , Diftroying our Libeities , Supprcfling the Evangel , and Opprefling its 
 Profeflbrs , Enatting an4 Executing manifeft Injuftice , doping the'Miniftration of 
 Juftice againft Idolaters , Adulterers , Murderers , and other Malifaftors , and- 
 andpunifhin§Equityand Duty inftead of Iniquity, arrogating and obtaining a Monftroas 
 Prerogative above all Rights and Priviledges ot Parliament , all {Jaws, all Liberties, a 
 power toTyrannizsasheliftswithout control. But, asitwasour Fathersfin to inaugurate 
 ihe late King, after fuchdifcoveries of his Hypocritical emnity to Religion and Liberty, up- 
 on hisiabfeription of the Covenant ; So, wh/n he burnt and buried that Covenant, and 
 degenetate into manifeft Tyrannie, and had raasd 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 finned in continuing ftill to own his Authority, 
 whenoppofiretoanddeftrueliveof Religion and Liberty. And many in fwearing theO.uh 
 oi^lkgUntt ( including alfo the Supremacy with the boundlefs Prerogatives) without anv 
 RcftrcVons or purifications, when all the Authority he had was engaged and exerted in 
 a Rebellion ag*»nftGoD, forgetting, foregoingand difowning thefe Limitationsin the Co- 
 venants And in putting in his Intercft (with the Application of the words of the Covenant 
 
 t( 
 
. . < 59 ) . Z 2 * 
 
 him, thoftated in opposition to it) intheitateof thequarre!, inour Detl&dttGnt of war 
 Pentland and Botkuel- Bridge , for which tbeLcRDput astofhame, aud went not out with 
 ir Armies. Again we defire to confefs and mourn over this as the fin of the Land, and 
 each of Covenant, that the Duke of York hath been admitted to the exercife ot the Royal 
 ffice, againft the Laws ofGoD and man, being incapable of the Covenants qualification* 
 : aMagiftrate, and, being a Papift, incapable of taking the Oath of Coronation, to main. 
 in the True Ftottftant Religion , aid abolifli and gainftandf opery ; which, for tbeprefer- 
 uion cf the true Religion, Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, is ftatute by the S Aft 
 trh \:K'.J<tm: 6: That all Kings at the Reception of their Princely Authority, fhall take and 
 rear. Yet his Authority, th6 inconfiftent with, and declaredly cppcflte toRcligionand 
 iberty, hath been owned and upheld, bypayingthe Cefs and Suppltes expreflyexa&edfoi 
 laintainingTyrannie inthedeftruttion ot Religion and Liberty. 
 
 Our ownConfciences within, and Gods Judgements upon us without, 
 o convince us of the manifold wilful renewed Breaches of the Fourth 
 fr*/c/e,which concerneth the difcovery of Malignants ; confonam to the 
 
 criptures ,• 2Sam:2s:6: Eflher 7: 5, 61 pfal: 26: 5,6; Tfal: 10 1: 8: Proi: 25: 5: Portheic 
 
 Crimes have not only been connived at , but difpenfed with and par- 
 
 ioned, and themfelves received into intimate Lellowfbip and en- 
 
 rufted with- Counfels, admitted into Parliaments 5 and put in 
 
 ilacesof Power and Authority for managing the publick Affairs of 
 he Kingdom, whereby in Gods Juftice, they got at lad into their hands 
 he whole power and Strength cf the Kingdom, both in Judicatories 
 ,nd Armies; and did imploy the lame unto the ena&ing and prolecut- 
 ng an unlawful Engagement in War againft the Kingdom of England • 
 sjotwithfianding cf the difcentof many confiderable Members of Par- 
 iament, who had given conftant proof of their integrity in theCaufe, 
 rom the beginning ; Of many faithful Teflimonies , and free Warn- 
 ngs of the Servants of God ; of the Supplications of many Synods^ Pnf- 
 yteries and Shires ; And the Declarations of :he General Affembly and their 
 Commiffioners to the Contrary; Which Engagement, as it was the 
 Caufe of much Sin, fo alfo of much Miferie and Calamity unto this Land, 
 and held forth the grieveoufnefs of our fin in Complying with Malig- 
 nants, in rhe greatnefsof our Judgement, that we may be taught never 
 to fplit again upon the fame Rock, upon which the Lord hath fct fo 
 Remarkable a beacon. And after all that is come to pals unto us, be 
 caufc of this our trefpafs; And after that Grace hath been (hewed unto 
 
 ourFaihers, andus. onceand again, from the Lord OUT God , by breaking 
 tilde Mens Yoke from off their, and our necks, and forre imes ddive.ii o our 
 Fathersfofar fromtheirinfulting*, 'hat He put them into a Capacity tO ACl for 
 
 the good of Religion, their own fafety, and the Peace and iafcey ol the 
 Kingdom, thould they and we again break his Commandment and G> 
 
 H 2 vciunr. 
 
( Go ) 
 
 venant, byjoyningoflce more with the People of thefc Abominations 
 and caking into our bofomethofe Serpents, which had formerly ftung 
 us almoft unto death. This, as it would argue great madnefs and tolly 
 upon our part •, So , no doubt, if it be not avoided , will provoke the 
 Lord againft us to Cbnlume us, until there be no remnant, nor elcaping 
 
