Tlionnas ne^ncierson 
 
 The Hp^-Vionc\\ Qovenanf 
 
 and sol^^vi \Qc\cv<e ^ covenan"t* 
 
 with Vhe 
 acknowvlccUmenf o^ sin^ and 
 enoaaemen-V io au-Vies 
 
 >reneWGc\ 2^tVi Ju\>^ n\2 
 
 
 9183 
 .N37 
 1820 
 
BX 9183 .N37 1820 
 
 The national covenant, and 
 solemn league & covenant. 
 
THE ( "-10 ■'■ '• ^ 
 
 NATIONAL COVENANT^2tiifil!;i!!3S^ 
 
 SOL EMN LEAG UE 4- CO VENANT, 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SINS AND ENGAGE- 
 MENT TO DUTIES : 
 
 AS THEY WERE RENEWED AT AUCHENSAUGH, NEAR DOUGLAS, 
 24^ Jm/j/ 1712, 
 
 WITH ACCOMMODATION TO THE PRESENT TIMES. 
 COMPARED WITH THE FIBST EDITION, MDCCXII. 
 
 PsAL. Lxxvr. 11. Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God. 
 
 Is-vi XXIV 5. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof x 
 
 because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, 
 
 broken the everlasting covenant. , . . , • .u » 
 
 EzEK. XVII. 18. Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, 
 
 (when lo, he had given his hand,) and hath done all these things, he 
 
 shall not escape. 
 2 Tim. hi. 3. —Truce-breakers,— or Covenant-breakers. 
 
 PRINTED BY STEPHEN YOUNG, 210, HIGH-STREET. 
 1820. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 CovENAVTiNG WITH GoD is the most Signal honour, to which a people 
 or nation can be exalted in this world : but no nation, under the New- 
 Testament dispensation, seems to have been more eminently honoured 
 in this respect, than the kingdom of Scotland. So soon as our land 
 emerged out of darkness, and attained the light of evangelical truth, 
 our renowned Ancestors, of all ranks, entered into various Covenants, 
 to maintain the True Reliirion, betwxt 1557 and 1582, in opposition to 
 all the idolatry and errors of the apostate church of Rome. The chief 
 of these was tJie National Covenant of Scotland, which was subscribed 
 by the King and his household, in the year J 580, and by persons of 
 all ranks, 1581. 
 
 After lordly Prelacy had gained the ascendency over the True Presby- 
 terian Religion about forty years, the Second Reformation commenced 
 1638, and gradually advanced until 1649 inclusive. During that 
 memorable period great things were done in our land, which we ought 
 ever to keep in grateful remembrance. 1. The National Covenant was 
 renewed, in which all the idolatrous rites of Popery are formally ab- 
 jured, and by the subscription of it, the Five Articles of Perth, viz, 
 kneeling at the Lord's Supper, private communion in that ordinance, 
 private baptism, confirmation of children, and observation of holy 
 days, th:^ government of the kirk by bishops, and the civil places and 
 power of kirkmen, are declared to be unlawful. 2. The Solemn 
 League and Covenant of the Three Kingdoms, Scotland, England, and 
 Ireland, was framed and sworn, in which our Ancestors, for themselves 
 and posterity, engaged to maintain the True Reformed Religion ; and to 
 endeavour, by all lawful means, to eradicate Popery, Prelacy, super- 
 stition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and every thing contrary to 
 sound doctrine, and the power of godliness, as plants not planted by 
 tlieir heavenly Father. 3. The Westminster Confession of Faith, as 
 approved, limited, and explained by the Act of the General Assembly 
 of the Church of Scotland, 27 Aug. 1647, Sess. 23, and the Larger 
 and Shorter Catechisms were composed, as a Summary of Evangelical 
 Doctrine, extracted from, and confirmed by, the Holy Scriptures, 
 
 4. Christ's alone supremacy over his clmrcli, set by his Father over his 
 holy hill of Sion. and given by him to be Head over all things to th& 
 Church, which is his body ; together with her intrinsic right, to call, 
 adjourn, and dissolve, her Assemblies at pleasure, v/hether the civil ma- 
 gistrate give his sanction, or not, was expressly asserted by the Church. 
 
 5. The Divine right of Presbyterian Church Government, as the only 
 form revealed in the Word of God, in opposition to the idolatrous formg 
 of Popery, the superstitions hierarchy of Prelacy, and the sectarian 
 confusion of the different orders of Independency, was legally esta- 
 blished according to Scripture-rule. 6. Patronage, that great evil 
 which robs the Christian people of the privilege of choosing chose pas- 
 tors, who are to take the oversight of their precious and immortal 
 souls, was legally abolished, and the Church restored to that liber- 
 ty, wherewith Christ hatli made his church and people free. 7. The 
 
iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Estates of Parliament also enacted, that all Kings and Princes, whe> 
 shall reign over this reahii, sliall solemnly swear, to observe and de- 
 fend the True Reformed Religion, according to the Word of God — and 
 by and attour the foresaid oath shall declare, by his solemn oath and 
 seal, his allowance of the Natiowd Covenant and of the Solemn League 
 and Covenant, and obligation to pursue the ends thereof in his station 
 and calling. — Collection of Acts, p. 141. 
 
 These Covenants, (viz. the National Covenant and the Solemn 
 League and Covenant) constituted the formal marriage relation between 
 Jehovah and the United Kingdoms, and were the condition of admission 
 to office and privilege. On account of them we were called Hephzi- 
 bah, and Beulah, a land delighted in, and married to the Lord. While 
 we were faithful to God, he was good and gracious to us, and allowed 
 us eminent times of refreshing from his presence But when we for- 
 sook him, he also forsook us, and gave us up to counsels of our own, 
 and we have vainly wandered ever since By admitting the enemies of 
 Reformation into places of power and trust, by the Public Resolutions ; 
 — by submitting to the u.^suspation ot Oliver Cromwell, and by the un- 
 happy restoration of ChaHes II, without any security in favours of the 
 True Religion, our gold became dim, our most fine gold was changed. 
 A bloody persecution commenced against the friends of th? R'.forma- 
 tion, w:hich raged with great violence twenty-eight yi a'rs. Our sol.-mn 
 Covenants were disregarded, their obligation denied, and the Deeds 
 themselves ignominiously burnt, in London, Edmburgh, and Linlithgow. 
 By authority, the taking, or the administering of them was declared to be 
 sedition and treason ; and defending them by word, or write, was ac- 
 counted criminal in law. All Acts made in their favours, or in favours 
 oftheworkof Reformation between 1638 and 1650, were rescinded, 
 and such black Oaths, Bonds, Tests, and Indulgences were imposed, 
 as insnared and polluted the consciences of all, who accepted of, or 
 agreed to, them. About 18,000 Presbyterians are supposed to have 
 suffered persecution, in one form or another, by imprisonment, banish- 
 ment, tortures and death, from 1660 to 1688. The principril heads of 
 their sufferings may be reduced to three I. Refusing to renounce the 
 Covenants, and to declare it unlawful, to enter into Deeds of that kind, 
 without consent of the civil magistrate. '2,. Denying the King's supre- 
 macy over the Church, according to Act of Pari. 16, Nov. 1669, in 
 which it is enacted, asserted, and declared, " that his Majesty hath the 
 " supreme authority and supremacy over all persons, and in all causes 
 " ecclesiastical, within this kingdom, and that, by virtue thereof, the 
 «' ordering and disposing of the external government and policy of the 
 " Church doth properly belong to his Majesty, and his successors, as an 
 '< inherent right to the crown," &c. 3. Refusing to acknowledge the 
 authority of the Duke of York, as he was a professed Papist, an open 
 enemy to the True Religion, a tyrant over the liberties of the nation, and 
 a violent persecutor of the faithful friends, and followers of the Lamb. 
 The pious Mr. James Renvvick was the last, who sealed the Church's 
 Testimony with his blood, on a public scaffold, and triumphantly en- 
 tered into the joy of his Lord. 
 
 The Nation, weary of the tyranny and oppression of James VII. 
 agreed to dismiss him from the throne, and to invite William and Mary, 
 Prince and. Princess of OrangC;, to come over, and assume the reins of 
 
INTRODUCTION. t 
 
 government, in these kingdoms. At their accession, the Nations did 
 not improve the opportunity afforded thein, to have Church and State 
 settled according to the Word of God, and to the ll-rforming Laws of 
 the Jand ; but left the Covenants and work of Reformation buried under 
 the infamous Act Recissory. Our renovned Ancestors entered their 
 Public Protestation against said Settlement, both civil and ecclesiastic, 
 at the Market Cross of Sanquhar, because the King was not a professor 
 of the True Religion; — did not take the Covenants, accoiding to the 
 established law of the nation ; — was engaged by his Coronation Oath to 
 maintain Prelacy inviolable, to the latest posterity, contrary to the 
 Second Commandment and Soleum League and Covenant ; — was vest- 
 ed with a sinful headship over the Church, in being declared head over 
 all persons and causes, civil and ecclesiastical ; — and established two 
 forms of religion, as agreeable to the inclination of the people, though 
 in direct opposition to one another, without any regard to the Holy 
 Scriptures, as the alone rule of either ; — because many of the constitu- 
 ent members of the Convention of Estates had an active hand in murder- 
 ing the precious saints of God, during the late persecution ; — and because 
 the Parliament of Scotland read, judged, voted, and ratihed, the 
 Westminster Confession of Faith, for the whole Church of Scotland, 
 without consulting with her, more or less, on the subject ; which was 
 gross Erastianism. Th.ey also dissented from and protested against the 
 ecclesiastical constitution, because the ministers, who composed the 
 first Assembly, after the Revolution, were composed of the Indulged 
 and Curates, that had complied with the evils of the times, during the 
 persecution, had taken some of the sinful Oaths, Bonds, Tests or In- 
 dulgences, during that period ; and many of tlieni grievously reproach- 
 ed the honest suH'-rjrs, so that they had no right to come near unto 
 God, to do the oitice of a priest unto him, until they were cleansed, 
 according to the puiification of the sanctuary ; — they passed over the 
 best time of our Reformation, and went back to 1592, when the 
 Church's attainments were not come to thuir greatest purity. 
 
 By thus overlooking the steps of Reformaiion, attamed to, between 
 the years 16^8 and iGoO. they violated the Divine precept, •' Where- 
 " unto we have already attained, let us vvaik by the same ruk-, and mind 
 " the same thing." Phd. iii. 16. — They subiuitted to new ministerial 
 qualifications, viz. the Oaths of Allegiance and Assurance, substituted 
 and imposed, in room of the Covenants, under ecclesiastical pains and 
 censures, as deprivation, suspension, and the like. Such qualifica- 
 tions, fixed and appointed by the civil magistrate, for gospel ministers, 
 as a condition of the exercise of their office, was injurious to the Head- 
 ship of Christ, and to tlie intrinsic power of the Church ; and was, in 
 the very nature of it, downright Erastianism: and ministers tamely sub- 
 mitting to them, was a surrendering the Church's rights to a foreign 
 head, and discovered great want of fidelity to Sion's King. — They al- 
 lowed the King to call, adjourn, and dissolve, their Assemblies at his 
 pleasure; and sometimes, without transacting any business at all ; and 
 they complied with his command, to receive into their communion all 
 the Curates, that would qualify according to Law, without requiring 
 any evidence of repentance, or inflicting any censure upon them, for 
 their former corrupt and superstitious principles, and practices. 
 
 However; all things considered, little better could be expected, 
 
ti INTRODUCTION. 
 
 from the state of the Nation, at that time. The most religious and 
 faitlniil ministers and people had either been put to death, or banished, 
 (luring the persecution ; and it could not be thought that the Laodice- 
 an coFnpliers with the backsliding courses of that period, would be hon- 
 oured to build up Sion's walls, and to settle her on her true Scriptural 
 Covenanted foundation. These were not the materials, proper for erect- 
 ing ant vv, the ancient Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. — Af- 
 ter the deaih of thee faithful minister and martyr of Jesus Christ, Mr. 
 James Renwick, the surviving friends of the cause, for which he suffer- 
 ed, cams to be unl.appily divided in judgment among themselves. 
 
 As the sword of persecution was now sheathed, and externa! peace 
 restored, it was natural to desire ease, and quiet : and those, who 
 should have been examples to the little flock of Christ, proved a snare 
 to them. The truth of the prophet's declaration was verified : " The 
 " leaders of this people cause them to err." Their pubhc teachers Messrs. 
 Shields, Linning, and Boyd, carried them down the stream of defec- 
 tion, and seduced them into a sinful compliance with the evils of the 
 time. 1. They encouraged them, to take up arms, to guard the Con- 
 vention of Estates, many of the members of which had their hands 
 deeply imbrued in the blood of God's dear saints, during the late per- 
 secution —2. They enticed them, to raise the Angus Regiment, and to 
 join, in a military association, with maliguants, to a Covenanted work 
 of Reformation, contrary to their professed principles, and to the ex- 
 press prohibition of Scripture : " Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them 
 " to whom this people shall say, A confederacy." Many of them re- 
 pented of this action afterwards, and blamed Mr. Shields to his face, 
 for leading them into it— 3. They advised them, to adilress William 
 and the Parliament, concerning their grievances about religion, which 
 many of them had scruples in doing, as they were suspicious, that 
 Tvilfiam's principles were not favourable to the Covenants, and work of 
 Keformntion ; and the move faithful part were afraid, that petitioning 
 the Parliament might be viewed as an acknowledgment of the members 
 of it, as the lawful Representatives of the Nation ; while the greatest 
 part of them were disqualified from holding such an office, on account 
 of the active hand, which they had taken, in persecuting the faithful 
 followers of the Lamb, and in destroying, suppressing, and subverting 
 the Covenanted Reformation ; a.iU had given no evidence of repent- 
 ance, for their sinful conduct therein.— 4. They induced them, to en- 
 ter r.ishly into the renovation of the Covenants at Lesmahago, without 
 due lime to consider on the importance of the work, and to seek sane 
 tuary preparation for sanctuary service ; to ponder seriously the sins 
 confessed, and the duties to which they engaged, which many of them- 
 selves regretted afterwards —5. They exhorted them, to join with 
 unfaithful' complying ministers, under pretence of entering a protesta- 
 tion and remonstrance, and reserving a right to testify agamst evejy 
 thing, which they judged wrong, though the constitution itself was set- 
 tied on an unscriptural foundation— 6. They carried as many of them, 
 as they could, along with themselves, into the communion of the Re- 
 volution Church, and landed them in the quagmire of Erastiamsm. ^ 
 
 But the Lord still preserved a select few, who did not defile their 
 garments with these corruptions. Sir Robert Hamilton, in the first 
 General Meetmg which he attended, held at Douglas, 6th Nov. 1689, 
 
INTRODUCTION. vii 
 
 after his return from Holland, entered his protest against these, and 
 similar steps of defection, and compliance : and, at a future meeting, 
 refused to accept of a commission, for drawing up a representation of 
 grievances, and a protestation against defections, to be given in to a 
 general meeting of ministers, and afterwards a General Assembly, in 
 connexion with persons of such jarring opinions and practices ; especi- 
 ally with Messrs. Shields, Linning. and Boyd, whom he considered, as 
 equally guilty, if not more so, than the complying ministers of the time. 
 Sir Robert was justly held in estimation by the Community of Old 
 Dissenters. 
 
 He went over to Holland, soon after the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and, 
 during his residence there, proved of eminent service to the Sufferers 
 for the Truth in Scotland. He acted as their Commissioner, to repre- 
 sent their case, and solicit the sympathy of the Church there ; and, by 
 his attention and fidelity, he prevailed with the Presbytery of Groningen, 
 to ordain the pious and faithful Mr. James Renwick a minister of the gos- 
 pel, for the persecuted, True Presbyterian Church of Christ in Scotland, 
 And afterwards, as their Delegate to the Presbytery of Embden, he 
 induced them to ordain Mr. Thomas Linning a minister of the gospel 
 for the same Church. Some time after his return to Scotland, when the 
 three teachers foresaid had deserted the noble cause, which they had 
 formerly espoused, and, by their advice and example, had drawn many 
 into a state of apostacy, along with themselves. Sir Robert stepped in, 
 and lifted up the Testimony, as Mr. Renwick left it, and was the hon- 
 oured instrument, in the Lord's hand, of collecting, out of their dispers- 
 ed state, such of the Old Sufferers, as had escaped the general conta- 
 gion, and defection : and united them together, in Praying Societies. 
 for their spiritual improvement ; and in Correspondent and General 
 Meetings, for managing their public concerns. Never do piety and 
 faithfulness appear to have been more eminent among Dissenters than 
 during this period: their private religious exercises, by themselves, 
 with their Families, and in their Societies, were refreshing, and corafort- 
 .able. They had frequently days of fasting and humiliation, for mourn- 
 ing over their own sins, and those of a guilty land ; and, on these 
 days, they expressed an ardent desire after the public ordinances of re- 
 ligion, and were very earnest in their supplications, that the Lord would 
 prepare, qualify, and send, a faithful gospel minister, to break the 
 bread of life to them, and to discover unto them the reason, why this 
 great blessing was withheld from them. 
 
 Sir Robert was apprehended, and imprisoned, in the Tolbooth of 
 Edinburgh, for having an hand in publishing the Sanquhar Declaration, 
 and was called different times before the Council ; but he declined thenv 
 as competent judges, because they were not qualified, according to the 
 Word of God, and our solemn Covenants, He would make no acknow- 
 ledgment whatever of any thing wrong in his conduct, nor make any 
 promise or engagement, to act differently from what he had done ; 
 and he was so honest to his principles, that, before his liberation, he 
 gave in a most faithful protestation and declinature, to the Privy Coua- 
 cil and Parliament of Scotland ; sent a letter, of the same import, tp 
 Sir James Stuart the Advocate ; and, upon coming out of the Tolbooth, 
 he left another protestation in the hands of the keepers, against his un- 
 just imprisonment ; and showing his firm adherence to the cause, for 
 
▼i" INTRODUCTION. 
 
 which he had suffered, declaring, at the same time, that his outcoming 
 was merely on account of his finding open doors, and desiring his pro^ 
 testation to be inserted in the ordinary register. 
 
 From his liberation to the time of his death, he contended earnestly 
 for the faith once delivered unto the saints, and acted the part of a 
 tender father, and affectionate friend, to the faithful few, that contin- 
 ued witnessing for the truth ; and by his pious example, and judicious 
 counsel, he encouraged and exhorted them, to attend seriously to the 
 concerns of their souls, and to the genuine principles of the Testimony 
 which they held. After having maintained Christian communion with 
 them for several years, and drawing near the conclusion of his life, he 
 left a faithful Testimony behind him, to the Cause and Testimony of 
 Christ, which is contained in the Christians Conduct and in the Scots 
 
 Worthies. He di.'d in peace, 21st Oct. 1701 Aged 51 Yearsi 
 
 After the death of Sir Robert Hamilton, not many years intervened, 
 until God sent them that f-easonable Gift, the Rev. Mr. John M'Millan, 
 Minister of Baimaghie, who, from the time of his ordination, shewed a 
 strong attachment to the Covenanted principles of the Reformed Church 
 ot Scotland The treatment which he met with from the judicatories of 
 th' Revolution Church, and a vindication of his character and conduct 
 au-iinst nun)(^rous misreprcsentaiions, may be seen in the Appendix to 
 Tliorburn's Viii,licice Maoisirafus, published 1773, and in the Short Ac- 
 coii'if of Old Di.ocnth-s, 1S06. Many severe things have been publish- 
 ed against him of late years, about Baimaghie budness, when very few 
 know the circumstances and motives, from which he acted. As the pas- 
 toral relation had been fixed between him and the people of the pari.sh of 
 Baimaghie, he seems to have been desirous, that they should embrace Re- 
 formation principles, and the majority of them were greatly attached to his 
 ministry, stood firmly by him, and kept him in possession of the manse, 
 kirk, and glebe, for many years, in opposition to the tyrannical Acts, 
 both of Church and State. The grievances of which he complained, in 
 the Church, they considered as grievances also. When he received and 
 accepted a Call from the Community of Old Dissenters, about the year 
 1707, he, at the earnest request of his old parishioners, continued with 
 them for a number of years. He is blamed for sitting in Session wixh 
 Erastian Elders. He did fft in Session with the Elders of his parish, 
 tvho were not come to the clifer light of separating from the Established 
 Church altogether ; but they were far from approving of any thing like 
 Erastianism in her: and he wished to give time for examining into prin- 
 ciple. Insinuations have been made, that his gi-eat motive for continuing 
 with that people Was his lusting after the stipends of Baimaghie. This 
 calumny confutes itself. If he had been a man greedy of filthy lucre, 
 he would never have given Up his comfortable habitation, and- the legal 
 stipend, in that parish, for any thing that Dissenters could give him : 
 and, if he would have withdrawn his paper of grievances, he might 
 have enjoyed all the emoluments, annexed to his official situation, for 
 life. No judicious reason could be assigned, why he should have given 
 up such a profitnble living, except a real regard to the Reformation 
 cause, and holding the testunony of a good conscience. Much against 
 the inclination of his adherents in Baimaghie, he left the parish altoge- 
 ther, and came to C]\d<.sdale, about the year 1727, and spent the re- 
 mainder of his life, in dir^pmsing gospel ordinances in the Communitj 
 of Old Dissenters, to their edification and comfort. 
 
INTRODUCTION. is 
 
 Mr. M'Neil, Preacher, joined nith Mr. M'Millan about the year 1708. 
 So soon as Old Dissenters were favoured with a Gospel Minister and 
 Preacher to their satisfaction, they took in'.o their consideration the 
 obligation lying upon them, by virtue of our solemn Covenants, to re- 
 scue them from the state of contempt and oblivion, under which tJvay 
 had Hen above 50 years. In their Correspondent and General Meet- 
 ings, they proposed setting about renewing them, in a way suited to 
 their circumstances ; and affer spending many day* in fa^'ting, humilia- 
 tion, and prayer, in their Private Societies, for light and direction, they 
 agreed, that this was a duty, which God called for at their hands, as they 
 were now the only people, that held the Testimony of the Martyrs, vvho 
 suffered for their adherence to the Covenanted Cause, They then set 
 about the necessary preparation, by encouraging one another to Per- 
 sonal Covenanting, and explaining the Covenants article by article, in 
 every Society ; and the members were examined carefully one by one, 
 as to their knowledge of the contents of the Deeds, which they were 
 to swear. On account of the great pains taken for the instruction of 
 the people, by the more judicious members, by the Elders, and by 
 the Minister and Preacher, wliom they then had, it is pronable, that 
 never any religious body of men entered into these solemn transactions, 
 and sware the Coveaants, with more judgment ; and the impressions of 
 that work continued with many of them to their dying day. 
 
 Auchensaugh Deed, has long deservedly held a distinguished place, 
 in the public profession of Old Dissenters. It contains the reasons, 
 which induced our Ancestors, at that time, to enter upon the renova- 
 tion of our solemn Covenants, in a way adapted to tneir peculiar circum- 
 stances ; — the manner of proceeding in the work ; — the seasonablenes.s 
 of it ; — the difficulties attending it ; — the encouragements to it ; — the 
 vindication of it, as present duty ; — and the obviating of objections 
 raised against it, both as to substance and manner. The National and 
 Solemn League and Covenant are next added, with marginal references, 
 adapting certain clauses to the peculiar circumstances of the Covenant- 
 ers at that time, with an explicit Declaration af the conclusion of 
 them, (in large print) that they only sware them in their privai? staiion, 
 in their genuine sense, according to the^Ji|iplication and Application 
 thereof, in their present Acknowledgmv^Bof the Pub..-: Sins, and 
 Breaches of the same ; and in their Engagement to Duties contained 
 therein, which did, in a special way, relate to their time*, and were 
 proper for their capacities therein This Acknowl dgmimt, containing 
 a particular enumeration of the sins, whertby each Article of the So- 
 lemn League had been violated, with an application of the Ko'y Sc ip- 
 tures to said violation ; and the Engagement to duties, in opposition 
 to said sins, are su'^joined. By this Deed our renowned Ancestors 
 hroaght themselves and their successors fbr.nally under the obligation 
 of the Covenants, which the Nutia-is had hroken, and ignorainiously 
 burnt; — exemplified, how a small minority O'ight to adhere to Public 
 Covenants, u.ider apostacy ; — distinguisjh-d the substance of the Co- 
 venants from their accidents ; — broug it the Covenants, and the breach 
 of them to Scriptural test, by addiig suitable texts ; — and speciiicd, 
 those sins, national, ecclesiastical, and peroonal, wluch pt-ovoked God, 
 to plead a controversy with the wlinle ia:?d, and caused him to go to 
 his place; to see if they would acknosvieuge their oftences, and seek 
 
 I? 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 . him early. They also engaged, in the strength of Divine grace, to 
 perform Covenanted duties, so far as competent to them in their dif- 
 ferent relations. 
 
 The approbation of this transaction was a Condition of Admission into 
 the Community of Old Dis:ienters, from the time that it was sworn: and, 
 
 . .when the Reformed Presbytery was first constituted 17+3, it was for- 
 mally estabiished, and announced as a special Term of Communion, and 
 continued so, until the year 1800, when it was united with the Article, 
 acknowledging the Obligation of the Covenants, National and Solemn 
 League — upon posterity. Still it was retained as a Condition oi" Church 
 Fellowship, without the least motion to remove it from the Terms alto- 
 
 : gether. 
 
 In stating the reasons, why our church ought to retain this Deed in 
 our Terms of Communion, it is not intended to ascribe any improper 
 motives to, nor to cast any injurious reflections upon, those, who wish 
 to remove it from its present place, and to class it among the deeds of 
 general reference. Charity obliges us to believe, that they are acting 
 according to their vievi'S. — Nor is it meant to insinuate, that our brethren 
 do not agree to the satlie truths here stated, taken abstractly- But. 
 considered in the character .of Witnesses for the Covenanted Cause and 
 Testimony of Jesus Christ, the friends of this v.-ork think that we ought 
 to connect the great substance of that Deed, with our religious exer- 
 cise at the Lord's Supper. And I fondly hope that those, who are 
 acquainted witli the earnest struggling, and faithful contending, which 
 our Forefathers had to get it carried through, and with the gracious dis- 
 coveries of the Divine presence, which attended it, wiil feel disponed 
 to retain it, for the following reasons 
 
 1. As it was a signal attainment, and an eminent document of the 
 church's faithfulness ; a part of the faith once delivered to the saints ; — 
 and having received it into our public profession, as agreeable to the 
 Scriptures, we ought to hold it fast without wavering, to contend 
 earnestly for it, and, at a sacramental table, to be exercised about its 
 contents, as it relates to tiie coming of Christ's kingdom and interest 
 in the world. 
 
 2. As it brings us und«^ormal obligation, to perform our part of 
 the solemn Covenants, a^^the Nation at large has violated them, and 
 prevents us from partaking with them in their sin of apostacy. As the 
 Covenants were the Condition of Admission to privileges, in the Re- 
 formation Chiu'ch, so we, -by this Deed recognize them, as the Condi- 
 tion of Admission to privilege, in our church still. 
 
 S. As it adapts the National Deeds to the case of a minority, desir- 
 ous to be faithful to God, and conscientious, in performing Covenant- 
 duties to a Covenant-keeping God. However small our number, or 
 however mean our situation in life, we mav claim our marriage-relation 
 by Covenant to him, and avouch him, over the separated symbols of 
 bread and wine, as our own God. 
 
 4. We receive the Lord's Supper, under the Banner of a Testimony 
 displayed for Truth, of which this Deed is a part. As witnesses i'ov 
 Christ, we profess to be grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, and to 
 Jament over the breaches of Covenant, which offend a holy God, and 
 cause him hide his face from his ordinances and people, so tiiat it is 
 HOt with them, as in months past, when the candle of the Lord sluned 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 upon them. As we ought to have common friends and common ene- 
 mies with Chrisr, we ought to oppose all backsliding courses, which 
 this Deed instructs us to do. 
 
 5 In this holy ordinance, his own people, when admitted into gra- 
 cious nearness with God, and enjoying comfortable fellowship with 
 him, have an opportunity of pleading Vi'ith him, on account of the 
 low state of Zion, and praying for a revival in her bondage, that he 
 would r.'turn to our long desolations, where he liad his habitation in 
 times past, and yet make liis Jerusalem a praise in the earth ; and they 
 plead on the footing of his Covenant witjf them, that he will be a Co* 
 venant-keepiui, God. 
 
 6. In this ordinance we are warranted to plead for Covenant-blessings, 
 graciously annexed to Covenant-keeping; Psal. xxv. 10, and ciii. 18 ; 
 and to pray, that God would remember his Covenant, made with our 
 Fathers, and yet return to these Covenanted lands, and take up his 
 habitation as in the days of old. 
 
 7. As the breachts of Covenant specified in this Deed, are still 
 standing grounds of God's controversy, not nationally repented of, nor 
 turned from, we should be religiously exercised at the Lord's table, 
 that we may have grace to keep clean garments in the midst of evil " 
 times, and be found sighing and crying on account of the abominations 
 done in the midst of the land. 
 
 8. Removing this Deed from its proper place has a tendency to pro- 
 duce division in the church, which is too much divided alreadj'. Al- 
 though no injury were done to truth by the proposed removal, there 
 are many religious members of our church, who know what exercises 
 have been in her, on Communion occasions, about the contents of this 
 Deed, that durst not consent to the alteration. 
 
 9. It is a virtual condenmation of the conduct of our pious Ances- 
 tors, for making it a Term of Communion, and using it as such for a 
 century bygone. If the Deed were ])roved morally evil in itself, and 
 we were certain, tliat they had dishonoured God every time, that they 
 approached a communion table, with full approbation of the spirit and 
 scope of it, it would be a very different thing ; but no person, who 
 knows what manner of men they were, wih venture to form such a 
 judgment of them. ^ 
 
 10. Removing this Deed has a tendency to hurt all friendly confi- 
 dence in church rulers. If they remove this Deed now, they may re- 
 move another again, until none be left. — No human composition can 
 lay claim to perfection, and all the books of our subordinate standards 
 require to be qualified, limited and explained. The Church of Scotland 
 received the Westminster Confession of Faith with limitation and ex- 
 planation The martyrs did the same, and our^phurch has all along 
 received the whole of her subordinate standard- books in this way, and 
 has declared, in her Testi.mony, the sense in which she understands 
 them. 
 
 With these views it cannot reasonably be expected, that the genuine 
 friends of this work could, in their'judgment and with a safe conscience, 
 give their consent, to pass sentence of perpetual banishment upon it, 
 irom our terms of communion. A majority being against it, could not 
 change their minds. Yet for the sake of peace in the church they could 
 agree to any reasonable qualification, .explanation or limitation, that 
 might promote the general good. 
 
xii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It iflay by soma be objected here. If the knowledge of this Deed is of 
 such importance , what is the reason that it has been ho little read and 
 known ? A. The fault of ihis greatly attaches to us who are ministers. 
 Our Fathe.s taught the contents of it, in their ordinary ministrations, 
 and few Sabbaths pastsed but the breach of Covenant, idolatry, super- 
 stition, and other sins, specified in it, wtre publicly exposed ; the judg- 
 mtnts, threatened in the Word of God. against these sins, were declared, 
 and a warning was given to seek chambers of safety. In prayer, these 
 ^ins were also confessed, and the p;irdon of them' implored. In their 
 T»ble-services they united personal religion with the glory of Christ's 
 kingdom, so that the substance of this work was fVtmiliar to the members 
 of our church. But since a generation of lukewarm Laodicean profes- 
 sors arose, who do not wish to hear any thing of a public doctrinal tes- 
 timony, for the kingly prerogatives of Jesus, real religion has greatly 
 declined among us, and practical immorality greatly increased. Person- 
 al, family and social religion are much neglected, and the public ordi- 
 nances much despised. Tipiing and drunkenness greatly prevail, and 
 uncleaness, a sin long unknown in our church, abounds notoriously 
 among us. And have we not cause to fear, that living so long in the 
 omission of the duty of Public Covenanting has provoked God's displea- 
 sure against us, so as to give us up to counsels of our own, and to allow 
 us to wander after the sinful iiiiaginations of our own corrupt hearts, 
 and to follow the multitude of other denominations to do evil ? 
 
 It has been objected against this Deed, that it contains an engage- 
 ment to pay no taxes, directly nor indirectly, to the present government. 
 A. Although this has been often said, by both ministers and people, 
 it IS a great mistake. There never was such a sentence in it ; nor is 
 directlif or indirectly ever mentioned along with paying taxes. Our 
 Forefathers well knew, that no government could exist without taxes; 
 but they distinguished between those that were exacted for the imme- 
 diate support of government, and those that were imposed on the neces- 
 saries of life. Themselves purchased salt, leather and ale, and used 
 these as the creatures of God, to which they had a moral right by his 
 own law, without asking any o^ue^tions for conscience- sake, though 
 these articles were taxed ; and they thought the Active Testimony people 
 went to a right-hand extrefhe, when they imported, and smuggled their 
 salt and shoes from Ireland. The members of oi^r church have never, 
 since the Revolution, paid tribute or stipend, as a matter of right, 
 to the nation's rulers, civil or ecclesiastical : but under protestation, 
 that they had no other title to tliem, than what the superior strength 
 of a majority gives over a minority, when nothing respecting religion is 
 concerned. Mr Herle, Prolocutor of the Westminster Assembly, 
 answers an objection similar to what may be stated against this. 
 This payment — is taken and will be used to an evil end. <' But," says 
 he, " ihat is beyond my deliberation, and not in my power to pre- 
 *' vent : it will not be avoided, by putting them to force it from me, 
 *' but rather more gain will accrue to them— if I stand out." It has 
 been alledged, that Dissenters would not pay taxes themselves, but 
 hired others to pay them for them. This no judicious man among them, 
 acting in character, ever did, and if any weak mind should have done 
 so, this is nothing against the profession itself. — Some satisfied their 
 minds; as to the payment of public burdens, such as the supply. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi« 
 
 minister's stipend, and schoolmaster's salary, by viewing them as onus 
 terra, or a burden on the lands : And, whether paid by the Landlord 
 or Tenant, that it was no debt of theirs. The Landlord paid nothing 
 for it : the sum of it was deduced from the rental, when he purchased 
 the property, and he is only the holder of it, for the time being, m be- 
 half of the possessors of the oifices, to which it is annexed, who havs 
 sufficient physical powtr to command it. If the Tenant pay it, he has 
 value for it, "as he rents his land so much cheaper, on account of these 
 burdens. The great body of farmers, however, prdWrod a freedom from 
 these burdens altogether, and many Landlords -^ere disposed to favour 
 them, as tliey had a scruple at pavini: th-m, and .^ome do so still- 
 
 I shall here add the opinion of the oldest Rev. Father in our church, 
 when an objeciion was made in the year 1796, respecting the incon- 
 sistency between Auchensaugh Bond and our Testimony, concerning 
 the payins of taxes. Says he, " The Presbytery equally (as Auchen- 
 saugh people) disapprove "of the Constitution, as Erastian and anticove- 
 nanted, and of whatever in its own nature implies a real acknowledg- 
 ment of them (i. e. the rulers) as lawful. But they do not thmk, that 
 submitting to public burdens, evtn though oppressive, laid upon a peo- 
 pie in common, by a prevailing power, amounts to any more than a 
 passive acknowledgment, that might is on the side of the oppressor: 
 and therefore whatever inconsistency may be in expressions, there is 
 no real and substantial ditfLrence, or opposition, between Auchensaugh 
 work and the Presbytery's Testimony. They are the same in their 
 spirit, as appears from the particular, and cautious explication, given 
 by the Presbytery, towards the conclusion of their Testimony, which, 
 if duly and impartially attended to, might contribute to remove our 
 brethren's scruples, on that head." 
 
 It has been objected, that this Deed engages not to go to law before 
 the present Rulers. A. Our Ancestors were of opinion, that no person 
 could go to law without recognising the lawfulness of the authority ; but 
 our Testimony, p. 170, foot note, limits and explains this subject. I 
 write with difHd..;nce here, lest seH-mterest should lead into mistake ; 
 but I think it is possible to apply to the rulers of any society whatever, 
 for redress of acts of injustice, done by their members, contrary to 
 their own law, when there is nothing required, that may either recog- 
 nise the lawfulness of the society, or of its rulers. But, if differences 
 can be settled by fair arbitration of honest men, it is surely preferable ; 
 as there may be forms in fencing couits, loyalty of language in course 
 of the process, and other involvements, that a judicious and consci- 
 entious Dissenter would find difliculty in approving ; and the less he 
 is engaged in that way, so much the bt-tter. 
 
 It has also been objected to this Deed, that our Forefathers were of 
 antifolerant principles. A. Our Ancestors, and all honest Presbyterians, 
 were against all authoritative toleration of gross Heresy, Idolatry, Blas- 
 phemy, and Popery, and were for restraining such as disturbed the peace 
 of Church and State, by opposing the Covenanted uniformity. Such, as 
 know the situation in which they were placed, are sensible, that they had 
 to build with the one hand, and defend the work with the other. They 
 had both Prelacy and the Sectari; s, to contend with ; and both equally 
 opposed the establishment of Presbytery, according to the Word of God. 
 I am aware, that puni&hing with civJ pains lias been much exclaimed 
 
3civ INTRODUCTION. 
 
 against by Glass and his Independent brethren, by several ministers of 
 the Relief Church, and by lukewarm Presbyterians, in different churches. 
 The followinu'- defence of our lieformers on that head has l)een made by 
 a friend to the Reformation cause. His opponent states, that under all civ/l 
 jWJi??5 might be mcluded confiscation of goods, imprisonment, banishment, 
 forfeiting of life and fortune. His rppiy is, " I have heard it affirmed by 
 such as are well acquainted with our Scots laws, that unless the law 
 expressly declares Death to be the punishment, or mentions the pains 
 ©f treason, any other penalty, even the highest annexed to any Parlia- 
 mentary statute, cannot be construed in la',v, to amount to death ; and 
 that, when the punishment hall civil paim, the. judge is at liberty to 
 proportion the punishment to the nature of the crime, and the quality 
 t>t the oftlndf r ; And therefore, where the Covenant was enjoined un- 
 der all civil pains, it appears to me, that no more was intended, than 
 that the refusers of the Covenant should not be admitted into places of 
 power and trust ; and this I humbly judge may be very v/ell vindicated." 
 After quoting the clause of the act after nil civil pains, he subjoins, 
 " Here the reader may obperve, that no higher penalty is decerned against 
 SHch refusers, than excluding them from voice in Parliament." — 
 
 The universal Sovereign of the world has a right to give laws, and to 
 annex penalties to the breach of them, which no creature has a right 
 to change. Our Ancestors desired no more, than that the open violation 
 of God'o law should be punished as that law requires, and they knew 
 no right of conscience, to authorize a man to trample upon the law of 
 his Creator. — See this subject jvdiciously discussed, in Wylie's bons oj Oil, 
 pp. 48, 49. and in Broun's Letters on Toleration. 
 