 in the Land. ManytHneshavewebeeiiw<<rnedoftbeSinofComplyancewithMalig- 
 nants, both by faithful Inftru&ions, and fatherly Corrections from the Lord ; Ter after all 
 tbefe Puniftiments, and after all thefe Mercies, in mitigating thefe Punifhments, Webave 
 again joyned with the People of thefe Abominations. Tfce Lor dts Righteous, forwe remain yet I 
 tfcaped, as it is this day: Behold we are before Kim in owTrefpaffes, andwe cannot (land before Him, ! 
 betau]e»fthis. Thefe Incendiaries, Malignants, and evil Instruments, made many grievous 1 
 Encroachments, and prevailed much in rhedayesof our Fathers ; But not without diflent, 
 Xeftimonies, Warnings, and Declarations to the Contrary: But, in our unhappy dayes, they ! 
 have been fufFered, yea encouraged, without any fignificant jaynt Teftimony, notonlyto I 
 hinder the Reformation of Religion, buttooverturn the whole Work of Reformation, to 
 13urn and Bury the Covenants for ir, to re-eftablifli abjured Prelacy ; erect a monftrous,. 
 -Chrift-exaudorating, and Church-enflaving Supremacy, attempt the introduction of Po- 
 pery and Slavery at the gate of an Anrichriftian Tollerarion , andtoperfecuteanddeflroy 
 the Godly, whodurftnot inconfeience comply with them. And not only to divide the King 
 from his?eople, orontof the Kingdoms from another, but, firftto dividethebulk and bodyof 
 both Kingdoms, and make them purfue divided Interefts , from the Imereft andCaufeot 
 thrift; Andtbento divide the remnant, of fuch as adhered to it, among themfelves, by 
 Indulgences,, and other bones of contention, in order to get them more eafily deftroyedj 
 And at length, to engage the King into fbch a divifionfrom the People, as to make him, 
 inftead of their Protestor, their declared Dcftroyer .• And, not only to make partus among 
 the Veople, contrary to this League and Covenant, but to draw and divide the whole Peo- 
 ple to party wirh their perjuries. And yet fo far have we been from endeavours to have them 
 trough to try aland condign puv.ijhmtnt, as the fu pre me Judicatories of the Kingdom jh ould judge 
 ttmenient , that they have been fufTcredto ob:ain, and manage the whole Adminiftration 
 of Judgement in tbeirown hands, and to fit and actasthefole Reprefentatives of the King- 
 dom ; lea, not only have we fuff:red tbemfo to fit and act, but have owned them as our 
 Hffprefentatives, incomplying with their Mifchiefs framed into Law, in abetting, ftreng- 
 thening, and encouraging the Prelatical faction, in their avowed oppofition to the Cove- 
 nant. The generality have owned Allegiance to the Head of thefe Incendiaries and Malig- 
 nants, yea a Fopijb Incendiarie, becauf* he wore a Crown on his head; And have payed the 
 Cefs, irnpofed for the maintenance and encouragement of Malignants : Many have Affo- 
 cia'ed with hem, in Expeditions of War, drawing up with them in their Mutters, and Ren- 
 dezvoufes, therebycountenancingalVSalignantcaufe j and lifting themfelvesunder a Malig- 
 nant, yea, Vopifh Banner: Many have fubferibed, yea, fworn themfelves of their Faction, 
 centrary to the Covenant by taking Tejlt, Oaths and Bonds, obliging them to furceafefrom 
 Covenanted Duties, a^d to keep the peace, and good behaviour with them, whom they 
 Wereobligedbythe Covenant, tofeek to bring topunifhment : yeafome, and not a few, 
 Were inveigled in the fnareof the Oath oi Delation, to Delate the perfecuted People of God to 
 their Couns^and thereby made,in ftead of d fcovering Malignants.according to the Covenant, 
 todifcover their Bre:hren to Malignants : Andverymany, almoft the univerfality cf the 
 l^nd, were involved in the ffiare of the Oath of objuration renouncing the principle of de- 
 claring War againft a ;J/«J/|*<i&/K*'*g,andofafierting'.he lawfulnefs of bringing his murdering, 
 <;ojr.piyces and laccBdiaries to condign punifhmenu But, on the other hand, fomeofu: 
 
 bav< 
 
r 6i j 
 
 bave fornetiraes exceeded the bounds of Moderation in this matter, in ufurping the fword, 
 without GcDS CalljWiihout refpee*t to the Rulc,and againft the fcope of our own Declarations* 
 to take vengeance on them,a!ourownhand;yea,even to that degree of taking * fnch^rh* 
 theLivesot *fome of them in an extravagant manner ^ For which, we have Curate of C*rf- 
 been fadly rebtk^iof God, and occafion hath been giyen,and taken, to phun,4gtfm* 
 reproach and bhfpheme the Way of God upon that account. othert ' 
 
 In the $\h Article, wcare bound according to our peace andlntereft, to endeavour that 
 "the Kingdoms may remain Conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all Pofterity, and 
 ** that Juftce may be done on the willful oppoffrrs thereof ; According to C*l. 
 H 5: 12. jf 4i, 2. 2 3 iff 19. 25. *4 25 ftf- <<>• 4, 5- £\'k 17 16. 17. Zecb. 
 
 2. it. zuh. 8. 20. 22. 23. But mo the Peace and Union betwixt the King- 
 doms be a great blefling of God unto both, and a Bond which we are 
 obliged to prefer ve unviolated ; And to endeavour that juftice may be 
 done upon the oppofers thereof; Yet, iome in this Land, who riave 
 come under the Bond of the Covenant, have made it their great ftudy 
 how todiiTolve this Union, and few, or no endeavours, have been ufed 
 
 by^ny Of US, for Punifllingof fuch. Yea, veryltle, or not at all, have the mod 
 ot us been concerned about ihis^frticle , wherherthere be Peace with, orholmefsand truth 
 in the other Kingdoms, or whu fort of Peace, or on what Foundations it be fettled. Both 
 KngdomsaremutDally guilty of did >lving!ihis Covenanted Union, in Invading each other, 
 at feveral times, contrary to the Covenant: The Fngltfb Nation, in fubj-ct : ng usto 
 their Conqueft, and forcing us to a fubmiftion and Union with their Seftariat Uf- 
 urpations, onChurchand State: And thisNation, in givingfuch provocations to them, fcy 
 theUnlawful Engagement, intheyear 164!: By treating with fettingup, andentertiining 
 the Head of the Malignant party, their Enemy and curs both, as ou. K>ng, intheyear 1 6 5 c ^ 
 Andinwadingthemuponbijquirrel, in the Worcefler expedition, ^moY6<,\. Since which 
 time, after that Kingdom and this both united in that unhippy courfeof reftoring the King, 
 without refpeft to the Covenant j And rcr.eftab!ifh ; ng Prelacy, which brokeour Govenai 
 Union and Conjunction, That Nation hath fometimesfent aid to our Peifecutors, (of 
 preflingour Attemprsto recover our R'.li^ion and Liberties 5 And ibis Nit'on bath fent Forces 
 to help their Deftroyers ,acd to fupprefstheirEndcavours for the recovery of their Priviledges. 
 And in the mean time, we have been very IMefolicitcus for Correfpondenceto fettle Unton 
 with fuch of them a? owned the Covenant^ Or, forgiving to, or receiving ftom them, mu- 
 tual J nformat ions of our refpeftive cafes and conditions, under all our Calami tics and Calum- 
 nies caft upon us: Norhaveweftudied tokeepup Syrr.pathie, or Communion of Saints, cr 
 a mu'ualbearingof oneanothersburdens, asbecameCovenanted Brethren. On the other 
 hand, in ftead of Union in Truh and Duty, according to the Bond of the Covenant, a Con- 
 federacy hath been ftudfed, indefeftion from the Covenant : And an Un ; on and Peace, which 
 wanted the foundation laid down in the foregoing Articlesof the Covenant, rowir, Unifor- 
 mity in Doctrine, Worfh'p, D.fcipline and Government, againft Pfl/trry, Prehcy, Scbifm, 
 or Seftarittnifm, for our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, and the rJrfc«vermg/ fupprefi'ng 
 and puniHiingthe enemies of thefelnterefts. SuchanUnionhath not been ftudi-d or foOgbtj 
 butonthecontrare, an Union againft the Reformation, and Uniformity for Prelacy, or So 
 rian Multiformity, by maintaining Tyranny, and ftrerg'hening Ma'jgnarcv. 
 
 In the 6th. Article, We are bound, according to ourVUces and Callings intbit common Cjuftcf 
 Religion, Liberty, and?eatc, to ajfifl and defend allthcfetb.it enter into \hk League and Covenant, 
 intbemaintainin^tbereof. And in tne National Covenant, inlkemanrkr, we arc bound "to 
 " ftaqd to the mutual defence agd ailifUnce, every oneofusof another, in the fame caufe. 
 