 In concluding this Introduction, I would seriously advise my brethren 
 in the ministry, while 1 would also take the advice to myself, to ob- 
 serve the signs of the times, the visible symptonss of approaching judg- 
 ments, and as faithful watciimcn on Sion's tow&rs, to set the judgment- 
 trumpet to their mouths, to cry aloud and not to spare, but to shew 
 Jacob their sins, and Israel their transgressions, and to warn the wicked 
 of the evil of their ways, lest they perish in their wickedness, and the 
 Lord require their blood at the watchman'^ hand. Comparing our situ- 
 ation with that of Iferaei and Judah, we will find a strong resemblance : 
 and we ought to follow the example of the prophets, in warning the 
 generation oftheir danger. Breach of Covenant, gross idolatry, shame- 
 ful adultery, obstinate rebellion against God, wilful rejection of the 
 gospel, persecution of the servants and saiiits of God, and incorrigi- 
 hleness under judgments, were the sins which procured the righteous 
 judgments of God against his people. These same sins, with the addi- 
 tional aggravation, of being committed under the clear dispensation of 
 the gospel, are raging among us. We are therefore called upon, to 
 warn the nations of their danger, from the approaching judgments of 
 God, except they repent, and turn from the evij of their ways, before 
 it be too late ; and to invite the people of God, to come into the cham- 
 bers of safety, until the indignation be overpast. In this way, although 
 the wicked die in his iniquity, wc shall have delivered our own souls. 
 
 I would also beseech the members of the church, to study vital reli- 
 gion, and to make sure work of their own personal conversion. A form 
 of godliness, without the power thereof, will be of small importance, 
 ■when you come to die. Be assured, brethren, it is iiot your being for. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xv 
 
 or against, the following Deed, as a Term of Communion, that will evi- 
 dence you to be the real fri^Muls of Christ. Many on both sides are ready 
 to go to extremes, and tn calumniate the characters of one another, 
 and of the ministers of religion,. very wickedly. Severe, harsh, and in- 
 temperate language, does no honour to either party. A good cause 
 does not need it, and a bad one cannot be supported by it — Count the 
 cost, and consider seriously', vfliat is necessary to constitute you faitli- 
 ful witnesses for CIn-ist and his truth. You must, 1. have spiritual life, 
 without which you can perform no living service to God. 2. Know- 
 ledge of doctrine, principle and duty, from the Holy Scriptures, with- 
 out which you cannot distinguish between truth a.id error. 3. Living 
 faith in the atonen'.ent of Christ, witiiout which you cannot please 
 God. 4. Genuine love to God, without which you cannot obey his 
 commandments. 5. You must make a scriptural confession of the 
 name of Christ with your mouth, before men, by worshipping him in 
 spirit and in truth, without which you cannot be his disciples. 6. You 
 must adorn all, by maintaining a conversation as becometh the gospel 
 of Christ, without which you cannot glorify God. I v/ould rejoice to 
 see our church composed of such members. I have no doubt that there 
 are many such in her. I do not at all mean to degrade her. I believe 
 our principles are better than those of others, and that our people are no 
 worse. Still we need a revival in point of practical religion, and a more 
 accurate knowledge of our public profession. — Attend the ordinances of 
 the gospel with holy diligence, and endeavour to profit under them. Es- 
 teem a soul-searching ministry highly, where the unbelief, corruption, 
 enmity, deceitlulness, and desperate wickedness of the heart are laid 
 open. This will prove of infinitely more consequence, than a showy ad- 
 dress, elegant language, theatrical gestiu'e, vain boasting of boundless 
 liberality and new-fangled innovations. These may please the carnal 
 fancy, but can afford no relief to sin-sick souls. The apostle says, " Mr 
 speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of men's wisdom, 
 but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." Great talents v*'ill not 
 supply the place of faitlifulness to (lie Cause of Christ. Mr. Shields seems 
 to have had more depth of theological knowledge, than Messrs. Cameron, 
 Cargiil, and Renwick, united together, and yet they were honoured to 
 seal the Testimony of Jesus with their blood, while Mr. Shields, after 
 having drawn many after him into apostacy by sinful compliance, died 
 in a foreign land, unknown and unlamented. — Beware of every associa- 
 tion, that may lead you aside from your received principles, or draw 
 you into a confederacy with them, that have said A confederacy against 
 Christ and his Cause. Union among Christians is a most de.slrable ob- 
 ject, when it lias truth and holiness at the foundation. It is in the pro- 
 mise that God will give his people one heart and one way; Jer. xxxii. 
 39 ; and they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion, 
 Isa. lii. 8. Then, and not till then, will the friends of Christ unite cor- 
 dially together. In all proposed unions of different denominations, it 
 ought to be seriously considered, if the grounds, on which they were 
 forinerly separate, be removed ; — if either or both parties have changed 
 to the better ; — if the corrupt parts of their principles, which led to 
 
 the stating of a public testimony against them, be relinquished ; and 
 
 if nothing of this kind has been done, no union in the way of truth can 
 fee effected. In joining popular societies, we are to judje of their 
 
xvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 systems, not by feelings, or mere outward appearances, but aecordiag^ 
 to the Holy Scriptures. We are carefully to examine, if the constitu- 
 tion be according to the Divine word ; — if the rulers be the open friends, 
 or enemies of the true religion ; — if the persons, sent to dispense the or- 
 dinances of religion, be sent according to the Divine rule ; — if the ordi- 
 nances dispensed by them be dispensed according to the Word ; — and if 
 the effects produced be such, as the Scripture accounts good fruits. 
 If these be awanting, no inward piety, no coaimon gifts or talents, no 
 anxiety to do good, are sufficient to constitute a Christian minister* 
 The Scripture does not say. How shall they preach, except tliey be 
 pious ? except they be gifted ? except they be in earnest to do good ? 
 but. How shall they preach except they be .neiit? No rapiurous emo- 
 tions of joy, no awful feelings of terror, no common illuiuiaatioii of the 
 Spirit ; not even being made partakers of the heavenly gift, or having tast- 
 ed of the powers of the world to corns, will certainly evidence the i'eaUty 
 of religion in the soul, without spiritual life by union to Christ, a scrip- 
 tural knowledge of God, in the revealed perfections of his nature, ge- 
 nuine faith in Christ, embracing him in all his offices, repentance unto 
 life, and evangelical holiness — It is a great gift to be able to try and 
 discern the spirits whether they be of God ; for many false teachers arc 
 gone out into the world. Satan's ministers transformed as the minister.-^ 
 of righteousness have deceived many, O pray much, that you may be 
 preserved from their corrupt influence. 
 
 Let parents remember the solemn responsibility, which attaches to 
 them, in bringing up their children, in the good old way of the Cove- 
 nanted Reformation, according to their baptismal engagements. — Let 
 children attend to the vows of God which lie upon them, to renounce 
 the service of the Devil, the world, and the flesh ; to abstain from ail 
 appearance of evil, and not to touch, taste, nor handle, with the in- 
 snaring amusements of this degenerate age ; but earnestly to pray, that 
 the Lord would give them the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus, 
 keep tliem from the paths in which destroyers go, and prepare them by 
 his grace, for his everlasting kingdom. Amen. 
 
 The Reason of publishing this Deed at present is, on account of its 
 scarceness, that the members of the church may have the opportunity 
 of perusing it, with religious attention ; and may plead with the Lord, at 
 a throne of grace, that he would have respect to his Covenant, and keej*' 
 his church and people faithful to himself, in the midst of evil days. 
 
 It is to be observed, that the following work is now approved by tlie 
 Church, as it is qualified, limited, and explained, in her J'ublic Testi- 
 mony. And, that it may be blessed for proaiotiug the giary of God,, 
 aad the peace and prosperity of Ziou, is the sincere desire of 
 
 THOMAS HENDERSON. 
 Kilmalcolm, ^ 
 2Uh Dec. 1819. i 
 
 N. B. The Writer alone is responsible for the contents of the Intvo- 
 Auction and Appendix, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It is the Ineffable product of etefnal love, and infinite condescen- 
 sion in God toward his rational creatures, that ever he was pleas- 
 ed to make a covenant with them, and not to command and 
 require obedience to his holy and just will, by virtue oF his most 
 absolute supremacy and rightful dominion only ; but even to sup- 
 eradd sweet and precious pi'omises, as a reward of that obedience, 
 which he might of right have required, without giving any such 
 incitements or persuasives to it. And as no tongue of men or 
 angels is sufficient to express, no strength of imagination to con- 
 ceive, no sublimity of intellectual faculties to comprehend the 
 depth of that spring, and breadth of that ocean of unbounded 
 love, which hath exerted itself in God's covenanting with man ; 
 yea, with sinful man, by means of a Mediator : so shall it always 
 afford matter of wonder and admiration to all finite and intelligent 
 beings, to the ages of eternity, and shall never be comprehend- 
 ed by any, but by Him whose understanding is infinite ; wherefore 
 He, who is all-sufficient and self-sufficient, should invite, yea, 
 press and entreat unworthy indigent nothings, the sinful children 
 of men, to such an incomparable degree of honour, dignity and 
 advancement, as that is, to enter into a covenant relation, and 
 come into a solemn treaty of peace and conjunction with Him, 
 who is infinitely removed beyond all blesing and all praise. To 
 have this invitation, is indeed the honour and privilege of all with- 
 in the visible church, to whose ears the joyful sound of the glori- 
 ous gospel of Jesus Cin-ii^t hath come : but few are so wise as to 
 accept and improve it. Many, too many account themselves un- 
 worthy of this honour, and by despising this privilege, and re- 
 jecting this dignity, deprive themselves of the greatest happiness ; 
 but as all nations, upon whom the day-star of the gospel hath 
 arisen, have had the invitation to this duty, and all sound and 
 real believers have actually participated of this honour, to have 
 God making a covenant with them, and they striking hands with 
 Him through a Mediator (which covenant is commonly termed 
 the Covenant of Grace,) so these three kingdoms of Scotland, 
 England, and Ireland conjunctly, and Scotland by itself, as an 
 independent nation, had in an eminent way and manner the ho- 
 nour, above most nations in the world, to dedicate and surren- 
 der themselves to the Lord, by a most voluntary, free afid de- 
 liberate choice, and to come under the bond of a most solemn 
 oath, in a most religious raanner, devoting their all to Christ, his 
 interest and honour, the flourishing and thriving of his kingdom, 
 the success of his gospel, and reformation of his churches; and 
 openly avouchinaj him for their Lord and Master^ to the hoKOUi!: 
 
 A 
 
- PREFACE. 
 
 of his name, and confusion of his enemies : v/hich Covenants 
 National and Solnnn League, though we look not upon them 
 to be the same with the covenant of grace, yet we conceive of 
 them, as a soieiun superadded and mw (;bligation, tying us to all 
 the duties, as v.'ell of a paviicular Christian conversation, as these 
 "which tend to the public and national advancement of reformation 
 in religion, whereof the covenant of grace is the spring and foun- 
 dati' >n 
 
 These covenants, as they were the tffects and consequents of 
 many remarkable and signal expressions of divine love and 
 goodness, many singular mercies and deliverances vouchsafed 
 to the^e nations, as the nturn of many earnest prayers and wrest- 
 lings of the Lord's people with him ; so they were the occasions 
 of many blessings, and great indications of God's favour and lov- 
 ing-kindness. Then the Lord delighted to dwell in the na- 
 tions; then did he beautify the place of his sanctuary : then did 
 lie fiii his people's fiearts with joy and gladness, by the familiar 
 intimations of his »pecia] love and down jjourings of his Spirit's 
 gracious influences, as our land can afford many instances. Then 
 did he enlarge his {x-ople's affections, and animate their spirits 
 with zeal and courage, attended with knowledge, prudence, and 
 discretion to act for him, and advance his kingdom. Then did 
 he illustrate hi- churches in these kingdoms, as bright and spark- 
 ling stars arising out of the thick clouds of Antichristian darkness, 
 and getting out from under Prelatic and Erastian yokes of bond- 
 age and slavery, and made them go forth as the meridian sun 
 glorious and excellent, terrible as an army with banners. Hence 
 it came to pas>., that these nations sent out a savoury report to 
 all the neighbouring reformed churches, a report which com- 
 forted, revivt'd, strengthened, animated and cmcouraged all the 
 true and loyal subjects of Christ's kingdom ; which struck ter- 
 ror and amazement to the hearts of his enemies ; which shook 
 and caused to tremble the pillars of Antichrist's kingdom, and 
 disquieted the very foundations of the seat of 'hat beast; which 
 made malignauts at home anti abroad to be ashamed and con- 
 founded, and even forced the haters of the Lord /o /ezgw sm/;?«25- 
 sion to him. Numberless were the advantages and privileges 
 •which did redound to these nations by, and were the lovely at- 
 tendants and sweet constquents otj these covenants; whereby 
 God tiid set to tiis seal of a};probation, and gave clear evidence 
 and demonstration of Ijis acceijtance of his people's cheerful and 
 willing advc'ntures in this duty of covenanting with him : and as 
 these blessings and mercies, which, as the dew of Hermon, were 
 distilled upon his peopl-'s heads and hearts, while they abode 
 stedfast with him, and faithful in his covenant, were so many ir- 
 refragable proofs of his acquiescence in their first and laudable 
 unfi rtc'-k'ngs; so the many sad and fearful plagues, distractions,. 
 f;onfusions, and miseries, which have attended and followed the 
 
PREFACE. S 
 
 many gross breaches and violntions of these covenants, and de- 
 partures from God, are no less evid. nt dis-coveries, uncUniable 
 signs and pregnant convictions of thf Loui's most just displea- 
 sure and indignation with the bypast and present ((;urses ot re- 
 volting and backsliding from him : wliich courses of declension 
 and grievous apostatizing from God snid his covenant, all the 
 three kingdoms, and in special this nation, and every individual 
 therein, capable of such a work, are, without all c( i-troversy, cal- 
 led to btwail and confess before God, and by speedy an-endment 
 to turn from them, in order to avert judgments, and turn away 
 justly impendent wrath and long thrtataied strok-s. 
 
 The consideration of these blessings and b: nelits, on the one 
 hand, which followed the zealous entering into, and sincere per- 
 forming ot these sacred oaths ; and upon the uther Ijand, the 
 sense we desire to retain of the plagues and curses threatened by 
 God in his word against covenant-breaking, inflicted upon co- 
 venant-breakers in former ages, and foreign nations, and visibly 
 impending upon us in these nations, for our perfidious dealing in 
 God's covenant ; liath moved us a poor iT/sig?7?Ji'canf handful of 
 people^ unworthy indeed to be called the posterity ot our zealous 
 reforming ancestors, though heartily desirous to be found adher- 
 ers to the same standard of doctrine', worship, discipline and go- 
 vernment to which they adhered, to attempt this solemn and 
 weighty duty of renewing (in our capacities and stations) these 
 covenant obligations, that we might at leaiit give some discovery 
 of our respect to the cause of God, for the advancement and 
 preservation whereof these covenants v/ere first entered into, and 
 afterwards again and again renewed by our religious progenitors, 
 and by the whole representative body of the three kingdoms, 
 who had any zeal for the interest of religion. And that we 
 might, for our parts, be in some measure instrumental to trans- 
 mit a testimony for the work of God in our land to the succeed- 
 ing generation. Neither do wc want, beside these general mo- 
 tives, some special inducements to this undertaking. As I. Be- 
 cause these national covenants, having been nationally broken, 
 and their funeral piles erected by wicked and perfidious rulers 
 in the capital cities of the kingdom, with ail in.aginahle ignominy 
 and contempt, have long lien buried and (almost) quite forgot- 
 ten under these ashos ; most people either hating the very name 
 and remembrance of them., or at least being ashamed honoura- 
 bly to avouch their adherence to them, and afraid to endeavour a 
 vigorous and constant prosecution ot the duties contained in them : 
 So that it is high time that every one should do his utmost to- 
 wards a reviving oi them. 2. Because many openly declare their 
 sorrow and grief that ever these covenants should have been en- 
 tered into : malignants calling them a conspiracy, attributing 
 every miscarriage of the persons engaged in them to the covenants 
 themselves as their native effects ; and others, v/ho would take 
 
> PREFACE. 
 
 it ill to be called malignants, making them the causes of all the 
 tyranny, rapine, bloodshed and persecution of the late reigns, 
 as having raised the spleen of the enemies of religion, and ac- 
 counting it safer that they should lie still in their graves, than that 
 they should irritate malignants any more by their resurrection. 
 Therefore we judge it our duty to renew them, that we might 
 evidence, that notwithstanding all these malicious calumnies and 
 false consequences cast upon them, we are still of the same judg- 
 ment with our reformers, that they are the most sovereign means, 
 under the blessing of God, for reviving and preserving the work 
 of God in the land. 3. Bt cause of the courses that are carried 
 on in direct opposition to these covenants ; the nations, formerly 
 cemented in peace and love in conjunction with truth and righte- 
 ousness, having broken these bonds, and united themselves upon 
 another footing, by the late sinful incorporating union : and im- 
 posing new oaths in opposition to the covenant; such as the ab- 
 juration, &c. granting licence, protection, and toleration to all 
 the evils abjured in the covenant; as heresies and errors in doc- 
 trine, s-uperstition in worship. Prelacy and Erastiunism in go- 
 vernment, and overthrowing all good discipline. 4. Because of 
 our own sinful miscarriages in, and woful declinings from our 
 covenanted duties, our proneness to break covenant with God, 
 and to be indifferent, lax, negligent, and unstedfast in the cause 
 and work of God, and to be ltd away with the error of the wick- 
 ed, and to fall from our stcdfastness ; wherefore we thought it 
 necessary to bind ourselves by a new tie to the Lord, and one 
 to another in a zealous prosecution of covenanted duties, that 
 the covenant might be as a hedge to keep us fiom running out 
 into the paths of destroyers. 5. We being sincerely desirous and 
 having an earnest longing to celebrate the sacred ordinance of 
 the Lord's Supper, whereof many had unjustly called us despis- 
 ers and contemners, and finding it to have been the laudable 
 practice of the church of Scotland formerly, that all such as were 
 admitted to that holy table, should swear and subscribe the co- 
 venant before their coming thereunto ; we judged it a fit prepara- 
 tive for our receiving a sacramental confirmation of God's cove- 
 nanted love and favour to us, through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 that we should avouch him for our God, and testify our adherence 
 to his cause and truth, by our renewing of our national covenants 
 >vith him. 
 
 Upon these and the like weighty considerations we resolved to 
 set about this solemn and tremendous tiuty ; and being assured, 
 that we have no sufiiciency in ourselves for any such undertak- 
 ing, after frequent imploring the Lord for light and direction, 
 strength and assistance, and seeking for ourselves a right way 
 in the performance of the duty, upon days of humiliation, both in 
 our private societies, and publicly in the fields, we did condescend 
 upon the following acknotdedgemeni of sins, the more to enable us 
 
PREFACE. s ' 
 
 Xa remember our own, and the land's breaches of covenant, in 
 our solemn public confession thereof; and did draw up the follow- 
 ing engagement to duties, not to superadd any new oath and obli- 
 gation to the covenants, but only to adjust the articles of the 
 covenant to the circumstances of the time, and to explain in what 
 sense the covenant binds us against the present evils, that are 
 now prevalent in the land, and to the contrary duties. As for 
 the covenants thcniselveS; we made no material alteration in 
 them, as judging it a work more proper for an assembly of di- 
 vines, or representative body of church and state (had they 
 bet-n upright and faithful in this cause) than for us, who, as we 
 are caiiiti by others in contempt, must own ourselves in truth 
 to be, but a hanciful oj xvealc, aiid most illiterate people, and but as 
 babes in comparison of the first framers of our covenants ; only 
 that we might make them in some measure accommodable to the 
 present lamentable circumstances, whereinto we are involved by 
 our iniquities, we have annoted some few necessary alterations 
 upon the margin, wherein the judicious will find, that we have 
 in nothmg receded fro tu the scope and substance of the covenants, 
 but only in the phrasf ; for instance, where the covenant binds 
 to the defence and preservatio?i of the kings majesty, and govern- 
 ment, in regard we have no king, nor supreme civil magistrate, 
 so qualified as God's law and the laudable laws of this realm re- 
 quire, to whom we might, for conscience sake, subject ourselves, 
 in a consistency with our defending the true reformed religion in 
 all its parts and privileges : Therefore we can only bind our- 
 selves, to defend and. prserve the honour, authority and majesty of 
 laivful sovereigns, or supreme magistrates, having the qiialificatioug 
 aforesaid, when God shall be pleased to grant them to us. Where 
 no judicious person will say, that there is any substantial al- 
 teration, as to the viatter of the duty, but only as to the object 
 to whom the duty is to be performed; there being none such in 
 beuig, as can justly claim, or to whom we may with a good con- 
 science pay such an allegiance. 
 
 Having mutually agreed concerning these prerequisites to this 
 sacred action, that the same might be orderly gone about, and 
 might not be performed in a clandestine way, so as to preclude 
 any upright hearted friends to the covenanted reformation, from 
 joining with us in that so necessary a duty: there was public in- 
 timation made of the design, a competent space of time before, 
 upon a day ot humiliation ; and likewise upon the Lord's day 
 immediately preceding the v,ork. 
 
 As for the particular way and manner, method and circum- 
 stances of the work, we had not given any narrative of them ; 
 but that some, who came with an evil eye, to spy out our liberty, 
 for criticising, not for joining or profiting, have in part mis- 
 represented the same, and may further do so ; therefore, to ob- 
 viate all such niisreports we have thought fit to make this brief 
 relation thereof. 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 Upon Wednesday, July 23d, these that had the work in de- 
 sign, being niet together, the minister began the day's work with 
 prayer for special assistance to attain due preparation tor, and 
 a suitable frame, throughout the whole solemnity : and thereafter 
 had a prefatory discourse tc» the people, showing the nature of 
 the work in general, its lawfulness, expediency and necessity, 
 from seripture precedents, and approven examples of the people 
 of God, adducing the 9th chapter of Ezra, Neh. Ezek. Dan. 
 and Neh. x. 28, 29. for proof thereof; and of the day in parti- 
 cular, that it was a day of fasting and supplication, with preach- 
 ing of the word, in order to preparation for the solemnities in- 
 tended, both of renewing the covenants and celebrating the sa- 
 crament of the Lord's Supper. After which a part of the 
 Ixxviii. Psalvn, from the 5 to the 12 verse, being sung, Mr John 
 M'Niel preacher of the gospel, had a sermon upon Jer. I. 4. & 5. 
 " In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the childr- ii of 
 *' Israel shall come, tihey and the children of Judah tog. liier, 
 *' going and weeping : they shall go and seek the Lord their God. 
 *' They shallask the way to Zioii, with their faces thitherward, 
 " saying, Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a per- 
 *« petual covenant that shall not be forgotten." From which 
 text he raised and prosecuted largely and particularly these two 
 following observations, as most pertinent for the work of the day ; 
 the first implicitly supposed, the other more explicitly asserted 
 in the words; viz. I. That, A people i?i coxmiant laith God may 
 he forgetful oJ\ and deal falsph/ in their covenant ; or that, cove- 
 nant-takers may be covenant- breakers. 2. That, It is the duty of 
 a people^ who have broke?i covenaiit with God, to engage themselves 
 again to the Lord^ hij the renovation of their covenant. Where in 
 prosecuting the former, he showed by what gradual steps of de- 
 clension a people usually come to deal falsely in Gxl's covenant, 
 such as, (1.) By forgetfulncss, Deut. iv. 23. There being a con- 
 nection between forgetting and forsaking, or dealing falsely in 
 God's covenant, so the church intimates, Psal. xliv. 17, 18. " All 
 " this is come upon: us; yet have we not lorgotten thee, neither 
 ^' have we dealt falsely in thy covenant; Our heart is not turned 
 *• back, neither have our steps declined from thy way." And the 
 returning remnant of Israel, being sensible of this connection, 
 resolve to bind themselves to the Lo?d, in a perpetual covenant 
 that maxj never be forgotten. (2.) By seeking shifts and arguments 
 to elude and evade the obligation of the covenant and to defend 
 the brenches thereof; which is after vows to make inquiry. 
 (3.) By despising the bond of it; Ezek. xvi. 59. " Which hast 
 *' despised the oath, in breaking the covenant." (4-.) By defec- 
 tion to the iniquities which are sworn and engaged against in the 
 covenant, Jer. xi. 10. " They are turned back to the iniquities 
 " of their fore-fathers, which refused to hear my words; and 
 *^ they went after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel 
 
PREFACE. '^7 
 
 «* and the house of Juduh have broken my covenaur, wlilch I 
 *' made with their tatliers." (5.) By changing the govern menit, 
 laws and ordinances sworn to be maintained in the covenant; 
 either the govi-niment of the .state, without consulting divine 
 direction, aiid due inspection into the qualification of the persons 
 set up. Hos. viii. compare the 1st and 4th verses, <^ They have 
 " transgressed my covenant, &c. They have set up king-;, hut 
 " not by me, pruices and I knew it not;" that i-, without cinsult- 
 ing me to know my will, and without my approbation and con- 
 sent: or the government of the church, without regard to the 
 revealed will of God. Thus, Abijah justly cliftrgeth Jeroboam, 
 that he had " cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aai on^ 
 *' and the l.evites," and that he had " made priests after the 
 *' manner of the nations of other lands;" But encourages him 
 *' self, that he and Judah had the Lord for their God, because 
 " they had not forsaken him ; and the priests which ministered 
 " unto the Lord were of the sons of Aaron." 2 Chron. xiii. 9, 
 .10. (6.) By an entire forsaking and disowning the obligation 
 
 of the covenant, Dan. xi. 30. " He -shall have intelligence 
 
 *' with them that forsake the holy covenant." (7.) By a stated 
 opposition to the covenant, and persecuting of these who adhere 
 thereunto. Thus Elijaii justly charges Israel, 1 Kings xix. 10. 
 " That they had forsaken God's covenant, because they had 
 " thrown down his altars, slain his prophets, and stnight after 
 *« Elijah's life." And in an use of lamentation deduced from 
 the foresaid doctrine, he shewed, that all ranks in the land had 
 reason to mourn over their breach ot covenant, in regard thai 
 some of all ranks, from tlie throne to the dunghill, in church and 
 state, are, or have been guilty of dealing falsely in God's cove- 
 nant, in ail and every one of these diverse ways, and of declining 
 from it: and in regaid, that there has been so much ignominy and 
 contempt cast upon these sacre<l covenants, not only by breaking; 
 them openly ; but also avowedly disowning and disdaining their 
 obligation, and making the adherence to them criminal; and 
 which is above all, burning them by the hand of the hangman ; 
 and burying them so long in forgetfulness ; this guiltiness he ap- 
 plied not to great persons only ; but also to professors, to mi- 
 nisters and particularly to ourselves, who are called dissenters 
 from the present establishment; pressing upon u.s, no less than 
 others, the absolute and indispensible necessity of being con- 
 vinced of, and mourning over these, not as the sins of others 
 only, but also as our own ; we having a chief hand in the trc.-- 
 pass, pressing upon all present, concerned in the work, the duty 
 of self-examination, and putting themselves to the trial, concern- 
 ing their knowledge of the covenant obligations, both as to their 
 natui'e and extent, as well as their sense of the breaches of these 
 -obligations. 
 
 In the second head of doctrJne^ viz, T':at it is ihe dviy of c 
 
S PREFACE. 
 
 people "doJio have hroJcen covenant with God, to engage themxelves 
 again to him, by renovdion of their covenant; after proviiia- the 
 pr<>j).)sitioa by several heads of arguments deduced, 1st, From 
 the lawfulness of entering into covenant with God, whether per- 
 soinl, as Jacob, Gen. xxviii 20, 21. or ceconomical, as Joshua 
 a>u( his family, Jos!i. xxiv. 15. or national, as God brought 
 his people Isruel under a covenant with himself, Exod. xix. 5. 
 The consequence holding undeniably, that if it be lawful ^and 
 siecessary, in any of these respects, to enter into covenant with 
 God, it must needs be also lawful and a duty to renew the same 
 after the breach thereof. 2dly, From scripture precedents of the 
 people of God, who after breaking off and declining from God's 
 covenant, renewed the same. As for instance, the covenant made 
 with Israel at Horeb, was renewed at the plains of Moab, Deut. 
 xxxix. By Joshua, chap. xxiv. By Asa, 2 Chron. xv. 13, 14. Bj 
 Jehoiadah, 2 Kings xi. 17. By Hezekiah, 2 Cliron. xxix. lO, 
 By Josiah, 2 Kings Ixxiii. 2. By Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezra 
 x. 3. Neh. ix, ult. and x. 28, 29. 3dly, From scripture pre- 
 cepts, Deut. xxix. 1. " These are the words of the covenant 
 " which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the chil- 
 " dren of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which 
 "he made with tliem in Horeb." Psal, Ixxvi. II. "Vow, 
 *' and pay unto the Lord your God." 4-thly, From scripture 
 promises, wherein the Lord promiseth as a blessing and mercy 
 to his church and people, that they should renew their covenant 
 with him, Isaiah xix. 21, 23 — 25. Zcch. ii. 11. For further op- 
 ening of the proposition these two questions were proposed and 
 solved, First, \Vhether all persons who have broken covenant 
 with God may be admitted to renew the same? Ansxoer, All 
 sorts of persons in the three kingdoms are under the obliga- 
 tion of the covenant, and consequently bound to renew and keep 
 it inviolable ; but all are not in present capacity, and therefore 
 have no actual right to enter into covenant: such as are obstinate- 
 ly wicked, living in error, profanity, or malignancy, have not 
 God's call and right from hin), as such, to renew a covenant with 
 him; for Psal. I. 16, 17. " God says to the wicked. What hast 
 *' thou to do to take my covenant in thy mouth?" But all such 
 as are reforuied, or reforming from all iniquity, and namely from 
 the defections and compliances of the time; who have some suit- 
 able sense of the breaches, and competent knowledge and under- 
 standing of the duties engaged unto in the covenant, Nch. x. 2S, 
 have a right and an immediate call to the duty of renewing the 
 covenant. 2dly, If any number of people may renevv a national 
 oath and covenant withoul. the consent and concurrence of royal 
 authority, or at least, wilhout the concurrence of some chief and 
 principal men in church and state? Answer, Without the con- 
 currence of church autl state, a covenant cannot be taken or re- 
 newed nationally, speaking strictly ; yet a few may publicly dc-' 
 
PREFACE. b 
 
 tlare their adherence to their covenant-engagements by renewing 
 thein, not only without the consent and concurrence of authori- 
 ty, but against it : and there are several precedents for so doing, 
 both before and since the established reformation. As for in- 
 stance, that covenant at Edinburgh, Anno 1557, at Perth, 1559, 
 at Stirling, the same year. Another at Leith, Anno 1560. Ano- 
 ther at Air, ib62. And at Lanark a small handful of the Lord's 
 people renewed it in direct opposition to, and at Lesniahago, 
 without the consent or concurrence of, authority ; which in- 
 stances may be both an inducement, and encouragement to us 
 to renew, and in our mean capacity, to testify to the nation our 
 approbation of, and adherence to these covenants. 
 
 In the prosecution of this doctrine he had occasion also to 
 insist upon the reasons or motives, and mannet^ of entering into 
 covenant. The scope and argument of the reasons adduced as 
 motives to the duty of covenanting v/as to this effect. 
 
 1. The turning away of the Lord's wrath and anger from a 
 land or people, which covenant-breaking hath deserved, may be 
 a motive to renewing covenant with God ; this was the motive that 
 prompted that good reforming King Hezekiah to make a cove- 
 nant with the Lord, 2 Chrort. xxix. 10. " Now it is in mine 
 " heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that 
 " his fierce wrath may turn away from us." And Nehemiah, 
 ivith the returned captives, Neh. ix. 38. " And because of all 
 '' this, we make a sure covenant." 
 
 2. Reviving and advancement in reformation, being the ordi- 
 nary consequent and effect of upright covenanting with the Lord, 
 may be another motive and inducement thereunto ; thi:i appears 
 both in personal and national covenanting : In personal, Psal. 
 exix. 106. " I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will 
 " keep thy righteous judgments." His having sworn was a very 
 quickening consideration, to excite him to the performance of 
 his duty. In national covenanting, we always find, after the 
 people of Israel and Judah had covenanted with the Lord, they 
 made progress in reformation, and the land was purged of the 
 abominations and the idols ; Thus it was in Asa's covenant, 2 
 Chron. XV. 12 to 19. for there, the people having entered into a 
 covenant with the Lord, " arid sworn with all their soul, and with 
 " all their heart — the Lord was found of them : — and Asa remov- 
 ** ed his mother, Maachah, from her royal dignity, and stamped 
 *< the idol which she had made, and burnt it at the brook Kidron ; 
 " — and he brought into the house of the Lord the things that his 
 " father and himself had dedicated." Thus it was also in Jehoi- 
 ada's covenant, which he made " between the Lord, and the 
 " King and the people, that they should be the Lord's people," 2 
 Kings xi. 17, 18, 20. For immediately after the making of this 
 covenant, " all the people of the land went into the hovise of 
 '' Baal, and brake it down, his altars, and hh images brake they 
 
 B 
 
JO PREFACE. 
 
 "in pieces throughly ;— and the priest appointed officers over 
 *' the house of the L( rcl ; — and they slew Atlialiah with the sword." 
 The like is evident in Hezekiah's covenanting, 2 Chron. xxix. 
 XNx. xxxi. chapters, and in Josiah's, 2 Chron. xxxiv. xxxv. 
 chapters. 
 
 ti. This upright renewing of covenant with the Lord is a way 
 and mean to procure many mercies, both spiritual and temporal, 
 from the hand of the Lord; which should be a strong inducement 
 and motive to engage us thereunto. Spiritual mercies are entailed 
 upon it, Deut. xxix. 12, 13. " That thou shouldest enter into 
 " covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the 
 " Lord thy God maketh with thee this day : That he may estab- 
 " lihh thee to-day lor a people to himself, and that he may be 
 " unto ihee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath 
 *« sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." 
 Teii:})oral mercies are also promised to this upright ixnewingand 
 keeping covenant, Deut. xxix. 9. " Keep ihcrelore the words 
 " ol'this covenant, and do them, that ye nniy prosper in all that 
 " ye do." And it is, rcniiuked, 2 Chron. xv. 15. that after Asa's 
 " covenant, the Lord gave them rest round about." 
 
 4. The malice and opposition of the Popish, Prelatical, and 
 tuaiigriant party against the covenants, i\iu\ their doing what in 
 them lies, to make their obligation void and null, may be a mo- 
 tive and argument for the people of God so much the more to 
 avouch their respect to them by a public adherence, especiaiiy af- 
 ter long continued breaches. 
 
 5. Upright entering into, or renewing covenant with God is a 
 most sovereign medicine for healing a people's breaches, as well 
 as their backslidings, the covenant being a cement, as well to 
 join and unite the people of God one to another, as all of them 
 in their duty to God : And as it flows from the nature of the cov- 
 enant to unite the friends of reformation, so it is observable as one 
 of the peculiar Iruits of covenant-renewing, that union in the 
 Lord has followed thereupon : Thus it was with Israel and Judah 
 in the text, who united together in making a covenant with the 
 Lord. Whence all the people of God, who are called to be 
 united and " perfectly joined together in the same spirit, and in 
 " the same mind ;" and especially they who have been lamenta- 
 bly divided one irom another, by their manifold defections from 
 God, and from their covenant-engagements, ought to be strongly 
 inclined, moved, and engaged to this duty, from this considera- 
 tion, that upright covenant-renewing is an usual mean of land- 
 uniting and church- uniting dispositions amongst the people of 
 God. 
 
 As for the manner of renewing covenant with God, and how 
 the duty ought to be gone about, he propounded and opened it 
 in the following particulars, to this effect : 
 
 1. That it must be done with understanding and judgment^ 
 
PREFACE. 11 
 
 both in relation to the nature of the duties we engage to perform, 
 in the covenant ; gro^ly ignorant persons being justly (h privcii of 
 the privilege of engaging in covenant, though bour.d to inlorm 
 themselves of its nature and obligation; and also in relation to 
 the breaches, such as would engage into it being called to have 
 some suitable sense and understanding, both how it has been vio- 
 lated, and by whnt means persons couje to be guilty of the breach 
 thereof. 80, Neh. x. 2m, 29. " every one that had knowledge 
 " and understanding entered into the covenant." 
 
 2. This duty must be gone about with sincerity and upright- 
 ness of heart : thus Joshua, when making a covenant with the 
 people, that they should serve the Lord, exhorts them, " Now 
 therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truiii '* 
 Joshua xxiv. compare the 25lh verse with the 1 tth. The want of 
 which qualification in covenant-renewing, causes unstedfiistness 
 and perfidy in covenant-performing, Psal. Ixxviii. 36, 37. 
 
 3. Tijis duty of covenant-renewing requires as a qualification 
 towards the right performing of it, that there be a due considera- 
 tion, and some suitable imj)ression of the sokmnmss and weighti- 
 ness of the work; which ariseth, partly from the object, or piuij/ 
 covenarifed with, a holy and jealous God, Joshua xxiv. 19. " He 
 *' is a holy God, he is a jealous God, he will not forgive your 
 "transgressions, nor your sins." Partly iVom {he subjrct matter 
 covenanted, or engaged to ; the articles of the covenant of gt;ice, 
 which we have professedly, at least, yielded to in our baptism, 
 are weighty ; for therein, as God engages to give us himself, his 
 Son Christ Jesus, and in him all temporal and eternal blessings : 
 so we engage to be obedient children, and faithful subjects to 
 him all the days of our lives. And the articles of these national 
 covenants are weighty, for therein we engage to great things re- 
 lating to the glory of God, and good of our own and other's souls. 
 And partly this weightiness ariseth from the great danger and 
 dreadful punishment of breaking the covenant ,• which is threatened 
 in many places of scripture. The same is also intimated to us 
 in the customs both of the Jews and Heathens, in entering into 
 covenant; particularly we find, that the Jews used to cut a calf, 
 or some other clean beast, in twain, and pass between the parts 
 of it, using this, or the like form of speech, as the Jewish doc- 
 tors relate, " So God divide or separate me, if I keep not this co- 
 " venant." Jer. xxxiv. 18. compared with verse 20. " 1 will give 
 " the men (into the hands of their enemies) who have transgressed 
 " my covenant, which they had made before me, when they cut 
 " the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof." Ne- 
 hemiah also, chap. v. 12, 13. when he took an oath of the priests, 
 shook his lap and said, " So God shake out every man from his 
 " house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise," 
 SfC. And all the covenanters said, " Amen." 
 