<< with our beftCounfel, our Bodies. Means, and wholePower, agatrlft all forts of perfons 
 •'vvhatfoeverj Sothatwhatfoever fhallbedonc totheleaftof usforthat Cau(e, fhould be 
 • f taken as done to us all in general, and to every one of us in particular. A duty very clear in 
 the^Scriptures, Judg. 5.2?. iChrott. 12.1,18. Xehem. 4- '4- Prov. 24. ri. 12. But alas! 
 LitTOConfciencc hath been made of this Duty: We have fuffered many of^OUC 
 
 Brethren, m feveral parts of the Land, to be oppreffed of the common 
 Enemy, without compaflion or relief. There hath been great murmur- 
 ing and repining becauieof expence of means, and pains in doing of our 
 
 dllty. Andnotonlyfo, but many have Sworn and Subfcribed Oaths and Bonds engaging 
 againft fuch. afliftances very directly, and to condemn all fuch endeavours to afIift,defend,os 
 refcuethem, as Sedition and Rebellion ; And obliging them to aflift their murdering Malig- 
 nant Enemies by fuchconcurrences as they required: Y«a, manyinfteadofcomingouttothe 
 help of the Lord againft the Mighty, and defending their Brethren, have come out to the 
 help of tha Mighty againft the Lord, His Caufe, Covenant and oppreffedjPeople, concurring 
 inArmes againft them at all the Appearances that have been affayed for the caufe of Chriftj 
 Appearing at Courts, held for informing againft, and Condemning theirBretbren thatwere 
 Prefentat, or concerned in fuch Appearances for the Covenanted Caufe ; And cominginas 
 Witneftes againft them 5 Sitting in AiTyfes for Condemning them ; And guarding tkem to 
 their Executions, when Martyred for their Duty and trie Intereft of Truth. Many again have 
 denied to Refet, Harbour, and Entertain their Brethren , Perfecuted for maintaining the 
 Covenanted Reformation ; And fome have raifed the Hut and Cry after them, thereby occa- 
 fioningandaififtinginthecruel Murder of feveral faithful Brethren. The moft part have 
 owned the Great Murderer, who authorized all the reft and enacted all thefe Murdersj And 
 afliftedhim and his Complices and Executioners of his murdering Mandats, with their Purfes 
 and Eftates, in paying the Supplies profefledly demanded, and declaredly impofed for enabl- 
 ing them to accomplifn thefe Mifchiefs. Yea, many of our Brethren have beenfo far from 
 affiftingthat they have added affl clions to their afflithdBrethren , by their Reproaches,and 
 perfecuting bv the Tongue whom the Lor d had fmitten, and talking to the grief of thefe whom 
 He had wounded. And as all forts of us have been wanting in our Sympathie with, and en- 
 deavouring fuccour to our fuffering Brethren , let be to deliver them from their Enemies 
 bands, according to capacity, efpeciallyifthey were fuch as differed from us in their Judge- 
 ment ; So we cannot forbear with (name and forrow to conf efs, that many Minifters have all 
 alongft discovered great unconcernednefs with, a nd contempt of poor defpifed and reproach- 
 edSufferers; Condemning the Heads of their Sufferings 5 Forgetting, or refuflng to pray 
 for them publickly; And declining, yea, dinVading to contribute for f he relief of the Banifh- 
 ed, of late-, Which hath been very difcouiagirg'o the nffl &ed, andftiHr.biingtomany. In 
 the fame -4r/ic/e, we are bound not to fuffer our felves direcily or indtreftly, by nhatfrever Com- 
 bination or Terror , to be divided andipithdrarpn from thU bleffedVnion and Conjunction 5 Wbetberto 
 make defe&ion to the Contrary part , or to give our felves unto a deteflable indijferency or neutrality intbts 
 Caufe. And in the National Covenant, "That we fhall neither dire&ly nor indirectly fuffec 
 cc our felves to be divided, or withdrawn, by what foeverfuggeftion, allurement or terror, 
 " from this Bleffed and Loyal Cor junction j According to Scripture warrand*, Gen 138. VfaL 
 133. throughout. Zecb. 8. 19. Heb. \z 14. 1 Cor. 1. 10. Epb. 4 ?• Thil> r. 27. and 
 2 r, 2. Jer 9 3. E\ek. 22. 25. 2Tim. 4- 10. Hag. 1. 2. Phil 2. 21. Rev. 3. 15, 
 16. Eutalas! ItislongfirceourFarhcrshadreafonrocomplainandconfefs, that many 
 
 • intheirday by perfwafion or terror fuffered themfelves to be divided and 
 withdrawn to make defe&ion to the contrary part : Many had turned 
 
 oS 
 
ofFtoadetcftable indefferency and Neutrality in this Cau'e which fo 
 much concerneth the Glory of God , and the good of thefe Kingdoms- 
 Nay many had made it their ftudy to walk lo as they might comply with 
 all times, and all the revolutions thereof. It wasnot their care tocountfc- 
 nance, cnconrage, intruft, and employ fuch only, asfrom their hearts 
 did affecl and mind Gods work : But the hearts of fuch many times had 
 been difcouraged, and their hands weakned, their fufferings negtefted 
 and themfelvcs flighted ; And many who had been once open Enemies; 
 and alwayes fetret Underminers^ countenanced and employed; Nay' 
 even thofe who had been looked upon as Incendiaries, and upon' whom 
 the Lord hadfet Marks of defp. j rate Malignance Falfhood and Deceir, 
 were brought in as fit to manage publick Affairs. All which sins and Brock- 
 et of Covenant have now encrculTd to a greater height of heinoufnefs ; For in our day, thefe 
 Incendiaries, defperate and ingrained Malignants , have only been imploycd in , and ad- 
 mitted to the management of Affairs in Church and State, and none but they have been ac- 
 counted Habile by Law: And fuch divisions from this Covenanted Conjunction, and deleti- 
 ons to the contrary part, have been enacted and eftabliftied by Law. Yea, all theunhappy 
 divifions that have been in our dav, have been the woeful confequenrs an."! efT--&s of Defecti- 
 ons to the contrary part. At the firft erection ofPrelacy , many, both Mtaifterl and Prof cf- 
 fors, partly by Terror and partly by Perfwafion, did withdraw from this Covenanted Con- 
 jin&ion, and make defection unto Prelacy, with which they combin'd in conform rg with 
 it,andfubmittingunto the Miniftry of the conforming Curat! : And afterwards, by '.he terror 
 ©ftbefearofMen, and the perfwafions of their Counfels 2nd Example, many of us have been 
 feducedintoa Combination with Malignants, in taking Oaths and Bonds contrary to the Co- 
 venants, thereby dividing our felvesfiom the Recufants, and making defection to the party 
 impofingthem, and oppoflng the Covenants. And by Combination ot thofe that preferred 
 Peace to Truth, antlEife to Duty, by the terror of threatned continuance of Perfecu'ion,and 
 the perforation of a promifed Relaxation and immunity from Trouble*, manyM ntfters 
 have been divided from the Teftimony of the Church of Scotland againft the ertctoacb- 
 ing Supremacy and Abfolute Power, and one from another, and/have rrade defection 
 to that part and Party that were advancing thefe Encroachments avd Ufurpations on the 
 prerogatives cf Chrift and Priviledges of his Church, by receiving indulgences and Tolerationt 
 from them; in their own nature deitrucYive unto, and given, and received on :ermsincon- 
 fiftent withthe Duties of the Covenants, which were contrived and conferred on purpofeto 
 divide tbem from this caufe, and from their Brethren rhat more tenaciouily adhered toir* 
 and did eff*£uate that defign in a gre2t meafure. And others gave thcmfclves to a defe- 
 rable indifftrer.cv , in comply irg with , connivingat, and not witnelllngagainil thefe de- 
 fections, but pafftng mem over in a ftcure and fubmiflive filence : And yet many of us 
 have not (hewed our d.fl.ke of thefe backfliding coutfes, by difecuntenancirg , withdraw- 
 ing from, and keeping ^ urfclves free of all participation with ihem : And othcts have with- 
 drawn , that have not mourned for the fin of thclc things , to the irriratioa and i.fT*nce, 
 rather than conviction of thefethcy withdrew from. Moreover, inthefarre Article wrare 
 fworn, all the days of ourltves , ytaloujly andconflantly to continue in thh Caufe , a^ain(l ill 
 Letts and Impediments trbatfoevcr : ^ind, what we are not able our ftlves to fupptefs and overcome, 
 to reveal and make known , that it may be timely prevented or [removed. And in the National C& 
 Tenant, *' never to caft in any Lett or Impediment that may ftay or hinder any fuch rd 
 
( <*4 a 
 
 "tioo as by common confent (ball be found to conduce for fo good endsj but on the co#^ 
 ''iraty, by all lawful means to labour to further and promove the lame. And if any fuchdan- 
 " etrous and divifive motion be made to us by word or writ , that we and every one of us 
 " m*!l eiihcrfupprefsir,orifneedbe,incontinent make the fame known, that ft may be time* 
 Cf oufly obviated,- agreeing very well with Scripture?, Wum: I 4:9, l°* Nt^: 6: 3,6, 8, 9,10,1 i,6cc, 
 J'f*l:69'.():\lf<x:%: 12, 14:^^4: iQ:^ffj 20:24:0c 21.: i^:Gal:z: $: Phil: 1; 2g. Neverthelefs, 
 
 many have been the lets and impediments that have been cad in the way 
 
 tO retard and Obftrild the Lords Work, by Prelacy, Supremacy , IndulgenccS- 
 Tolleiation, and abfolute Tyrannie, and cjmpiyances therewith, enacledby Law j and 
 allthemifchiefseftabl fhed bya Throneof iniquity thefe 28. years. Yetfewhave evei zeal- 
 oully contented, and fewer have conftantly continued in contending againft thefe obstructi- 
 ons, fo deftruftive to the caufe. Many have kceped Secret the firft motions and ap- 
 pearances of thefe things, wrUe they mightbave been fuppreiTed and overcome *. And the 
 generality havepafTed them over in filence, and made not known, nor adverted unto the 
 Evil of thefe things when declared, by witnetfing againft thefe things, when they could not ^ 
 be oiherwil-e removed or overcrme. Yetmanyofus have*our felvescaft in Lets and Impedi- 
 ments obftiuftive to the Caufe, byourDefeftions, Divifions, and Diforders, againft Com- \ 
 monConfentj&precipitencies without comon confenf,even of our Brethren adhering to the 
 T-mmony.Manya divifive Motion hath not been counted dangerous, as thofewhich'tended 
 to divide us from the Covenanted Caufe -, And many a good and necefTary Motion hath been 
 counted Divifive, namely fuch as propofed theneceflityofconfefTing and fct faking fin. 
 
 Befides thefe, and many other breaches of the Articles of the Cove- 
 nant, in the matter thereof, which concerneth everyone of us to fearch* 
 out and acknowledge before the Lord, as we would wifh his wrath to be 
 turned away from us-, So have many of us failed exceedingly, in the 
 manner of following and purfuing the duties contained therein ^ not only 
 feeking great things for our felves, and mixing private intcrefis and 
 ends concerning our felves, and friends, and followers, with thefe things' 
 that concern the publick good •, but many times preferring fuch to the 
 honour of God, v and good of his Caufe, and retarding Gods work, un- 
 till we might carry alongftwith us our own Interells and Defigns. Ic i 
 hath been our way to milt in the means, and to rely upon the arm of N 
 /fkfhfor fuccefs, albeit the Lord many times hath made us meet with r 
 difappointment therein, and ftained the pride of all our glory , by bla-I' 
 ftingevery carnal confidence unto us : We have followed, for the mod J 
 part, thecounfelsof flcfliand blood, and walked more by the Rules of I 
 Policy than Piety, and have heatkned more unto men than untoGod.L 
 
 In the Con dufion of the Solemn League and Covenant, ther* isa Profefiion and Declara-h)- 
 
 tion before GoDand the World of our unfeigned defires to be humbled «forF 
 
 our own (ins, and h for the fins of thefe Kingdoms, cfpe- J 
 I Ilk- 7 - '*" ciallv.that we have not c valued as we ought the inefU-I 
 e Maub - 9 2 2 4: 5- xnab'lc benefice of the Gpfpel, that we have not lafepuredl 
 
 fcjf k 
 
r 65 ) -- 7 
 
 or the <* Purity and* Power thereof, and that we have * Arts 2: 4 * ; 
 
 iot endeavoured fo * receive Chrift incur hearts, nor ro lT £ : * :| 3 : , * # 
 
 valk g worthy of Him in our lives , h wbkbare tbecaufes l f \3*& jf ,;! 
 
 f other fins and tranfgrejponi fo much abounding among its* CoHoffl 2: 6: 
 
 dl which wc arc under many obligations to'confcfs and mourn over g Colloll: 1: ic: 
 
 rom-;hc>^ord. And of our true and unfeigned purpofe' b 2Thc r :2:i f> , 2 : 
 .nd defire to endeavour for our (elves, and ail ethers under cur power 
 nd charge, both in publick and in private, inafl Duties we owe to Gcxi 
 nd Man, toamend our Lives, and each one to go before another in the 
 xample of a real Reformation, that the Lord might turn away His 
 Wrath and heavy Indignation-, and eftablifhthefe Churches and King- 
 loms in Truch and Peace •, Yet we have ref ufed to be Reformed, and 
 lave walked proudly and obftinatly againfi the Lord, not valuing His 
 Jofpcl, nor fubmitting our felves unto the obedience thereof, nor ieek- 
 ig after Chrift, nor fhidying to honour Him in the excellency of His 
 >erfon, nor employ Him in the vertue of His Offices, not making 
 ]onfcience of Publick Ordinances, nor Pi ivate nor Secret Duties, nor 
 tudying to ed 1 fie one another in Love. The Ignorance of God, and pf 
 lis Son Jef us Chrift prevails exceedingly in the Land. Even our Eatbers, 
 