 ^. Much tenderness and heart-melting is requisite to the right 
 
It PREFACE. 
 
 performing of this duty. So it wt^h with covenant-renewing Israel 
 and Judah, who were " weeping as they went to s,ctk the Lord 
 *' their God, and to make a covenant never to be lorgotien." 
 This brokenness of heart, and tender- nielting frame may arise, 
 both from the consideration of the many sins and iniquities, 
 whereby persons have provoked the Lord their God to anger, 
 whence they come " to be hke doves of the valley, every one 
 •' mourning for his iniquit}^" And likewise from the considera^ 
 tion of the grace and mercy of God, manifested in Christ Jesus, 
 his condescension to enter into a covenant with shiful man, and 
 readiness, upon his people's repentance, to pardon their former 
 breaches ; from the consideration of this transcendently free grace, 
 a humble and sincere covenanter will be transported into an extasy 
 of wonder and admiration; as the church is, Mic. vii. 18, 19, 
 20. *' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, 
 " and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his herir 
 tage ?" &c. 
 
 5. Dependency and recumbency upon the Lord by faith, for 
 strength to perform covenant-engagements, is requisite to right 
 covenanting, Isa. xxvii. 5. " Let him take hold of my strength, 
 " that he may make peace with tne, and he shall make peace with 
 *' me." This is to take hold of God's covenant^ Lsa. Ivi. 4. 
 
 6. Affection to God and the duties whereunto we engage, is 
 requisite to right covenanting, and that in its flower and vigour, 
 height and supremacy. Thus, 2 Chron. xv. 12, 15. Asa and the 
 people " entered into a covenant, to seek the Lord God of their 
 " fathers w^ith all their heart, and with all their soul, and all Ju- 
 *' dah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, 
 *' and sought him with their whole desire :" They had an afli^c- 
 tion to the work, and did it with complacency, not in dissimula- 
 tion, so as not to design to perJorm it ; nor through compulsion, 
 v/ith an eye to secular profit or preferment, as many in these 
 lands did. 
 
 7. It is necessary in order to right covenanting, that the work 
 be gone about with a firm purpose and resolution (through grace 
 enabling us) to adhere to our covenant-engagements, notwithstand- 
 ing of whatever opposition and pert^ecution we may meet with from 
 the world for so doing, and of whatever difficulties and discour- 
 agements may arise from the multitude of those, who prove un- 
 stedfast in, or foully forsake their covenant. We must stand to 
 our covenant, as it is said of Josiah, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 32. That 
 " he caused all that were present in Judah and Benjamin, to stand 
 " to" the covenant, which implies as well a firm resolution to per-r 
 form, as consent to engage, as in the latter part of the verse, it is 
 remarked, " That the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to 
 *' the covenant of God, the God of their fathers ;" where doing 
 according to the covenant, is exegetical of standi?ig to it. David al- 
 so joins the resolution of performance with swearing; Psal. cxix. 
 
PREFACE. U 
 
 J06. '•' I liave sworn, and I will perform, that I will keep thy 
 " righteous judgments." 
 
 From the doctrine thus confirmed and explained, he drew this 
 intiprence, by way of information. That seeing it is a people's duty, 
 who have broken covenant with the Lord, to engage themselves 
 again to him, by renewing their covenant, then it is not arbitrary 
 for us (as many are apt to think) to renew, or not to renew our 
 covenant ; but that there is a plain and positive necessity tor our 
 repenting and returning again to the Lord, by entering of new 
 into covenant with him, whether personal made in bajHism, or at 
 the Lord's table, or under affliction and trouble, or national vows 
 and covenants entered into by ourselves or our fathers. And in an 
 use of lamentation, he bewailed the backwardness of thtse lands, 
 and particularly of this nation, to this duty ; in that, now after 
 sixty years ant! upwiirds oi great defections from, and grievous 
 breaches of, our covenants by people ot all ranks; yi t tliere ftp- 
 pears so little sense either of the obligations or breaches ol^'them, 
 and of a disposition to reviviug of them, even amongst thtse 
 who not only profess some love to the refor.mation of leligi- 
 on, but even sou;e belief of their per[)etual binding obligation; 
 and that notwithstanding, as the pro'jhet Isaiah sailh, concern- 
 ing Judah, chap. xxiv. 5. '" The earth (or the laud) is defiJed 
 " under the inhabitants thereof, btcnuse thty have transgross- 
 *' ed the laws, changtd the ordinance, broken the everlasting 
 *' covenant;" our land having been defiled with Popery and Pre- 
 lacy, and with a flood of abomination and profanity, the natur- 
 al consequent of pejfidy, the ordinances having been changed, 
 perverted and corrupted, and the covenant not only broken, but 
 ijurnt ignominiousiy, and the adherence to it made criminal : yet, 
 for all this, there has not been a time found for renewing them 
 these twenty-three years; and that ministers, at whose door it 
 chiefly lay to stir up the land to this w )rk, have many of them, 
 been as careless as others, waving and putting off a stumbled and 
 offended people, expressing some concernedness for this duty, 
 with these and the like pretexts, That it was not a fit time, nor the 
 land in a case for it (too sad a truth) but not labouring to get the 
 land brought to be in a case and disposition for it, by pressing the 
 obligation, and plainly discovering the violations thereof; so Uiat, 
 instead of being brought to a fitter condition for this duty, the 
 covenants are almost forgotten and quite out of mind, so that the 
 succeeding generation is scarce like to know that ever there was a 
 covenant sworn in Scotland. And more particularly, that the 
 godly, who are dissatisfied with, and dissent from the defections 
 and corruptions of the times, have discovered so little concern 
 about the work of reformation, and cause of God, which the co- 
 venants oblige us to own, defend and promote. All which lax- 
 iiess and remissness is for a lamentation, and ought to be lamented 
 and mourned over by the people of God. 
 
14 PREFACE. 
 
 In the exhortation he pressed upon us who are imbodied to» 
 gether in societies, and were then come together to renew our 
 covenant -engageinenrs, by giving an open and public testimony of 
 our adherence to the covenants, national and solemn league ; that 
 ■we should labour to attain a suitable frame, and serious consider- 
 ation of the weightiness, solemnncss, and awfulness of the work> 
 we were then undertaking : Enforcing the same by several co- 
 gent motives, as namely, because in renewing these covenants we 
 are called to remember onr baptismal and personal vows, where- 
 by we had renounced the devil, the world and the flesh, and de- 
 voted ourselves to the Lord to be his people; which if they were 
 slighted and forgotten, there could be no right, acceptable, and 
 comfortable entering into national covenants. And likewise be- 
 cause of the weightiness of the duties engaged to in our national 
 covenant^ and in the solemn league and covenant, which he proved 
 to be a covenant that ought to be renewed by us in this nation no 
 less than our national covenant, in regard it was a religious, just, 
 and holy covenant made betwixt God and the three kingdoms, 
 though it cannot now be taken in the same consideration and ex- 
 tent, as at the first framing it was, viz. As a league betwixt us 
 and the representative body of the kingdoms of England and Ire- 
 land. Where he took occasion to go over the several articles of 
 the covenant, shewing the nature and weightiness of the duties. 
 
 Beside these two more general doctrines which were chiefl/ 
 insiirted upon, he observed several others pertinently deducible 
 from the words, as first, That unfaithful dealing in God's covenant^ 
 will breed distance and estrangement from God. Which is implied 
 in the children of Israel and Judah seeking the Lord, asking the 
 way to Sion, &c. Their asking the way to Sion, importing that 
 they had forgot the right way of worshipping God, and that their 
 sins had made a sad separation between them and their God. 
 Secondly, That it is necessary that persons become sensible of 
 their sin against God, and of his anger against them, and lay 
 these things to heart, that they may be concerned about reconcili- 
 ation with God, and reform their lives. Thirdly, That the 
 kindly exercise of repentance in a backsliding people lamenting 
 after the Lord, and setting about to renew their covenant with 
 liim hath an effectual influence to unite and cement the divided 
 people of God : thus in the text the children of Israel and Judah, 
 whom their iniquities had long and sadly divided, are uniting to- 
 gether in this desirable frame of v^'eeping and seeking the Lord 
 their God, and making a perpetual covenant with him. This 
 doctrine he proved and applied briefly as the time would permit, 
 both because of its native result from the text, and because 
 of his own, and our sincere desire to see a holy union and com- 
 munion, in the way of truth and duty effected, by returning to 
 the Lord, and renewing the covenant with him, as among all the 
 godlv, so especially among those that profess their dissent from, 
 and dislike of, the corrupt coiu'ses of the times. 
 
PREFACE. 13 
 
 Sermon being ended, after prayer, the Covenants were first 
 Tead according to the directory for renewing the solemn leanue and 
 covenant, prescribed by the act of the General Assembly at Edin- 
 burgh, 6ih October, 1648, post meridiem. Intitkd, act for re" 
 newing of the solemn league and covenant. And thereafter the fol- 
 lowing Acknowledgment of Sins was also read, after which pray- 
 er was made, containing a comprehensive confession of the more 
 general heads of the foresaid Acknowledgement of Sins ; and a 
 part of the 78 Psalm, beginning at the 36 vtrse was sung; and 
 the minister dismissed the congregation with a short reprehension 
 and advice, reproving them for their unconcerned carriage and 
 behaviour during the reading of the acknowledgment of the 
 breaches of these covenants, which had been first entered into, 
 at the expence of so much blood and treasure, and confirmed and 
 sealed with the blood of many honourable martyrs of all ranks in 
 the land ; withal exhorting all present to labour after a heart 
 melting frame for the right performance of the work in hand. 
 
 Upon Thursday, July 24th, after singing a part of the 105th 
 Psalm, from the 6th to the 12th verse and prayer, Mr John 
 M'Milian preached upon Isaiah xliv. 5. " One shall say 1 am 
 *' the Lord's : and another shall call himself by the name of Ja- 
 *' cob : and another shall subscribe with liis hand unto the Lord, 
 ** and surname himself by the name of Israel." Whereupon, af- 
 ter the unfolding of the context, and explication of the words, 
 shewing that they clearly contain an intimation of a covenant re- 
 lation betwixt God and a people, and their avouching of the same 
 upon their part ; the words seeming to have a reference to the 
 state of the New Testament church, and conversion of the Gen- 
 tiles, who, being allured by the great gospel blessings and mercies 
 bestowed by God upon the Jews, to join themselves to the church, 
 should avouch their interest in the Messiah and covenant of 
 grace, by taking the Lord for their God, and owning themselves 
 to be his people. So that the words may be taken up as an an- 
 swer to such a presupposed question as this, IVhose are you? and 
 what is your name? To which question, one shall answer, lam the 
 Lord's; another, / am one of old Jacob's family and offsprings 
 another, if you desiderate my name, look the covenant subscrip- 
 tions and you will find it there ; another shall say, whatever my 
 name was before, my surname 710110 is an Israelite. So sweetly 
 should a shower of gospel grace engage the hearts of the New 
 Testament converts to avow their covenant relation to the Lord, 
 and glory in their union with his church and covenanted people. 
 — Having taken up the sense of the words to this eftect, he de- 
 duced from them these two observations, 
 
 1 . That the Lord is graciously pleased someiimes to privilege hi» 
 people 1101th very remarkable tokens of his gracious presence ,- Thi» 
 doctrine is clear from the context, verse 3, and 4. " For I wiU 
 ** pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry 
 
IS PREFACE. 
 
 *' ground ; I will pour my Si>\rit upon thy seed, and my blessing 
 *' upon thine offspring. And they shall spring up as among the 
 *' grass, as willows by the water-courses." 
 
 Under tfiis head of doctrine he gave the fctllowing marks, to 
 evidence wlntbor the present time of' renewing our covenant with 
 G'>'1, v/ere indeed to us a time of the Lord's privileging us 
 w;Ui hi? gracious presence, 1st, That a time of God's privileging 
 his people with his gracious presence, and with a shower of gospel 
 grace, is a viry inviting and alluring time: wherein, as the Lord 
 invit i; his people to their duty, l>y engaging their hearts and souls 
 through his Sf^irit's gracious influences, to fall in love with him 
 and his comniandments, so they mutually invite one another to 
 covenant with God. '2d, That such a time proves a soul-engag- 
 ing and taking time, wherein souls are engaged to fall in love 
 with the covenant, and with Christ the Mediator of the covcnanty 
 and are taken in the net of the gospel, 3d^ That a time of the 
 letting out of God's gfacious presence is ordinarily a time of many 
 sweet and excellent resolutions, the people of God resolving to 
 walk more accurately and circumspectly in the ways of new obe- 
 dience. 4'th, That this usually is a time of ridding marches, and 
 clearing of evidences. 5th, That it is a time of many and special 
 confirmations of God's love to the soul. 6th, That this time of 
 God's letting out much of his gracious presence to his people, is 
 a very uniting and healing time to them amongst themselves. 
 Having given tliese marks, to show whether the Lord were, at 
 the occasion, letting out his gracious presence, he added by way 
 of caution, that seeing (no doubt) the people of God would be ex- 
 pecting something of all these, upon the undertaking of so great 
 a work, if so be that they found it not, they should not thence be 
 induced to have hard thoughts of the Lord, and to conclude, that 
 he keeps not his usual method with his people, or is not so good 
 to them as formerly he hath been, for whatever defects there are 
 upon his people's part, there is none upon the Lord's, for he re- 
 mains the same to them, providing they do so to him ; the change 
 of his disptnsations towards his people, being from the change of 
 his people's deportment towards him. 
 
 The Second Doctrine, resulting more directly from the words, 
 tvas. Thai the Lord's Spirit poured out in plenty tipon his people 'will 
 quickhj bring them to an embracing of him^ and to a public acknoxp- 
 Icilgment and avouching of the same. Thus it was with the people 
 ©f God in the text, no sooner does the Lord " pour water upon 
 *' the thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground," even his Spirit 
 upon the spiritual seed of Israel, but presently they are at cove- 
 nanting work, and subscril)ing work, " One shall say I am the 
 ** Lord's, &c." In prosecuting this doctrine he shewed first ne- 
 gatively, that he was nt>t for that occasion largely to treat of the 
 several ways that the Spirit useth to manage this work of engag- 
 ing the hearts of his people to embrace Christ, and so to make a 
 
PREFACE. If 
 
 public avouchment of the same ; whether he doth it by represent- 
 ing to their view the sweet and precious promises made in the cove- 
 nant of grace, thereby sweetly alluring and drawing them with 
 the cords of love to himself, or by holding forth to their consci- 
 ences the terrors and threatenings of the law, and thereby pow- 
 erfully constraining them to fly to him as the city of refuge from 
 the face of divine Justice pursuing them ; for seeing the Spirit is 
 a free agent and blows both how and where he listeth, he may 
 engage a soul to close with Christ, by either of these ways, 
 thouoh most usually he doth it by a conjunction and concurrence 
 of both. Only this ought to satisfy us, that what way soever the 
 Spirit taketh in the bringing a soul to embrace Christ upon the 
 gospel terms, he so manageth the work, as that the end is eifec- 
 tually and infallibly attained. 
 
 Nor 2dly, Was he to enquire into the measme of the out-pour- 
 ing of the Spirit's graces and operations, which is effectual for at- 
 taining the end, this being one of the deep things of God v/hich 
 the Spirit alone searcheth, and therefore is not necessary for us 
 further to know, save only that we understand so much to he 
 needful, as may serve to empty the creature of all confidence in, 
 or dependence upon itself, or any other creature-helps whatsoev- 
 er, and bring it to rely upon Christ alone for acceptance with 
 God ; so much is necessary, and less cannot be sufficient. 
 
 Nor 3dly, Was he to handle the material differences between 
 those who are brought really and sincerely to accept, embrace, 
 and acknowledge the Lord for their Lord, and to avouch the 
 same publicly, which presupposeth a mighty power of the Spirit 
 manifested in the sweet impressions which he maketh upon the 
 soul, moving them sweetly and readily to comply with, and 
 yield to Christ without any longer resistance, and these who 
 only in semblance and shew, profess to avouch Christ to be their 
 Lord, and feign submission to him, not from the Spirit'^ effectual 
 and saving operations, but either from carnal and external con- 
 siderations, or at most from the Spirit's common motions and 
 convictions ; which differences commonly arise from the difT'erent 
 natures, motives, manner or ends of this iheir acknowledging and 
 avouching Christ for their Lord, and covenanting v. ith him. 
 
 These things, as not so immediately proper for the work in 
 liand, though natively involved in the doctrine, being only clear- 
 ed in transition ; he came in the second place more positively to 
 insist upon and handle the foUov/ing heads. First, More ge- 
 nerally to propose some considerations which make such a great 
 work as renewing covenant with the Lord, a weighty, hard, and 
 difficult work. And upon the other hand to lay down some 
 counterbalancing considerations, which render such a work more 
 easy and light, and may alibrd matter of encouragement towards 
 the undertaking of it. Secondly, More particularly in applica- 
 Mon to ourselves and the work in hand, to lay before those who 
 
 G 
 
18 PREFACE. 
 
 were resolved to enter into covenant with the Lord, what were 
 the things that seemed to speak against us in the work, and 
 might prove matter of discouragemtnt in the undertaking of it. 
 AnrI what upon the other side might seem to speak for us, and 
 be grr)und of encouragement to us to go forward in humble and 
 fineere endeavours to renew our covenant with the Lord. 
 
 Thirdly, To give some advices and directions to such as were 
 resolved upon the work. As for the first ; The considerations 
 which make covenanting work weighty and difficult, The first 
 consideration was drawn from the greatness of the party to be 
 covenanted with, the great and glorious Jehovah, the Creator of 
 the ends of the earth, who is a holy and jealous God, and who 
 will not forgive the iniquity of such as are false hearted and per- 
 lidious in his covenant, obstinately persisting in their false dealing; 
 so Joshua premonishcth a people making, very fair resolutions and 
 promises to serve the I_A)rd, that it was a hardi r work than at the 
 first sight they apprehended ; " That they could not serve the 
 ^" Lord, in regard he is an holy God, he is a jealous God, and 
 " would not forgive their transgressions nor their sins ; and that 
 *' if they should forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then 
 *• he would turn and do them hurt and consume them, after he 
 *« had done them good," Josh. xxiv. 19, 20. 'Tis a part of his 
 name, Exod. xxxiv. 7. 'J '/i at he will In/ no means clear the (obsti- 
 naicly and impenitently) guilty. 
 
 A second consideration that makes the work of covenanting with 
 God to appear a haid nn(' difficult work, was taken from the na- 
 ture of the work itself, which is to serve the Lord in a covenant 
 way, and in the capacity of covenanted children, this covenant 
 relation involving in it a walk and conversation in all things like 
 the chosen of the Lord; and 'tis no small matter, so to walk, and 
 so to behave as to be accounted worthy of a covenanted union 
 with the Lord and interes-t in him, this covenant relation being 
 confirmed with such awful sanctions, as in scripture we find, Neh. 
 