 1 their pureft times, confefied in their Acknowledgement of Sins, That the greateft pare 
 
 i Matters of Families among Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Bur- 
 ;effes,and Commons, neglected to leek God in their Families, and to 
 ndeavour the Reformation ithereot. And albeit it had been much 
 
 ireffed, yet few of the Nobles and Great Ones , could be 
 
 lerlwaded to perform Family Duties themfelves in their own Perfons, 
 jhich made fo neceflary and ufeful a duty to be milregarded by others 
 
 if itlfcriour Rank* And we may add in our degenerate times , not only the 
 ireat Ones generally profefs the negleft and contempt of fo neceflTary and ufeful 3 
 othintheirownPerfons, and in the ufe of Chaplains, except fuchwho areas Prophaneai 
 lemfelvel: But the greateft part of the Commons arealtogetherStrangerstoir, manyper- 
 5rming no part of Family- worrnip; Others, onlyfinging a Pfalm and Reading a Ch 
 r ithout Praying j And others, makingafafhionof performing all , but very petfunftoii- 
 ufly, formally and indifferently, andfearce onceinaday; Andm?knglitleConfciercei'n 
 arechifing, and Inftru&ingrheir Children and Servants. The Nobility , Gentry 
 
 nd Burrows, who (houldbe examples of Godlinefs and Sober walking 
 into others , are very generally Ring-leaders of excels and Rioting. 
 thereby itii Impoflible to reckon up all the Abominations that arc ii 
 .and: But the Blafpheming of the Name of God , fwearing by the 
 Creatures, Profanation of the Lords day, Uncleannefs, Drunkenpefs, 
 ixcefs and Rioting, Vanity of Apparrel, Lying and Deceit, Railing 
 
 I • ami 
 
<■«-■> 
 
 and Curfing, Arbitrary and unco&crotted Oppregionj and grinding of 
 the faces of the Poor, by Landlords and others in Place and Power, arc 
 
 beCOJilC Ordinary and common Sins. We- have been far from amending our 
 Lives,and promoting a perfonal Reforrtutionjandgoingbefoie one another in the example 
 of a real Reformation, when We bave been bad examples of Deformatibn.in our perfonalPra- 
 clifes and publick Tranfaclion?, and being roo familiar, and too far unite with the Patrons 
 and Patterns of all me Lands Deformations. Our Fathers alfo acknowledged, Albdt 
 
 they were the Lordsfyapk^ engagedunto Himinroa Solemn way, ycc. they 
 bad not made it fflttr ftudy that Judicatories and Armies fhould confift 
 of, and places of Power and Trtfll be filled with Men of blamelefs ancb 
 Chriftian Convcrfarion, and of known Integrity, and approven fidelity^ 
 affection and zeal unto the caufe of God ,, And not only thofc who were 
 neutral and indifferent, but difafftSed and Malignant, and others whq 
 were profane and I'candalous urere intrufted: By which it came to pa isi 
 that Judicatories, *vcnrhen, were theleatsoflnjuftice and Iniquity. And 
 many in their Armies, by their mifcarriages, became theit Plague, unto 
 the great prejudice of the Caufe of God, the great fcandal of the Gofpel,' 
 and the great increafe of loofenefsand profariicy throughout all the Land.' 
 
 Bat We, theirfar more degenerate Children, have feen, and owned Judicatories coufifliog 
 of, and filled with perjured Traitors roi Gad and their Cwnticy ; And Armies made up of 
 thefePlagues, Marlhalled under a difplaycd Banner a^ainft the CaufeofGoDj Notoalytb 
 theScandal, butfortheSuppreflionofthe Gofjpel* and forcing people to profanity through 
 dot the Land: YetwehaVenotfighednorcryedforthefe Abominations, nor have we be$fl 
 eoncernedas wrought, wi*b the aikHm^f^ofrhem trrrthigh the Land j Nor hath our Zeal, 
 which in any measure we profefied jextended itfett for be$»Ghd*$ie places where we i ojourned,! 
 not regarding the Ignorance a ndPrcvfeiityoiihcManf dark pb<?«intfee Land, both in thil 
 Borders, Highlands* and Wtrthem l/les* and other parts, norbeing careful of propagating thi 
 knowledge of God and ReKgion among them. As likewife withblufhing we muft canfefs 
 onrPride and prefampriious bbaftingof the'Extfemal PrrviredgeSWerraJ, and others wanted 
 ofthtGoftti, and outward Rtfomuhr, andT*J$rwo^,whichwebragged off, as tf that h*( 
 . made us better than otherst while we made act Corifrience of improving tbefe PriviJedges 
 nor of bringing forth fuitable FruUs m a per fen al Reformatted. And in bke manner 
 the conceUednefs of fome in Suffering , aftd tf** Complyintt , and Cmending \ii>\ 
 Truth, rather for keeping »p the Contention, ahdabettinga Farty, and many time! 
 under too lofty names of , the Suffering Farty and Remnant , and the like , than t'l 
 keep and hold faft the Word of the Lords Patience , toHisGiory, as our Crown. 'And nan 
 other evidences of pri4e,, hateful toGod, in boaftjng oftbrufe of Armies, in an oftenti? 
 way, and being too much taken up. w.thtbem. ( thdneceiTar^foctbedefenceofour live* 
 ina revengeful refemmg ofafTrdri'rs* in a paflianate. and difdainfui refufing to take repro< 
 for excels m the roarrnei of any dnty, when wethbught 1 the matter-Was right; And in 01 
 ■ ligtenefsof CaniagcJorgettrrrgoirr SufTe rings fincette-ybegan'to abate. Yea, bothintrtt 
 of our greateft Sufferings, and fine* wegot this Liberty of late, we muft acknowledge w8 
 legyate, that Idlenefs'of both kinds, h,ath too much abounded among us: Both that wh« 
 we were in a manner driven from the World, and fhut up from all Employments, but tl 
 exercifeofGodllnefs, marry didTnottrbprbve that opportunity oi the Crofs tb promotes 
 -uaintapce and comnMnioa with God, being flothfulin Prayer, Reading, and other Dutie 
 ™ Ai 
 
C 6j ) S 
 
 And fome again, even fince they might have baa accefs togo to Servicej or other lawful 
 Employments, have continued idle and out of work , to the opening of the mouths of 
 many againft the Caufe, albeit they were not called to, or employed in any publickbu- 
 
 flnefsfor the fame. And befides all thelc things ^ there be many o- 
 ther tranfgreffions , whereof the Land wherein we live are gnilty,which 
 we have not been humbled for to this day : But in ftead of mourning 
 
 far them, confefling and forfaking them , we have been rather defending or daubing, 
 covering or colouring, excufing or extenuating them. Allwhich We nowdefire to 
 
 acknowledge, and be humble for, that the World may bear witnefs 
 with us, that Righteoufnefs belongeth unto God i and fhame and confuii. 
 on of face unto us 5 as appears this day, 
 
 BUT, becaufe it is needful for thefe who find Mercy, not only tocon- 
 fe(s, butaifo to forfake their fin ^ Therefore, that the reality and 
 lincerity of out Repentance may appear, WEdoRefqlve, and Solemn- 
 ly Ejagajje. our {elves,.brfoiCtheI^ 3 carefully to avoid, for the time to 
 come, all chcle Offences whereof we- have now made folemn publick 
 acknowkdgement,and all the fnares and tentations which tend thereun- 
 to : And to teftifie the integrity of our Refolation herein , and that 
 we may be the better enabled , in the power of the Lords ftrength to 
 perform the fame , we do again Renew our Solemn League and Cove. # 
 nam, promifing hereafter to make Confcience of all the Duties whera 
 unto we are obliged in all the Heads and Articles thereof , particular- 
 ly of thefe which follow, 
 Becaule Religion is of all things the mofl excellent and precious, and 
 
 thckncwledge of J>c Great Trutbsof the Gofpel, fo generally decreafed in this Land, is fo 
 abfoluttly r.ecefiary. Therefore, wefhailendeavourrobe better acquainted with the Wiic- 
 tenWcrdofQod, the only iniallible Rule of Faithand Manners^ And fha lift udy, moie than 
 formerly, the Vcftritie ofthisTiue Reformed Churcb,fummarly contained inourConfeflion 
 of Fftkk, Catechifms larger andfliorter,Sum of ChriftianDoftrine,and practical ufe of Saving 
 Knowledge, Directory for publick Worfhfp, Proportions concerning Church Government 
 •and Ordination of Minifters, Sec. And other Writings,clearing and confirming thefe Truths 
 apprcvenby -his Church, and agreeable wiihthe Word of Gcd. The advancing and 
 projnOVl'ng the power of this True Reformed Religion, in our fches and others,. 
 
 againft allllngodlinefsand Profanity, And the fecuringand preferring 
 the purity thereof againft all Error, Hercfic and Schifme, and namely 
 Independency, Anabaptifme^ Antinomiamfme, Artninianifme^Socin/Jiifme, F.vni- 
 I Ufmt, Libminifmei Scepticifme^ Quakerifme, and Eraftianijme, fhall be more 
 fllldicd and endeavoured by US. Andaswedeclarewew llinglyagreeinourCon- 
 
 :cs with this Doclrmc of the ChurchofSco/[**<J, in all points, as unto Gods undoubted 
 i. Truth and Ven'tj', grounded only upon His written Word ; So, we icfolve conftantly 10 
 
 ,eun:o, and maintain, and defend, andprofcf^andconfcO, and, when called-' 
 
 I 2 tO 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 to-be willing to fuSsr for every point of thefa'td Do£r.rine,as wa fhal dcfire tobe approvcn and 
 confefl:d.by Chrift JefusbeforeGod and His Holy Angels. 2. We (hall alfo ftudy more fin- 
 Cerity, uprighrnefs, and heart integrity in the Worjhipol God, and notfatifty our felveswitb 
 the forme of it, without the Spiritualicy that the Obje& of it rehires j And fhal endeavour to 
 Recover and Prefervethe Liberty and Purity thereof from ail Corruptions, Novations, ot 
 Inventions of Men, PopifVi, Prelatical, Eraftian, or any other. And if we cannot get thtfe 
 Corruptions Reformed and removed, we fhal ftudy to keep Our felves free of Communion 
 and Participation with the fame. 3. We {hall l>kewife, by all Lawful mean?, endeavour 
 the Recovery and Re-eftablifhment of Prefbyterial Government , which is the only order of '1 
 CbriftsHoufe of Divine Inftitution, and feck to have it Redintegrated in all its parts, Privi- 
 ledges, and Courts of Kirk SeJJions, Trefbytries , Synods, and Gtneral ^femblits. And thai 
 jfae uvLtDifcip line jot the fame Chnrcb may be impartially Exercifedj Both which, wc mail end- 
 eavour to Preferve aginft all that feek to Subvert and Pervert the fame : And when Reftored 
 and Recovered in its freedom and integrity , fhal! Cordially fubmit unto the fame, as be- 
 comes theHock of Chrift. 4. inlikemanner, the carrying on the Work of Unir 
 formity inthethreeKingdoms, . fhall be defired,, deflgned, prayed for, ftudiedanden- 
 tfeavouredbyus, by Remohftcances, Supplications, Admonitions, Teftimonies, and all 
 other means pofTibre, .lawful, expedient and competent unto us in our capacities, and that 
 
 before- all Worldly Inte'refis whether concerning the Magiftrate, or our 
 felves, or any other whatfbmever. 
 
 According to the Second article, 1, We flaall do our outmoft endeavours to have the Land 
 purged of Fopijb Idolatry, the Monuments thereof deftroyed, andfo far as lies in our power, 
 ihall never furTerthciam* to be reintroduced or ejected again: But mall endeavour to have 
 the Fowl S/tffJi/MagainftPapiftk, of lateftoppedanofufpendedby theTolleration, revived, 
 left in full force ,and direly pun n execution againft thofe Enemies of Religion and all good Go- 
 vernment. 2. We mal Endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy, by all approvenmeans, ac- 
 cording to our Capacities and Vocations. And in order thereto, we mall never fubmit to 
 that Prelatical Hierarchy of ^rcb'bijhops, Bifiops, 8cc. having power of Order or Jurisdiction 
 over preaching Vrefbyters , whether Eraftian, oroniy Diocefan, inany formordegrechov^- 
 foever Reformed, accommodated, reftric"fced, orlimitedbyCautionsorprovifionsofMenj 
 Since frequent and fatal experience hath taught this Church , tbat they cannot be kept 
 long within banks or bounds^ And the Word of God hath condemned that Office, and 5«£- 
 wrdindtion'u felf, inanydegree. Wefhallalfo, by all lawful and legal means, feektbere- 
 moving of their fubftituteC«r&jj, dependingontbem; from the Parifli-Churches on which 
 they have intruded. And fhall never fubmit to the Miniftry of, hear, or receive Ordinance! 
 from, nor pay any Stipends unto any Man that enters into the Cure of any Perifh. atthedoor 
 of the Bimops Collation, orPatrons Presentation. 3* Becaule many have of late 
 laboured tO fupplant the Liberties of the Kirk, ardhavein agreat meafure ob- 
 tained theiFdeflgn, bytbelateJ»rf«^e>ic« and Toleration, We fhall refufe, withftand, and 
 witnefs againft all fucb Encroachments on the Liberties of this Church in all times comings 
 And fhal withdraw our felves from Comunion with any fuch Meetings or Congregations,rhat 
 hold their freedom from, and are modified by fuch Ufurpations. Purpofing and pronaifing 
 to ufe al! endeavours to have a fettled Miniftry, according to Chrifts Inftitution, without any 
 dependence on,fubordination unto, or homologation ofanEcclefiaftick Eraftian & ufurpedT 
 fupremacy in the Civil Magiftrate. Furthermore, we fhal drive to recover, 5c when recovered, 
 
 Maintain and Defend the Kirk of Scotland^ in all her Liberties and Pri- 
 vilcdges accordipg to our power, againft all who (hall oppofe or undermine 
 
 the 
 
 
( 69 ) 
 the fame, or encroach thereupon, under any pretext whatfomcver. 4. 
 