 X. 29. " They entered into a curse and into an oath, to 
 
 '• walk in God's law," &c. This consideration, that covenanting 
 work is weighty in its own nature, was farther illustrated and am- 
 plified from the difficulty both of the things to be engaged against, 
 and of the things to be engaged unto; As for the former, the 
 things to be engaged against, which is sin in all its kinds and de- 
 grees, and in all the inducements to it, both with reference to our- 
 selves, and also as to participation in the sins of others. This 
 must first be put away, if one would be a right covenanter. Well 
 did old Jacob understand the necessity of this, who being resolv- 
 ed to go up to Bethel, to renew his covenant with God, that an- 
 swered him in the day of his strait, advises his family first " to put 
 '• away the strange gods thut were amongst them, and to be clean." 
 Gen. XXXV. 2. ^o David assures us, Psal. xxxiv. l*. that depart- 
 ing from evil must precede doing of good. A man that would 
 
PREFACE. 1« 
 
 lift up his face without spot in renewing covenant with God, 
 must first " put iniquity tar away, and not suffer wickedness to 
 " dwell in his tabernacles," as Zophar adviyes Job, chap. xi. 14, 
 15. They that would take on with a new n)aster nnist be iairly 
 parted from the old, there is no way of pleasing both Christ and 
 mammon, and therefore no possibility of serving both; whence the 
 nature of covenanting work requires, that there be an upright put- 
 ing away of all sin ; for if the soul have any secret reserves in la- 
 vours of a beloved sin, it has no ground to think that Christ will 
 accept it, as his covenanted spouse and bride. Nor is this all, 
 but 'Jdh, it must be mourned over and truly bewailed, especially 
 upon the account of the ofience done to a gracious God thereby ; 
 which sorrow must not be of an ordinary sort, but an extraordi- 
 nary and most intense sorrow, for it cannot be an ordinary kind of 
 sorrow, provided it be in any suitable measure proportioned to the 
 olfence. And Sdly, which follows upon the former, there must 
 be a " loathing of the person's self because of these its ways and 
 doings that have not been good in his sight," Ezek. vi. 9. even to 
 that degree as to fill the soul with wonder and astonishment, that 
 ever it should have an occasion of renewing covenant v/ith God 
 again. 4thly, There must be a sincere and hearty resolving 
 against all these sins, consequent upon this loathing ; the soul 
 saying with a steady purpose, " if I have done iniquity I will do 
 " so no more," Job xxxiv. 52. 
 
 2dly, As to the latter, the things engaged unto render the na- 
 ture of covenanting work difficult and weighty, which are duties 
 of various kinds, such as, 1st, Holiness towards God, which is 
 one special and chief part of the covenant, and that not for a time 
 only, but for ever ; both in regard that God, the party covenanted 
 with, is holy and unchangeably so, and calls his people to imi- 
 tate him in this attribute especially ; and also in regard that the 
 covenant itself is for its nature holy, all the articles beiiig morally 
 good and consonant to the royal law, the scriptures of truth ; and 
 for the extent of its duration, of perpetual force and obligation. 
 This duty of holiness towards God, engaged to in the covenant, 
 comprehends in it a zealous endeavour to maintain the purity of 
 the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of his institu- 
 tion, in opposition to all these who would corrupt it, or decline 
 from it. 2d, Righteousness towards our neighbour, and more 
 especially to our covenanted brother; which righteousness should 
 discover itself both in reference to sin and duty, by reproving 
 him for sin ; or upon his rejecting reproof, by withdrawing from 
 him, that he may be ashamed, and so come to be reclaimed from 
 his evil course ; and by affording him all that help and assistance 
 lo covenanted duties, that may be warrantably called for, and ge- 
 nerally by uprightness towards him in all our transactions and 
 dealings of any kind. 3d, Faithfulness towards our nation, which 
 comprehends a constant endeavour to advance and promote in 
 
to PREFACE. 
 
 our station the common good thereof; and a stedfast opposition 
 to the courses that tend to take away the privileges of the same. 
 4th, Uprightness towards ourselves, in every thing relating to the 
 real good of our own souls and bodies ; by walking in all the du- 
 ties of soberness, temperance, and moderation ; for as others are 
 to have their due, so ourselves are not to be neglected. 
 
 A third consideration, whereby the duty of renewing covenant 
 with God appears to be difficult and weighty, was deduced from 
 the manner and way of engaging ; whereunto several things of 
 great difficulty to be attained, were shewed to be absolutely ne- 
 cessary. As 1st, Judgment, to know, and in some measure com- 
 prehend, the nature of the duties to be engaged to, and the ad- 
 vantages flowing from the right entering into, and keeping of the 
 covenant, and the losses redounding to the breakers thereof, 2d, 
 Seriousiiess, which, if ever it be in exercise, will certainly then be 
 most lively, when the soul is entering upon a work of so high im- 
 port, as making a covenant with God ; for then the creature has 
 one of two things to look for, either covenant blessings, or covenant 
 curses, according as it performs or not performs the tenor of the 
 covenant. 3<i, Deliberation ; rashness in covenanting is of dan- 
 gerous consequence : 'tis not the example of others only, nor raw 
 flashes of conviction or love, nor external considerations, as gain, 
 honour, men's approbation, &c that must induce to this duty | 
 but a fixed permanent purpose of heart and soul, rationally and 
 deliberately entered into. 4-th, Heart- integrity. That it be done 
 with all the heart, 2 Chron. xv. 15. for the man brings himself 
 under a curse, that " having a male in his flock, sacrificeth to the 
 Lord a corrupt thing." Mai. i. H-. 
 
 A fourth consideration, from whence the work of covenanting 
 comes to be a difficult and hard v/ork, was deduced from the tc/n/ 
 and manner of performing the duties engaged to ; which is (as 'tis 
 expressed in the covenant) with sincerity, reality, and constancy ; 
 the difficulty of attaining to these qualifications in the performance 
 of covenant-duties, arising partly from the strength of corruption 
 within, the law of sin and death, which opposes the law of God ; 
 and partly from the strength of snares and temptations from with- 
 out ; which r^equircs, that (as becomes covenanted children) there 
 be a daily recourse to Jesus Christ, for light to discover, and 
 strength to overcome these corruptions and temptations ; and life, 
 that the soul turn not dead and insensible under them. 
 
 A fifth consideration, from vvhencc the difficulty of covenant- 
 ing with God is sometimes heightened, was taken from the mean- 
 ness of such as attempt the rvo7'k. When the great ones, the nobles 
 that are called the shields of the earth, do not afford their authority 
 and patrociny, as an encouragement to the undertaking ; and 
 when the wise and learned will not employ their learning, parts, 
 and abilities for the facilitating thereof; but the mean and weakest 
 arc left to dp the work their alone. This was no small difficulty 
 
\ 
 
 PREFACE. 21 
 
 and discouragement to the Tikoites, in their building and repair- 
 ing the wall of Jerusalem, " That their nobles put not their necks 
 " to the work of their Lord." Neh. iii. 5. 
 
 A sixth consideration, which may sometimes render such a 
 work hard and difficult, was drawn from the '<varit of the cov.cur- 
 rmce of civil authority ; Atid the opposition made thereunto by tht 
 laus of the land; which, when it happens to be the case of a 
 people designing to renew national engagements, cannot but be a 
 very difficulting and discouraging ingredient amongst others in 
 their cap. 
 
 On the other hand these counierbalancing considerations were 
 adduced, which are as so many props and pillars to support his 
 people, and to allay the difficulties of tiie duty of entering into 
 covenant with God, and to make it the more light to and easy. 1st, 
 That the 'work is the Lord's, and he is greatly concerned in it j 
 and therefore his people may safely lean to him for help, he hav- 
 ing enacted no law against it, as men have. 2d, That he looks 
 not upo7i his people in such undertakings, as in themselves, for then it 
 were impossible for creatures, having the least sinful imperfection 
 in them, to covenant with their spotless Creator, and come so 
 near a jealous God, who is a consuming fire to the workers of in- 
 iquity ; hut he considers his people in their covenanting with him, as 
 in their head Christ his eternal Son .- whence we may safely say. 
 That our national covenant wants not a Mediator more than the 
 covenant of grace, in this sense, as it is through him we have ac- 
 cess to make this covenant with God. 3d, That the Lord has 
 promised his presence to his own work; thus we find through the 
 whole of the covenants made, and renewed by the people of Israel 
 and Judah, that the Lord discovered his gracious presence witi» 
 them, by some remarkable effect of his goodness. Thus it is re- 
 marked of Hezekiah, that after he had entered into covenant ; 
 " That the Lord was with him, and he prospered whithersoever 
 " lie went forth," 2 Kings xviii. 7. compared with 2 Chron, 
 xxix. 10. 4th, That the Lord puts none of his people to any piece 
 of his work upon their 0W7i proper expense arid charges, but upon hts^ 
 own ; and whatever complaints his people may have of want of 
 necessary charges, he both has wlierewith to supply them, and 
 has undertaken to make it actually forthcoming for them, having 
 commanded his people to open their mouths wide, and he has pro- 
 mised to fill them. Sth, That the covenant hath ?. greater entail ?>t' 
 blessings, than what will sufficiently compensate whatever ex- 
 pence and pains a people may be at, in undertaking and perform- 
 ing it. In regard, that though a Christian should lose all, yea, 
 even life itself, upon the account of it, yet the covenant will bring 
 in all with advantage to a hundred fold, and glory to the over- 
 plus, when it is duly observed. 6th, That the undertakers have 
 God's call and commandment to set about it ; this is that, which a- 
 bove all other considerations, inspires a Christian with undaunted 
 
22 PREFACE. 
 
 courage and alacrity in the undertaking of a duty, when it is made 
 clear, that the person has God's call and command for a warrant; 
 otherwise the want of this may make the duty to be heartlessly, 
 and doubtingly entered upon, and lamely performed. 
 
 Seing therefore, that sometimes a work may be the Lord's, and 
 yet the Lord's call to such a particular person, or people to un- 
 dertake it, may be wanting; he came necessarily (which was the 
 second head proposed) to enquire, what were the several things 
 that might seem to speak against us, as not having this call from 
 the Lord, and what were the things that spake for us, and might 
 give us matter of encouragement in undertaking the work before 
 us. — In solution of which the following considerations were pro- 
 posed, 
 
 1st, As to the things that might seem to speak against us ; 1st, 
 Our darkness, not whether covenanting be a duty, but in regard 
 of the want of right apprehensions of the nature and greatness of 
 che duty, which cannot be a sufficient ground to neglect th'e duty, 
 unless there were some duties from which a Christian is exeemed, 
 and that this is one of them, which indeed will not be found in 
 the whole Bible. 2d, Our want of a frame suitable for the gr fat- 
 ness and weightiness of the iscork^ which speaks sadly against us, 
 but is not to be a ground to neglect the duty, we being command- 
 ed to look to the God of ihe ct)venant for it. 
 
 Upon the other hand, the things which seemed to speak for us, 
 and yield matter of encouragement, that not only the work was 
 the Lord's, but also that we had his call to the same, were, 1st, 
 The many palpable, plain, and open breaches of these covenants, 
 are a loud call to renew them. 2d, The undervaluing account 
 that the nations have made of them, is a call to all such as hav« 
 any rt>spect to the sacred name of the Lord invocated in these co- 
 venants, to do their utmost to vindicate them from that disgrace, 
 by showing how high a price and value they put upon them. Sd, 
 The lands enacting the perpetual banishment of these covenants, 
 and imposing oaths contrary and opposite to them ; which brings 
 double perjury upon the nation, both by disregarding and omit- 
 ting the performance of this just, lawful and commendable cove- 
 nant, and by making unjust, sinful and hateful covenants, for 
 opposing the growth and success of Christ's kingdom, even the 
 reformation of these many abuses that have corrupted the holy 
 religion of his institution : And perjury drawing wrath after it, 
 as a native and necessary fruit and consequent; they that would, 
 stand in the gap, to turn away national wrath, cannot otherwise 
 make up the hedge, that the land should not be destroyed, but 
 by renewing and keeping national covenants. 4th, That so ma- 
 ny are speaking against them every where, accounting them a 
 conspiracy against royal authority, a popular combination for ad- 
 vancing private ends and interests under the cloak of religion, or 
 at least unnecessary and unprofitable for the end intended by 
 
PREFACE. 2$ 
 
 them, binding to things of such a heterogeneous nature, as rend- 
 ers the keeping of them, and keeping within the sphere of our own 
 activity and station, inconsistent and impossible, and such things as 
 whereof we now have no occasion, and the hke; which is a loud 
 call to us, or any that retain other thoughts of their nature and 
 ends, than the generality do, to speak for them ; which cannot 
 be done more fitly, honourably, nor conspicuously any other way, 
 than by renewing and observing them. 5th, The practice of the 
 godly in such a juncture of time, as what our's appears to be, is 
 a call and encouraging consideration to set us upon this work : 
 the godly usually in times of great defection from the purity and 
 power of religion, and corruption of the ordinances of God's wor- 
 ship, set about renewing their covenant, thereby to prevent cove- 
 nant curses, and procure covenant blessings; as we find both in 
 scripture record; 2 Chron xv, 12, 13. xxix. 10. xxxiv. 30, 31. 
 Ezrax. 3. and in our own ecclesiastic history. And the practice was 
 justified by the success, for the most part terminating in some reviv- 
 ing and reformation. 6tb, The time being come to such a crisis, 
 that such as would keep the word of Christ's patience cannot any 
 longer do it in a distinguishing way from these that are covenant- 
 breakers, but by renewing covenant, and thereby making a test 
 and trial of the well-wishers to the covenanted interest in the land, 
 is a call to set about this work : in former times the godly held 
 fast this their profession, by suffering for their adherence to cove- 
 nanted duties, resisting unto blood, striving against the sin of co- 
 venant-breaking; whereas now our call seems to be more clear to 
 do it, by renewing these covenant-obligations. 7th, The cove- 
 nants themselves have as it were a loud voice to call us, and all 
 who own their obligation, to set about renewing of them ; they 
 call by the justness and intrinsic goodness of the matter, which is 
 of binding force by virtue of the law of God, prior to any cove- 
 nant-tie, and by the holiness and excellency of the end, to wit, 
 the reformation and preservation of religion. Yea, the covenant 
 seems to say to us, and to every true hearted son of the*church of 
 Scotland, as Job said in another case, " Have pity upon me, O 
 " my friends," &c. So says the covenant; have pity upon me, 
 all ye that any have respect for me, for church and state have for- 
 saken me. 
 
 The t/iird thing proposed, was to give some advices and direc- 
 tions for right managing the duty intended. The scope and sub- 
 stance whereof briefly follows, 
 
 1st, Such as would make a covenant witli God arigh.t, so as 
 the same may never be broken nor yet forgotten, must "labour to 
 know if they be in good terms with the God of the covenant, and 
 with the Mediator of the covenant; if they have sincerely closed 
 with the terms, and acquiesced to the proposals of the covenant 
 of grace ; this personal and particular acceptance of Christ in the 
 new covenant, being the only fountain of acceptable entering intc 
 
?A PREFACE. 
 
 national covenants. Hence it concerns all that would be right 
 Covenanters, to search and see how it may be betwixt God and 
 the:n, b^^cause 'tis but a profanation of the covenant to have the 
 fiand and tongue at it, and the heart from it : a well informed 
 head without a reformed heart is not sufficient : a good opinion 
 and liking oi' the covena it without a heart and affection to the 
 covenant avails nothing ui God's sight. 
 
 2d, Such as would rightly renew covenant with God, must be 
 v/ell resolved concerning the motives leading them to covenant ; 
 which motives must neither arise wholly from without, nor yet 
 wholly from within, for if these motives arise wholly from without, 
 it discovers a great deal of treachery in the persons covenanting, 
 as not beginning at the heart, not duly considering the inward 
 case of the soul, but being moved from some external consider- 
 ations, as a name amongst men, or affectation of zeal for public 
 concerns, or such like; if they arise wholly from within, it be- 
 wrays much weakness and lowness of spirit, as not being able at 
 the same time both to have a concern about the inward frame 
 of the heart, and eternal estate and condition of the soul, and 
 likewise a zeal for the public good of the nation, and thriving of 
 the work of God and kingdom of Christ. Both which interests 
 ought to be in their due proportion before the eyes of a sound and 
 real Covenanter ; a right engager in covenant must be moved 
 thereto, both from a due sense of the strength and power of cor- 
 ruption within, and also from the consideration of the lowness of 
 God's work through defection without. 
 
 3d, A right Covenanter must be well resolved concerning the 
 terms of the covenant ; tliiit it excludes all coming and going, ac- 
 cording to the revolutions of the times, and the ebbing and flow- 
 ing of worldly interests : One that has given up his name to the 
 Lord in covenant, and called himself by the name of Israel, must 
 not, like the Samaritans, be an Isi'aelite only in a time of Israel's 
 prosperity, but he must be one in adversity too : The things en- 
 gaged to in the covenant being of an everlasting and permanent 
 duration, in their nature, must be lasting also in their observa- 
 tion. 
 
 4th, A right renewer of covenant must be well resolved anent 
 the cost and expence of stedfiist keeping of covenant. This should 
 be first counted and deliberately resolved upon before engaging, 
 lest after persons have engaged they want sufficiency to finish and 
 fulfil the undertaking; and the Wiseman assures us, it is better 
 not to vow, than to vow and not pay. The covenant may come 
 to require the cost both of doing and suffering to finish it : there 
 must therefore be a resolving upon both, before engaging. 
 
 5th, A right Covenanter must be well resolved concerning 
 the separating nature, and the uniting tie and bond of the co- 
 venant, for as it distinguisheth between friends and foes, so it 
 unites Covenanters amongst themselves in duties, interests, and 
 
PREFACE. 25 
 
 concerns. So that they become one society, having an identity 
 of common duties and privileges, coiinnon crosses and rejoicino-s; 
 and must rejoice togetlicr and weep togetlier. 
 
 He closed the Sermon with a twofold advice or exhortation, to 
 two sorts of persons. 
 
 1st, To those who had some good opinion of, and some love 
 for the covenant, but yet, were not resolved to join in covenant 
 with us, because of man}"^ entanglements in a world ; sonie estate, 
 farm, or place of employment would be forfeited thereby; and 
 hence, though the covenant be, in their opinion, a lawful and 
 , commendable engagement, yet not for them ; they were in a 
 course inconsistent with it, and could not be otherwise without 
 foregoing some worldly accommodatioui Those he advised to 
 consider the matter duly; not to engage without a resolution to 
 forsake all interests that might interfere with covenanted duties ; 
 for to engage in the covenant, and yet to walk in a course oppo- 
 site to it, would be exceeding sinful ; but to labour rather after 
 old Jacob's spirit and disposition, who looked to and trusted in 
 the God of the covenant, when he had nothing else to look to ; 
 no outward encouragement. Gen. xxxii. 10. " He had but his 
 "staff in his hand when he passed over Jordan, and the Lord 
 "made him to return with two bands." For if a person could 
 attain Jacob's spirit, name and surname would be lovely in their 
 eyes, covenant and covenanting. 
 