 And as on the one band, wchereenterinto Vowes todcteftandabhor all Superllitien, He- 
 refie, andPiofancRefs, and whatfoevcr fhall be found contrary to found Doctrine an^ the 
 power of Godlinefs, and tokeepourfelves, fofaras wecan,fromall parrakngin other Mens 
 (ins, byconfentunto, afTciation, incorporation, combination, communion, complyance 
 with, orconnivingat their fn.s; So, We refoive, in the Lords ftreng^h, to guard againft 
 all Schifme and fintul Separation, orunjuft, rafh, and diforderly withdrawing from Congre- 
 gations, Societies, or families, orany part of the Communion of the true Reformed Cove- 
 canted Church of btoiUnd, holding purely and intirely the Doctrine, Worfhp, D fcipline 
 and Government of ihe fame in Principle and Exercife, according to the Rules ofiChrift, and 
 ftanding Acts and Confthutionsor this Church. And that we mall neirher gather nor fctup 
 formed feparate Churches or Societies, under other Ordinances, Government or Mniftry, 
 diftinct from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Nor withdraw from Minifteror Member 
 ofthatBody, for any offence, inanycafe, v/hereeirher the offence may be legally removed 
 without our withdrawing j Or cannot be inftru&ed to be condemned by the Word of God, or 
 the Constitutions of this Church ; Or is in it felf an inefficient ground of withdrawing; Or a 
 thing to be condefcended upon, forborn, orforgiven. But ffoll lludy to maintain Un ; on 
 and Communion, in Truth andDuty with alltheMinifters and Members of the faid Church, 
 that do, and in ( o far as they do follow the InOitutions of Chrift. 
 
 Accordingto the Third *4tticlt, l. We fhall endeavour with all fincerity, reality and 
 conftancy, according ro our Vocations and Capacities, by.all poflible 6c lawful means, to 
 ftek the removal of thofe things -hst coirupr, prelimite, or preclude the right conftitution 
 of Parliaments, andother Judicatories; The refcinding and taking away of thefe wicked 
 Acts and Oaths that give entrance unro the Enemies of the Reformation , to fit there as 
 Members, and excludethofe that arehoneft and well affected to the Covenant and Caufe 
 of God. And all. other Ads and Laws that have been framed fince Piclicy and Tyranny 
 camein, that have been oppofite untotbefaid Covenantand work of Reformation j The 
 reviving and ratifying of all former Righteous Laws , made in favours thereof ; And the 
 reftoring and recovering ofallthedue and true Rights 2nd Privileges ot Parliimenrs. And 
 
 as we fhall earneftly pray unto God that He would give us able mm 
 fearing God, men of Truth, and bating covetoufnefs, to judge and bear^ Charge 
 among His people •, So, we (hall according to our Places, Callings and 
 Capacities endeavor that Judicatories iand all places of Power and Truft, 
 both in Kirk and State, mayconfift of, and be filled with fuch men as 
 are of known good Affeftion to the Caufe of God, and of a blamelefs and 
 
 Chriftian COnverfation , to whom wefhall finmit, andobey, and defend them and 
 their Rights, with our Eftates and Lives. 2. We fhall alfo defire, and do defign tore- 
 cover, vindicate and maintain the Liberties of the Subjects, in all thetc 
 things which concern their Confciences , Perfons and Eftates, J. Now 
 
 after we have been long howling under a grievous Tyrannie , making men like the fifties 
 of the Sea that have no Ruler over them j We mail defire and long for a good Govern- 
 ment, and feck tohaveit rightly fetled, upon fuch a foundation of RighteoUfnefs , wiih 
 fuch a fubordinatipn to God, and in fuch hands as Religion and Liberty, and we in main- 
 taining thefame,may find protection and t'atrociny. And then in the terms of the Covenant, 
 wepromifc Subjection, Allegiance, and our beft endeavoutsto preferve and defend the 
 Perfon and Authority of our /Lawfully inverted Kings , P.inces , or other Magiftrates, 
 in the prcfervationand defence of the True Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdom, Mi- 
 
 niftraiion 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 nlftrationof JufttCe, and punifhlng of iniquity : Or fo far as our owning and defend. ng 
 them may, or can conflft with the prefervation and defence of Religion, Liberty and Ju- 
 
 ftice j Giving unto GOD that which is GOVS 5 and to Ctfar the things 
 
 which arcCir/^r/ .* And upon other termes, we purpofe never to own Allegiance to 
 mortall Man. 
 
 According to the Fourth Article , i. Beinw now fenfible of the fin of complyance with 
 Malignams, we fhall refolve through Grace to (land aloof, and at a greater diftance from 
 every thing that may import complyance, confederacy, or (unitive tranfaclion withthera 
 while remaining fuch, by Aflbciating with them in Armes, paying them Cefles and Con- 
 tributions impofed for maintaining them in their Caufeand courfeof opposition to the C*«/e 
 of GOD 5 Or by fwearing, fubfcribing, or taking any of their Oatbs, Tefis or Bonds; Or any 
 new Oaths or Bonds whatfoever , which may any way condemn, Limite, or Reftrain us in 
 the Du ieswhereunto we are obliged by the National or Solemn League and Covenant, Yea, 2, 
 
 Wefhall be (o far from conniving at, complying with , or countenanc- 
 ing of Malignancy, Injuftice 3 Iniquity, Profanity and Impiety , that we 
 lhall not only avoid and dikountcnance thefe things , and cherifli and 
 encourage thefc perfons who are zealous for the Caufe of GOD , and walk 
 according to the Gofpel : But alfo (hall feek a more effectual courfe 
 than heretofore 5 in our refpe&ive places and Callings 3 fcr punifliing 
 and fuppreffing thefe evils 5 and faithfully endeavour that the beftand 
 fitted remedies may be applyed for taking away the caufes thereof, and 
 advancing the knowledge of GOD, and Holfnefs and Righteoufnefs in 
 
 the Land. And to this efFc&, fhall endeavour to Reprelent our Grievances unto com* 
 petent Judicatories againfl: thofe who have been open Pcriecuters , that they may receive 
 condign punifhment as the degree of their Crimes and Offences fhill require or dsferve, 
 that fotheLand may be purged from blood , and the Lord mzy delight to dwell among m. 
 Ye CDnfidering what rafhnefs hath appeared in fome,in putting forth their hand to punifh fuch 
 Incendiaries by death , and how people may be (till in hazard of running upon Exrrava- 
 gancesinthismatter, frorathemifunderftandingof ihis^iriide of the Covenant j We fhal 
 therefore guard againft all irregularitiesan feeking thepuniflvmem of Malignants, IncendTa- 
 rie?, orevillnftruments, andendeavour*Le difcoverie and bringing of them to Juftice in ta 
 Right and Legal way. 
 
 According to the Fifth Article ,We fhal according to our place?, power, 6c fnrcreft,endea- 
 vourtohave the Vnion of the Kingdoms brought to its Covenanted Bafis and avoid e- 
 
 very thing that may weaken the fame , or involve us in any meafure 
 
 ofacceffion UntOthe guilt Of thofe Who have invaded 3 or hereafter may invade 
 the Kingdom of England to break this Covenanted Vnion. n And (hall endeavourmore 
 correfpondence and fympathie with all our Covenanted Brtthe*,hoih in England and Ireland. 
 According to the Sixth Article , Confidering what Gangers , We, and all our 
 Brethren, under the Bond , and owning the Obligation of thefe Covenants , are in, 
 and may be expofedto, from the Pop. fn" Prelatical and Malignant-Fa&ion ftilj prevailing, 
 And what defects we are fenfible have been among us in the duty of defending 4 ni ajfifting one 
 another in '.his cakfs. We do herefolcmnly enter under a 3ortdof AuoQja.ti.on with all that 
 do new renew thefe Covenants wi-h the Acknowledgement of the publick Breeches, zr\d Engage* 
 nmt to the duties] thereof, andfhail concert and alien the old Covenanted Caufe and C<uar- 
 
 rel r 
 
C7i J 
 
 iel, asonrFathets flared and contended tor it, from the year 1658. to 1650. Which caufe 
 of the Covenanted Reformation, in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, an d 
 ali Itvterefts and Rights Religious or Civil, contended for , during that forefaid fpace of 
 years conducing to promote the fame j we faithfully promife to pcofeciu, and endeavour 
 to piopag^te, preferve and maintain, with thehaza;d of our Lives and all tint we have. 
 Kot fcaringor regarding the foul Afperfions of Rebellion, Combination, or what clfeourAd- 
 verfaries from their Crait and Malice would put upon us. Scing what we do is.fo well war- 
 ranted, and arifeth from an unfeigned defire to maintain the true Religion , tooixaintbe 
 Protection, and prtfetve the Honour of Righteous Government, and promote he Peace 
 and Happinefs of the Kingdom, for the prefent Safety and future Felicity of our Selves 
 andPofterity, and encouragement of others, groaning under, o:in danger of the Yoke of 
 jtnthhri^'tan or E/aflin, Popijh or PreUtica! Tyranny, to joyn in the fame or Ike ^fociatitn. 
 In rcaintaing which, we (hall faithfully a-nd ftedfaflly, according ro cur place and power, 
 (ympathize , bear all burdens, and imbafk our Interefts with, and afliit and defend all 
 tnefewho enter into or joyn with ibis wijfotiation and Covenants. And (hall reckon what* 
 foeverfhal be done to the leaftof usforthi*Caufc,as done to us all in general, and to every 
 one of us in particular. And fhal account it a breach of Covenant tf, feingcur Etethrenpurfued 
 for this Caufe, and having furlicient means to comfort and afliftthem , any of us ("hall ei- 
 ther make peace wtththe Percenters, bind up their hands by Oaths or Bonds from refift- 
 ingtbem, refufetobide, harbour or fupplythe Perfccuted, decline to venture inlaw ful and 
 aectflary attempt for their relief, or withdraw from their dutiful fupport. Andbeingthus 
 ■nited and Aftbciateinthis Caufe, as we refolve and oblige our felves to abide in this firm 
 conjunction, and neither conftntnor concede to any Combination or Q>unfc), fuggeftion, 
 ptrfwafion, allurement or terror that may have any dhrect or indirect ten Jency, tenration 
 or influence to feduceus, euher to division among our felves, or defection, to our Advcr- 
 faries, or a bafe indifferency 5c neutralitybetwecn thetwo, but ftull with aUZeal, Fide- 
 lity and cOnftanCy communicate our beft help, counfel and concurrence for the promoving 
 all refolutions, as by common confentfnall be found to conduce for the good of the caufe. 
 And endeavour todifcovei, oppofe and fupprefs all contrivances or counfcls that may caft 
 in any let or impediment that may be obftructive or prejudicial to the caufe : So we (nail 
 likewifedefire, defign and endeavour to get the defections, unworthy neutralities, and 
 unhappy divifions that have long andlamentaUy wxjunded and wracked this Church, re< 
 moved ; Differences fettled, and^reaches healed, in fuch a way, and upon fuch terms as 
 tnaybehonourableand advantagiousfor theC<r«/e. And if our Brethren and we, between 
 whom fuch differences have fallen in and have been fadly fomented on all hands, willfcarch 
 and try out wayesrefpectively, how far they and we have receded from the foodOldWay of 
 the Church of Scotland , andinour impartial fearch, fhallflndout our refpeftive defecti- 
 ons andbreaches of Covenant, ontheone hand and ontheother, and unitein confelEng 
 thefe , by joyning in this or the like acknowledgement of publickfin?, and keepinp 
 of Humiliation and Mourning for the fame. And as we offer and prorrife to confels cur 
 fins here acknowledged , or any other (To faraswe can be convinced) anymannerof 
 way that they fhalldefire or appoint , So, if they will at leaft confefs theirs Doctrinally, 
 and they and we both forfake them mutually ; And forfaking, concur in procuring the con- 
 demnation of them in Ecclefiaftical synods or Aflemblies^and fo return unto, and fix our 
 ground on the Old eftablifhed Foundations, accordingto the Word of God and Conftitu- 
 tions of this Church, fettled before rhe Covenanted Reformation flopped : We will then 
 embrace and maintain Union and Communion with tbem, and oftrrand avouch our con- 
 currence with them, and fubmiflion to them in the Lord : And fhall not fufferour felves, 
 directly or indirectly , by whatfoever combination, perfwafion or terror, to be divided 
 and withdrawn from this bleflcd Union and Conjunction. 
 
 And 
 
( 72 ) 
 And Iccaule there be many,who heretofore have not made Conference 
 of the Oath of God, butfome through fca r , others by perfwafion, and 
 upon bafe ends and humane lnterefts have entered thereunto, who 
 have afterwards discovered themfelves to have dealt deceitfully with the • 
 Lord, in f wearing falfly by His Name. Therefore We who do now re- 
 new our Covenants in reference to tlicfe duties, and all other duties con- 
 tained therein , Do, in the fight of Him who is the fearcher of hearts, 
 Solemnly Profefs, that it is not upon any Politick advantage, or Pri- 
 vate Intereft, or by-end or becaule of any terror or perfwafion from 
 men, or hypocritically or deceitfully, that we do again take upon us the 
 oatbofGod* But honeftly and fincerely, and from the fenfe of our Duty*; 
 And that therefore denying our felves and our own things , and laying 
 afide all felt- interefts and ends, we (hall above all things feek the Ho- 
 nour of GOD, thegoodofHisCaufe, and the wealth of His People; 
 And that forfaking the counfels of flefh and blood, and not leaning upon 
 Carnal confidence , we fhal I depend upon the LORD, walk by the 
 Rule of His Word, and hearken to the voice of His Servants* In all 
 which, profeffingour own weaknefs , we do earneftly pray to GOD , 
 who is the Father of Mercies, through His Son Jefus Cbrijl, to be mer- 
 ciful unto us, and to enable us by the power of His Might, that we may 
 do our Duty, unto the praile of His Grace in the Churches. AMEN. 
 
 FINIS 
 
' 
 
r 
 
 
 L