 2dly, To these who had put to their hands to many sinful cov- 
 enants in opposition to this covenant, and such as being in a na- 
 tural and unrenewed state, in league with sin and Satan, and in 
 covenant with hell and death. These he advised, and earnestly 
 obtested to break all these their sinful covenants, to loath and 
 abhor them, and be humbled for them ; and to come and fall in 
 with this covenant, to say in sincerity, that whereas other lords 
 had " too long had dominion over them, henceforth they would 
 " make mention only of the name of the Lord as their J^ord." 
 And that their name should thenceforth be Jacob, and thair sur- 
 name /srae/, and to sign and seal the same with their oath and 
 subscription. This exhortation he enforced by the several calls 
 to the work mentioned before ; and by these two following mo- 
 tives: 1st, Because right entering into, and stedfast keeping of 
 this covenant, is the way to a holy life, and a holy life tends to 
 make a holy nation ; for if we would observe this covenant sin- 
 cerely, uniibrmly and constantly, we could never bo an unholy, 
 and consequently never an unhappy people; but it should be 
 written as a motto upon our walls and gates, JEHOVAH 
 SHAMMA, the Lord is there. 2d, Because the entering rightly 
 into, and due observance of this covenant, would be our strength 
 in the midst of all perplexing thoughts, whether arising from In- 
 ward coi'ruptions, or from outward temptations or dangers; the 
 covenant yielded more satisfaction to David when dving, than s( 
 
 D 
 
m PREFACE. 
 
 royal diadem, a melodious har]), a puissant army, strong cities, 
 a numerous offspring, or any earthly comforts could do, when, 
 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. he supports hnnself with this, « That though 
 " his house were not so with God, yet He had made with him 
 " an everlasting covenant, well-ordered in all things, and sure." 
 The keeping of this covenant had been to our nation a Samson's 
 lock, whereby we should have been able to oppose all our ene- 
 mies ; whereas the breach of it hath opened a door to all sorts of 
 enemies to creep in amongst us : and hence is verified that which 
 the Lord has threatened his people with for their breach of cove- 
 nant, Deut. xxviii. 44. that the enemy shall be the head, and 
 his people tlie tail. 
 
 Sermon being closed by prayer, the Acknowledgment of Sins 
 was again read, as preparative to the engaging part ; and the 
 niinister, in the first phice, admonished all such as were guilty of 
 such public steps of defection, as are confessed in the Acknowledg- 
 ment, to make full apd free confession theieoi" before the congre- 
 gation, with such a due sense of, and sorrow for these public sins, 
 as might evidence a hearty design of abandoning them, and of 
 adhering more closely to covenanted duties, which accordingly 
 many did, both with respect to the perjurious oaths of the late 
 times, and defections of the present. Because many have made 
 a handle of this, above any other part of the action, to reproach 
 and render the whole of the work contemptible, calling it Jesui- 
 tic superstition, enthusiasm, advancing our own confessions into 
 the room of Christ's satisfaction, and expecting pardon upon the 
 score of superficial public acknowledgements. 
 
 Therefore to vindicate this part of the woi'k from such ground- 
 less calumny, we desire it may be adverted. Ut, That this is a 
 comrv.nded duty, that such as have violated the law and com- 
 mandments of God, and been guilty of false and unfaithful deal- 
 ing in his covenant, should unfeignedly confess their iniquity, 
 which, if they do, God is faithful and just to forgive. 2d, That 
 according to liie nature of the offence, as the same has been acted 
 secretly or publicly, and is of a secret or public nature and concern, 
 so it ought to be confessed. If the offence be in its nature and way 
 of perpetration a secret sin, known only to God and the person's 
 own conscience, secret repentance sufficeth, nor can the church re- 
 quire any thing else, in regard such sins come not within the sphere 
 of her cognizance. But if the sin be public and national, or only 
 personal, but publicly acted, so as the same has been stumbling, 
 scandalous', and offensive to others ; then it is requisite, for the 
 glory of God, and good of offended brethren, that the acknow- 
 ledgment be equally public as the offence. These are ^rst prin- 
 cipleSi that will not need to be proved, but may be taken for 
 granted. But, 3dly, to make it appear, that it is consonant to tlie 
 practice of the godly, to make public confession of national back- 
 slidings, we shall advance two or three scripture instances. Joshu*. 
 
PREFACE. 27 
 
 (chap. vn. 19. compared with verse 1 1.) commands " Achan, who 
 " had broken God's covenant which ho commanded Israel," and so 
 brought upon that whole nation the Lord's anger, " that he would 
 <« give glory to God, by making confes-^ion to him." Whence it 
 appears, that such sins as are national in their consequences, and 
 bring national judgments upon a people, ought to be publicly 
 confessed, for turning away these judgments, and vindicating 
 the honour of the supreme lawgiver. Ezra x. 1, 2. " Now 
 *' when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping, 
 ** and casting himself down before the house of God, there assem- 
 *' bled unto him out of Israel, a very great congregation of men, 
 •' women, and children : for the people wept very sore. Verse 
 ** 2d. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, 
 *' answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our 
 " God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land. 
 ** Verse 3d. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God, 
 ** to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them. Verse 
 " 10. And Ezra the priest stood up and said unto them, Ye have 
 " transgressed and taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of 
 "Israel. Verse II. Now therefore make confession unto the 
 *' Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure. Verse 12. 
 " Then all the congregation ansv/cred, and said with a loud 
 ** voice. As thou hast said, so must we do." Neh. ix. I. *' Now, 
 *' in the twenty and fourth day of this month, the children of 
 *' Israel were assembled with fasting and with sackclothes, and 
 *' earth upon them. Verse 2il. And the seed of Israel separated 
 " themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their 
 " sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. Verse 3d. And they 
 " stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the 
 *' Lord their God, one fourth part of the day, and another fourth 
 " part they confessed and worshijiped the Lord their God." Acts 
 " xix. 18. " And many that believed came, and confessed, and 
 ** shewed their deeds." 
 
 These scripture examples (as we conceive) do sufficiently evince, 
 that such public confession, , for the substance of it, is not only 
 expedient, but also necessary for such as would renew their cov- 
 enant with God. As for some circumstances of the manner 
 thereof, neither are we to vindicate them, nor can they justly be 
 charged upon the whole of those who made those confessions ; far 
 less upon the minister, who though he exhorted such as were 
 guilty of scandalous defections, to glorify God by a public con- 
 fession, yet obliged none thereunto authorif-atively ; and such as 
 confessed the sin of their thoughts, or any other sins not scanda- 
 lous and offensive to others, he exhorted to be serious in mourn- 
 ing over these things secretly before the Lord ; but withal told 
 them, that these things are not the subject matter of such a pub- 
 lic acknowledgment. Such as were unconcerned in their con- 
 fessions, and seemed rather to do it from example of others, 
 
n PREFACE. 
 
 than from a real and deep sense of their guiltiness before God (as 
 it must not be dissembled, there were too many) he exhorted to 
 atta'n a sense of the things confessed, and posed their consciences, 
 whether they were convinced of what they pretended to confess. 
 If any was so ignorant and weak in their apprehensions of the na- 
 ture of right repentance and justification, as to put their acknow- 
 ledgment of sin in the room of Clirist's satisfaction, and to rely 
 thereupon for p- ace and acceptance with God, as it is alledged 
 they did, it must be owned rhat they wofully erred in a matter of 
 the highest consequence; but to affix this either upon all in the 
 general, or upon any particular person by name, is against the 
 law of charity, and a judging the heart, which is not obvious to 
 man, but only to God, and so an usurping God's prerogative : 
 wherefore it appears, that the objecting th..^se and other such like 
 things against this duty, is the tir; ci of an impotent malice, and 
 passion against the whole design of the work, which is too shrewd 
 an evidence of a malignant spirit. 
 
 Whereas some have taken occasion to pass injurious reflections 
 upon the minister, because he made confession and acknowledg- 
 jnent of his own personal miscarriages ; as though he did it with 
 design to please the people, and to excite them to make confes- 
 sion- of the things whereof they had no due sense; and that he 
 should have proposed himself, as an example to the people. 
 Therefore to discover the falsehood of such reports, we must de- 
 clare plain matter of fact upon this head. The minister did in- 
 deed acknowledge his own iniquities in general, with others, and 
 also particularly at the entry of the work : but without any de- 
 sign to please party, or person ; but only for tlie glory of God, 
 as himself declared, which if any shall say was but hypocritical 
 self-seeking, we must remit them to the apostle's interrogatiouj 
 to prepare an answer ; JV/io art thou, O man^ that judgest ? 
 "Neither did he say, that he did it to be an example to others, 
 though, even in that case, he had not been to be blamed, seeing 
 the best of God's saints, in public employment in church and 
 state, have done the like in public assemblies, as Josiah, Ezra, 
 Nehemiah, in sacred record, and in our church history, the Rev. 
 Mr John Davidson, who, at the renewing of the covenant, March 
 30th, 1596, not only exhorted the brethren of the ministry to a 
 serious confession of their sins, but did also make confession of 
 his own, and excited the rest by his example, as is related by Mr 
 Calderwood in his history of the church of Scotland, page 317. 
 Wherefore seeing he has the command of God, and the example 
 of the most eminent of his saints for his warrant and precedent, 
 he may be perfectly unconcerned, what are the constructions, 
 that such persons, as are indifferent, either about national sins, 
 cr judgments, do put upon this action. 
 
 The Acknowledgment of Sins being read the minister prayed, 
 ronfcssing therein the sins which had been publicly confessed in 
 
PREFACE. 29 
 
 the said Acknowledgment, and begging assistance to know and 
 do the duties engaged unto, then the Engagement to Duties waa 
 hkewise read in the audience of the congregation ; where he she w- 
 ed that the design of these engagements was to accommodate 1 _' 
 covenants to our case and circumstances. And advised the mi /cd 
 muhitude to beware of entering into the covenant, unless li^y 
 were duly resolved concerning the performing of the sume, ac- 
 cording as our fathers understood it, and as the same was ex- 
 plained and appHed to the present condition ot tlun.^ in tiiese 
 engagements. After which the minister having pravid for the 
 gracious presence and assistance of the divine Spirit, to enable us 
 both to engage and perform ; commanding those v/ho were to re- 
 new their covenant to stand upright, and hoid up th^ir right- 
 hunds, he proceeded to the administration of the oath, causing 
 the people to elevate their hands at the end of each article. The 
 covenants being renewed, the nnnister addressed himself to these 
 that had entered into covenant, to this purpose. Ni.w j'ou who 
 have renewed your covenant witli God must not imsgine that 
 you may sit down upon your perhnmance. and rest your elves as 
 though your work were perfected and finished ; nay, but you 
 must consider with yourselves that now it is 'out beginning; your 
 race is before you, the greatest part of the work is before your 
 hand : covenanting is relative to performing ; you must therefore 
 meditate upon, and ponder your engagements more now tlian be- 
 fore ; for now you have put a new bond upon your souls, to walk 
 with God in all the ways of new obedience. In order therefore 
 to your performing, as you have undertaken, 1 would put you in 
 mind of several particulars, which you must have much and fre- 
 quently upon your hearts, and before your eyes. 
 
 1st, You must know that a holy life is what becomes Cove- 
 nanters ; it is not holiness in name, shew and appearance, \)ut holi- 
 ness in reality, in truth and substance, that must be interwoven 
 with all your actions and duties ; though others should not look 
 to conscience, yet you must ; though others slight and neglect 
 religion, you must by no means do it ; you must put on a Joshua's 
 generous and holy resolution, " That whatever others do, you 
 " and your house will serve the Lord." You must consider upon 
 it, that well-set speeches concerning the covenant, is not what 
 you are principally to study, but well-set hearts ; you must shake 
 off laziness as well as hypocrisy. 
 
 2d, You must be very regular in your walk ; an unitorm con- 
 versation in the way of holiness is that which greatly adorns a 
 Christian, and consequently a Covenanter. And if you endea- 
 vour such a regular course of life, you will not shape yourselves 
 according to the company you fall into. As some have a religion 
 for every company, so they have one for man and another for 
 God, and will be more careful and afraid lest their hypocrisy be 
 •liscovered by men, than they are afraid to be made manfest to 
 
30 PREFACE. 
 
 the Lord. But so it tnust not be vith you who have renewed 
 your covenant with the Lord : you must be the same in the closet 
 as in the public assembly, and have a greater regard to the eye of 
 Jehovah, and the answer of a good conscience, than to the ap- 
 probation of fellow creatures. 
 
 dS, You must be careful to perform all things which you have 
 engaged to, within your sphere and station ; but must not go 
 without it : God is a God oj order, and as he hath placed the 
 stars in their proper oi bs for the order and ornament of the uni- 
 verse , so hath he assigned to Christians their diverse stations, for 
 the beauty, order and uiiion of the church ; Christ, the Captain 
 of salvation, hath marshalled his soldiers into rank and file, and 
 it were a disordering of his army, if any should break their 
 ranks. 
 
 4th, You must slight no opportunity of pursuing the ends of 
 your covenants, whatever it may cost you, when occasion offers ; 
 suffering must not deter you from it ; and if the times be such novr 
 as spare both your persons and purses, yet you must not be spar- 
 ing in your prayers for the reviving of the work of God in the 
 Jand, which is the very cntl of covenanting. 
 
 5th, You must be careful that you don't forget the covenant ; 
 forgetting (as you heard before) is a step towards forsaking, and 
 therefore you must endeavour to have the covenant nearer to you, 
 than the Iiiraelites had it ; they had it written upon the posts of 
 iheir doors, you must have it written upon the tables of your 
 hearts. 
 
 Cth, You must evidence a great deal of cheerfulness and pati- 
 ence under your crosses and losses, which may occur to you, for 
 your adherence to this your covenant; you must neither weaken 
 jrKJur own hands in the discharge of covenanted duties, by droop- 
 ing and discouragement under these crosses, nor stumble others, 
 l^y rejuning at these losses, or by any carriage and deportment 
 under then), that may import your repenting of what you have 
 now done. And because you are impotent and weak in your- 
 selves, therefore, 
 
 7th, You must see that faith be in exercise in all your perform- 
 ances of covenanted duties. If this be wanting you will perform 
 nothing to purpose, " for without feith it is impossible to please 
 God." By this grace you must keep up acquaintance with Christ, 
 and have frequent recourse to him, both for cleansing you from 
 your defilements, when you break the covenant, and for strength 
 to perform what you are obliged to by covenant ; both for reco- 
 vcriiig grace, to raise you up when fallen, and for preventing 
 grace, to preserve j'ou from tailing, or relapsing again. 
 
 8th, That yen may be the more active and vigilant in keeping 
 covenant, you must laboin' to maintain a constant fear of break- 
 ing it, and have a fixed impression of the tremenduous threaten- 
 jngs denounced against covenant- breakers: and you must know 
 
PREFACE. 51 
 
 that all arc such in Gbc?9 account, who satisfy themselves with the 
 form of godliness, denying the power thereof. For this end 
 read and p^onder these and the like scriptures. 
 
 Lev. xxvi. 25. " And I vA]\ bring a sword upon you, that 
 " shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant, and when ye are gath- 
 " ered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among 
 " you : and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy." 
 
 " Neh. V. 13 " So God shall shake out every man from his 
 
 *' house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise ; 
 " even thus be he shaken out and emptied." Jer. xi. 3. " Cursed 
 " be the man, that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, which 
 « I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth 
 *' from the iron furnace." 
 
 Ezek. xvii. 15. " Shall he prosper ? shall he escape that doth 
 " such things ? or shall he break the covenant and be delivered ?" 
 « Verse 18th, " Seeing he hath despised the oath, by breaking the 
 " covenant (when lo, he had given his hand) and hath done alJ 
 « these things: he shall not escape." Verse 19th, "Therefore 
 " thus saith the Lord God, as I live, surely mine oath that he 
 « hath despised and my covenant that he hath broken, even it wili 
 ** I recompense upon his own head." 
 
 The minister having given these exhortations, closed the day's 
 ■work with prayer, and singing a part of the ciii. Psalm, from the 
 17th verse to the 19tb. And having intimated the time of meeting 
 for more immediate preparation, for the Hol^y commtinio?i ; put- 
 ting the people in mind to be preparing for the work, by fervent 
 prayer and supplication, joined with serious and upright self- 
 examination ; he dismissed the congregation after the usual form. 
 
 This true and unbiassed account of the work, in its design, 
 progress and issue, we have given, not to preoccupy false reports 
 only, which we cannot rationally suppose an intire freedom from, 
 unless we fall in with the opposers of our covenanted reformation, 
 and to pnrchase the good opinion and commendation of men, at 
 the rate of losing the favour of God. The main end of relating 
 some of the more material heads, scope and argument of the ser- 
 mons^ is, because there are some things handled in them, which 
 behoved to have been inserted in ih\% preface^ to clear up our mo- 
 tives, and call to the work ; which could not be better done, than 
 as the same v/as cleared then to the people. And this brief rela- 
 tion, though falling short of the matter then delivered, may serv^^ 
 to bring things to the memories of those that found sweet satisfao 
 tion in hearing them in the public. As for wlint may be tha 
 observations of censorious critics, either of the sermon's in par- 
 ticular, or of the tvork in general, we are perfectly unconcevncd 
 about them, seeing we equally value their approbation, or di^^ap- 
 probation ; providing true matter of fact be not misrepresented, 
 and so truth injuriously wronged. Nor are we willing here to 
 make any observations of our own concerning ih-Q is^ue and ou- 
 
52 PREFACE. 
 
 canning of the work, though all the godly there present ought to 
 observe the Lord'.-, gracious assistance and favour, (so far as they 
 found the same affci-ded to themselves, or displayed in others) 
 lost we may either be in danger to diminish the grace of God by 
 complaining, or incur the suspicion of self-flatterers by commend- 
 ing ; but shall have it to the judgment of such as were then pre- 
 sent, and the candid interpretation of others, that may read this 
 preceding account thereof. 
 
 There have been many objections made acjainst the desigitf 
 maUer an.i form of the covmanfs ; more against subjects covenant- 
 ing to defend the purity, and promote the reformation of reli- 
 gion, without thj royal concurrence of their sovereign princes; 
 most ot all against private persons entering into covenant, or re- 
 newing thereof, for the said end. without the general concurrence 
 of the rcpresf ntative body of the church and state. These, which 
 concern the former two, have been fully answered by the greatest 
 ot our reformers, whope piety and learning set them sufficiently 
 above the snarling censures of whatsoever cavilling pens or 
 tongues ; As for what are made against the last, they are also an- 
 swered l>etter than we can pretend to do, in the analysis upon 
 the xxixth chapter of Deuteronomy, prefixed to the National and 
 Solemn League and Covenant, renewed at Lesmahago ; where- 
 nnto we refer the reader. Only because that book may not be 
 at hand to every one, that would desire these objections solved, 
 we shall here transcribe the answers to two or three of the most 
 material of those objections, making but small (if any) variation 
 from the author's words. 
 
 Object. 1. 'In all the national covenants, whei'eof we read in 
 
 * scripture, there was still the concurrence of either the sovereign 
 
 * authority then in being, or at least of the Captains, Elders, Ot- 
 
 * ficers, and Heads of the tribes ; And therefore, it cannot be 
 
 * done by private subjects, without either royal, or parliament- 
 
 * ary authority.' 
 
 Ans. Certainly the obligation of the covenant, held forth Dent. 
 xxix. 10, 11, 12. being so extensive, as to reach all the members 
 of church and commonwealth, of all qualities, ranks, vocations, 
 ages, sexes, is to be understood positivelij, that all these are 
 obliged to enter into covenant, but not Jiegatively^ that without 
 any of these the covenant should not be entered into. The mo- 
 tives mentioned are,to the small, as well as the great; and with- 
 out them, as well as with them ; the articles of it, and the keep- 
 ing and doing them, are common to both alike : The relation 
 that the small and meaner sort of people have to God (the other 
 contrtxcting party) is the same that the nobles and great ones have, 
 and the privileges of it, to be established as a people unto himself, 
 and to have him for their God, do no more belong to the one 
 than to the other ; And consequently, the small may renew it, as 
 well as the great ; but not nationally to bind the whole nation 
 
PREFACE. S5 
 
 formally, to which indeed the concurrence of the representatives 
 is necessary. As for precedents of this practice, see them above, 
 in the narrative of the sermons, [p. 9.] 
 
 Object. 2. ' This covenant having been disclaimed by the po- 
 litical father, and made void by lav/, never again revived by au- 
 
 * thority of parliament, nor the law rescinded by which it wasde- 
 
 * clared not obligatory ; is therefore of no binding force upon us, 
 
 * who have never personally sworn it ; and to renew it, and bring 
 
 * ourselves under the bond of it, when we are free, without the 
 
 * concurring or imposing authority of our rulers, is high pre- 
 sumption in private subjects.* 
 
 Ans. If any engagements can be supposed binding to posterity, 
 certainly national covenants to keep the commandments of God, 
 and to adhere to his institutions, must be of that nature. It can- 
 not be denied, that several obligations do bind to posterity; such 
 as public promises with annexation of curses to the breakers, 
 Neh. V. 12, 13. Thus, Joshua's adjuration did oblige all poste- 
 rity, never to build Jericho, Josh. vi. 26. And the breach of it 
 did bring the curse upon Hiel the Bethelite, in the days of Ahab. 
 2dly, Public vows: Jacob's vow, Gen. xxviii. 21. did oblige all 
 his posterity, virtually comprehended in him, Hos. xii. 4. The 
 Rechabites found themselves obliged to observe 'the vow of their 
 forefather Jonadab, Jer. xxxv. 6, 14. for which they were re- 
 warded and commended. Public oaths do oblige posterity: Jo- 
 seph took an oath of the children of Israel, to carry up his 
 bones to Canaan, Gen, 1. 25. which did oblige posterity some 
 hundred years after. Exod. xiii. 19. Josh. xxiv. 32. National 
 covenants with men before God, do oblige posterity, as Israel's 
 covenant with the Gibeonites, Josh. ix. 15, 19. The breach 
 whereof was punished in the days of David, 2 Sam. xxi. 1. Es- 
 pecially National Covenants with God, before men, about thing-s 
 moi-al and objectively obliging, are perpetual; and yet more 
 especially (as Grotius observes) when they are of an hereditary 
 nature, i. e. when the subject is permanent, the mntter moral, 
 the end good, and in the form there is a clause expressing their 
 perpetuity. 
 
 AH which ingredients of perpetual obligations are clear in 
 Scotland's Covenants, which are natiojial promises, adjuring all 
 ranks of persons, under a curse, to preserve and promote reform- 
 ation according to the word of God, and extirpate the opposite 
 thereof. National vuws, devoting the then engaging, and suc- 
 ceeding generations to be the Lord's people, and walk in his 
 ways. National oaths, solemnly sworn by all ranks, never to ad- 
 mit of innovations, or submit to usurpations, contradictoiy to 
 the woixl of God. National covenants, wherein the king, parlia- 
 ment, and people did covenant with each other, to perform 
 their respective duties, in their several places and stations, in- 
 Yiolablv to preserve religion and liberty : Yea more, natimia 
 
 E 
 
 // 
 
44 PREFACE. 
 
 lawSf solemnly ratified by king and parliament, and made the 
 foundation of the people's compact with the king, at his inaugura- 
 tion : And finally they are national cuvmants with God, as party 
 contracting, to keep all the words of his covenant. The subject 
 or parties contracting are permanent, to wit, the unchangeable 
 God, and the kingdom of Scotland (the sanie may be said ol Eng- 
 land and Ireland) which, whilst it remains a kingdom, is still under 
 the obligation of these covenants. The mutter is nwtal, antece- 
 dently and eternally binding, albeit there had been no formal 
 covenant : the ends of them perpetually good, to wit, the defence 
 cj the true reformed riligicn, and the maintenance of the King's 
 Majesty's person and estate (as is expressed in the National Cove- 
 nant) the glory of God, the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ,- the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty, and 
 his posterity, and the public liberty, safety, and peace of the king- 
 doms, as it is expressed in the Solemn League. And in the form 
 of them there are clauses expressing their perpetuity. In the 
 National Covenant it is said, that the present and sticceedi?ig gene- 
 rations in this land, are bound to keep the foresaid National Qjth 
 and Subscription inviolable. And in the Solemn League, Article 
 1. That we and our posterity after us, may, us brethren, live in 
 
 faith and love. And Art. 5. That they may remain conjoined in a 
 
 firm peace and union, to all posterity. 
 
 We may add also, the sanctions of rewards and punishments, 
 descending to posterit}', prove the obligation perpetual : Which 
 is, alas ! too visible in our case, as to the punishments inflicted 
 for the breach of our covenants, and like to be further inflicted, 
 if repentance prevent not; so that as we have been a taunting 
 proverb, and an hissing, for the guilt, we may look to be made 
 a curse and an execration, for the punishment of it. The dis- 
 tinction which some make use of to elude this obligation, ' That 
 
 * suppose they be materially bound, yet seeing they have not sworn 
 
 * the covenants personally, they are not formally bound,' is both 
 false and frivolous ; for our father's oath having all the foresaid 
 qualifications, binds us formally as an oath, though we have but 
 virtually sworn it ; and vvhetlier the obligation be material or 
 formal, implicit or explicit, it is all one in God's sight, if it be 
 real, seeing even virtual obligations have frequently brought re- 
 wards and punishments upon the head of the observers or break- 
 ers of them, as well as formal. Seeing then the obligation of the 
 covenant upon us is evident to a demonstration, it cannot injus- 
 tice be called a rebellious action, against lawful authority, to de- 
 clare in our station, that we believe so much, and resolve to prac- 
 tise accordingly. It is indeed too true, that the wicked laws en- 
 acting the perpetual breaches of these covenants, have never been 
 rescinded ; but seeing they are wicked, and opposite to the com- 
 mandment and covenant of the Lord, the supreme legislator, 
 they are naturally void and null, and have been still so esteemed 
 by us. 
 
PREFACE. 3S 
 
 Object, 5. ' Albeit the National Covenant should be granted to 
 
 * be binding upon us the people of Scotland, and thcretore may be 
 
 * renewed : yet, to renew the Solenni League with England and 
 
 * Ireland, as matters now stand, is ridiculous and impossible.' 
 
 Ans. This objection is partly answered before in the Sermons, 
 [page 14-.] and may be further cleared, if we consider, that the 
 Solemn League and Covenant may be taken under different res- 
 pects, either as a league ajnongst men. or as a covenant between God 
 and men : in the former sense, as it notes a league offensive and de^ 
 fensive made betwixt the collective bodies of these kingdoms, it is 
 certain it cannot be taken by us, who are but a poor insignificant, 
 handful of people, far from any authority, or influence in church 
 or commonwealth ; the collective and representative body of the 
 three kingdoms, having basely abandoned their covenant with 
 God, and united in a sinful compact opposite thereunto ; so that 
 to make a league with England or Ireland in tliis sense, were to 
 enter into a sinful confederacy v/ith apostate covenant-breakers ; 
 but in the latter acceptation, as it is a covenant with God, not as a 
 witness only, but also as a party contracting, there is no absurd-* 
 ity, or impossibility, why Scotland, or any part thereof, may 
 not renew it, obliging themselves by a solemn vow, to perform 
 what they are bound to antecedently by the law of God. And 
 if it be considered as an association, it respects those only, who 
 now do, or hereafter shall, adhere unto it, whether here, or in 
 the other two kingdoms. Hence the words in the preamble of the 
 Solemn League and Covenant, expressing the several ranks, 
 and the extent of the Covenanters, were not read at the renew- 
 ing of it at Douglas ; because we own ourselves to be under a 
 league with none, but such as own the covenanted Reformation ; 
 these, and these only, we heartily embrace as our colleagues, 
 into the dearest and nearest bonds of Christian union and fellow- 
 ship, according to this League and Covenant. 
 
 As the revolt of the ten tribes from the true religion and cove- 
 nant of the Lord their God, hindered not the godly of Judah, nor 
 the small party that joined in the sincere worship of Got!, out of 
 Ephraini and Manasseh, to renew their covenant under the au- 
 spicious reigiis of Asa, Hezckiah, Josiah; Nor did the horrid 
 apostacy of the Sectarian party in England impede our ancestors 
 to renew this Solemn League and Covenant in Scotland, Anno 
 1649 ; So neither can the defection of the generality of the three 
 kingdoms, which is to be bewailed (if possible) with tears of 
 blood, hinder us from testifying our adherence to the covenant, 
 or invalidate what we have done therein. 
 
 Object. 4. ' Albeit the action should be granted to be for the 
 
 * main, lav.^ful and right, yet it was most unseasonable to under- 
 
 * take it at such a time, when the parliament and ministry is com- 
 
 * posed of a set of men, that evidence no good affection to the 
 
 * 2iresent established church in Scotland, who will be ready to 
 
S6 PREFACE. 
 
 * interpret the action of a few immoderately and unseasonably 
 
 * zealous people, as the deed of the whole Presbyterians in Scot- 
 « land, and so make a handle thereof against them, to impose 
 < upon them some new burdens; or to take such measures as will 
 
 * effectually put a stop to the more general renovation thereof 
 « throughout the land.' 
 
 In answer to this objection, we shall only desire the gentlemen 
 that make it, to remember. That now for the space of 24< years 
 they have been crying, the time is not come wherein we should 
 set about covenant-renewing ; one while they have pretended that 
 the time was not seasonable, because such as were in authority 
 were friends to the church ; and it would look like a suspecting 
 of their integrity, to enter into covenant for defence and reform- 
 ation of religion, as if they would not show themselves active 
 enough for these ends ; and prove an irritation to them to turn 
 enemies to Presbyterian government ; it would cause them think 
 the Presbyterians tot be a people of indiscreet and ungovernable 
 zeal, and so disgust them at the establishment. Another while 
 they excuse themselves from this duty, because these in authority 
 are unfriendly to the Presbyterian establishment; They must 
 walk cautiously now, and manage prudently, lest they give any 
 umbrage to Jacobites and Episcopalians to represent them ill at 
 court, and so occasion the overthrow of the great security, found- 
 ed in the Union Treaty. Formerly they needed not renew the 
 covenant, because religion was not in danger; Now they dare 
 not attempt to do it, because it is; they must wait till a well-af- 
 fected parliament and good counsellors set it out of danger again, 
 and then they will not need to covenant for its safety. These 
 shifts are too shrewd discoveries of neutrality in this cause. It is 
 to be feared that the godly have too long been hood-winked with 
 such fi'ivolous pretexts ; and it is high time for every one, that has 
 the low case of the work of God in the land at heart, to be awak- 
 ened to renew their covenant vvith God and keep the same. The 
 motives and calls to the work above mentioned will sufficiently 
 (we hope) demonstrate the seasonablencss of it. But if there 
 was a defect as to the seasonableness, it was not because it was so 
 aoon set about, but because it was no sooner. 
 
 We shall not dwell any longer upon these and the like objec- 
 tions ; There will not want mountains of difficulties in the way, 
 till such time as the Lord, coming by his Spirit in a day of his 
 power, shall be pleased to level them and say, " What art thou, 
 " O great mountain, before Zorobabel ? Thou shalt become a 
 " plain." In that day (we doubt not) there shall be a willing 
 people to enter into covenant with the Lord, even a perpetual 
 covenant, that shall not be forgotten. But in the mean time 
 they would do well to consider the hazard they bring themselves 
 into, who wilfully raise objections against the covenant, because 
 they are unwilling to enter into it, or be bound by it. 
 
PREFACE. 37 
 
 It may be some will desiderate an account of the other solemn 
 holy action, that followed upon the back of this, in regard there 
 were some circumstances in it not so ordinary, in this church in 
 former times, because of the paucity of public instruments ; But 
 neither do we think it needful to give any large account of it; nor 
 will it fall so properly into this preface, which concerneth only 
 national covenanting, and it is like the reader's patience is too 
 far transgressed upon already ; nor was there any suhslantiaU or 
 ybr»?aZ difference betwixt it, and the comely order of the church 
 of Scotland, observed in our purest times of reformation, in the 
 celebration of that sacred ordinance, except what in the form 
 arose from the circumstances we were in, and the reason now 
 mentioned. The work was awful and great, the persons, em- 
 ployed about it, few and insignificant in their own eyes, as well 
 as mean in the eyes of others, and hence the Lord's power and 
 grace was the more conspicuous, who (we must not dissemble it) 
 was present to the sensible experience of many, sealing instruc- 
 tion upon the hearts of some, and granting strengthening and 
 confirming grace to others, for which he ought to have all the 
 glory. 
 
 But because there has been (as we are informed) no small clam- 
 our raised anent some expressions used in debarring the ignorant 
 ^nd scandalous from the holy table of the Lord ; That the Minis' 
 ter should have unreasonably aiid presumptuously excommunicated the 
 Queen and parliament, and the whole Ministers of the established 
 church of Scotland ,- Therefore we shall here insert the very words 
 relating to that affair, as they were uttered by him without any al- 
 teration. In warning the ignorant, scandalous and profane to be- 
 ware of presuming to approach to the holy table of the Lord, the 
 Minister observed (as the manner is) the order of the decalogue, 
 where, in the sins forbidden in the second commandment, as they 
 are enumerated by the very Reverend the Assembly of Divines sit- 
 ting at Westminster, in their humble advice concerning a Larger 
 Catechism, we find these amongst others, ' All devising, coun- 
 ' selling, commanding, using and any ways approving any reli- 
 
 * gious worship not instituted by God himself; tolerating a false 
 
 * religion. All supei'stitious devices, corrupting the worship 
 
 * of God, adding to it, taking from it, whether invented and tak- 
 
 * en up of ourselves, or received by tradition from others, though 
 
 * under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or 
 
 * any other pretence whatsoever.' Hence he expressed himself 
 in these words, ' I debar and excommunicate from this holy table 
 ' of the Lord, all devisers, commanders, users or approvers of 
 
 * any religious worship not instituted by God in his word, and 
 
 * all toleraters and countenancers thereof; And by consequence, 
 
 * I debar and excommunicate from this holy table of the Lord, 
 
 * Queen and Parliament, and all under them, who spread and 
 
 * propagate, or tolerate a false superstitous worship, ay and un? 
 
58 PREFACE. 
 
 * til they repent.' And in relation to the opposing of the cove- 
 nants and work of reformation, he had these words, ' I excomniu- 
 ' nicate ami debar all who are opposers of our Covenants, and co- 
 
 * venanted Reformation, and all that have taken Oaths contrary' 
 
 * to our Covenants, and such particularly as are takers of the 
 
 * Oath of Abjuration, whether Ministers or others, until they 
 •• jcpent.' 
 
 That this was no presumptuous and rebellious arrogance, is 
 evident because the sins, I'or which he dtbarred Queen and Par- 
 liament, and all others guilty of them, are proven from scrip- 
 ture to be gross breaches of God's law, and every violation there- 
 t>f persisted in, without repentance, is a sufficient cause (in the 
 opinion of Protestant Divines) to debar and exclude from the 
 Lord's table. Now it is certain that even these Ministers of the 
 established church, who make such obloquy against the work for 
 this particular, do the same thing in efti?ct every time that they 
 jidministrate this ordinance, for (as can be proved, if thty please 
 to require it, or do deny it) they excommunicate from the table 
 all guilty of such sins, as arc forbidden in the second command- 
 ment, according as they are specified in the foresaid Catechism ; 
 And so by an infallible consequence they excommunicate the 
 Queen and Parliament, who are grossly guilty of the most of 
 them ; only they have not the courage, ingenuously and freely to 
 own and express the consequence, but that it follows natively and 
 necessarily from the premises, even according to their own prin- 
 ciples, they wdl never be able to disprove. 
 
 Now Reader, Thou hast a just and true account, so far as was 
 neceesary, of our poor weak endeavours in this matter, which we 
 liope will at least stand as a witness and testin:iony (without arro- 
 gance we desire to speak it) against the apostacy of some, and 
 nidifferency of others, who sliould have been to us as the he-goats 
 before theJlocJc, in paving our way to Zion, but are rather making 
 to theniiclvcs captains to carry us back to Babylon, and pollute our 
 land with idolatry and superstition ; and as a pledge to posterity, 
 that the Lord has not yet utterly deserted the land ; though we 
 rather wish (if so it may consist with his holy purpose, isoho is ■won- 
 derful in counsel, and excellent in ivor/cingj That it might tend to 
 excite some to bethink " whence they have fallen, and repent, 
 *« and to do their first works, lest the Lord come quickly, and 
 *' utterly remove his candlestick from us." — And engage tliem to 
 renew these Covenants in a more public way, and prosecute the 
 ends of them with more zeal, fidelity and constancy, " that the 
 *' Lord may yet delight to dwell amongst us, make our judges 
 " peace, and our exactors righteousness," and make us to be cal- 
 led Hep/iziba/i, and our land Beidah. 
 
 To fill up the vacancy of this page, the Reader may please, to 
 cast his eye upon the following passages, quoted from the writings 
 
PREFACE. 39 
 
 of some of the ablest Divines, wherewith these kingdoms have 
 been blessed, since the first vcforniation from Popery ; wherein 
 he will see, how far difljrent an opinion they have entertained of 
 the Covenant, from what are the thoughts of the learned Latitu- 
 ' dinarians of our age. 
 
 A Testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ and to our Solemi 
 League and Covenant, ^c. subscribed bj/ the Ministers of Christ, 
 within the province of London, December lArth, 1649. Head IV. 
 
 ' In order unto reformation and defence of religion, within 
 
 * these three kingdoms, we shall never forget, how solemnly and 
 
 * cheerfully the Solemn League and Covenant was sworn with 
 
 * hands lifted up to the most high God. We were, and are 
 
 * abundantly satisfied, that our Solemn League and Covenant of 
 
 * September 27th, 16i3. is not only warrantable for the matter 
 
 * of it, and manner of entering into it, but also of such excellency 
 ' and importance, That it v;ill be very^hard in all points, to 
 
 * parallel it; and therefore a*s we did sincerely swear this cove- 
 
 * nant with God, with all our heart, and with all our soul, much 
 ' rejoicing at the oath, with a true intention to perform it, and 
 
 * not for promoting any politic design ; so we do believe and pro- 
 
 * fess to the world, that we still stand as firmly engaged to the 
 ' real performance of it, with our utmost endeavours, as at the 
 
 * first taking of it ; and that it is not in the power of any person 
 or persons on earth, to dispense with it, or absolve from it. 
 
 T^ie harmonious consent of the Ministers nf the county Palatine of 
 Lancaster with their reveroid Brethren the Ministers of the pro- 
 vince of London. Head V. 
 
 * We shall never forget how solemnly it (the solemn league and 
 
 * covenant) was sworn, and what rejoicing there was at the oath, 
 « sundry at the taking of it weeping for joy ; and when the cove- 
 
 * nant was thus taken, we thought with ourselves, that surely 
 
 * now the crown is set upon England's head : We judged the daj' 
 ' of entering into this covenant, to be England's coronation-day, 
 
 * as it was the day of the gladness of our hearts.' 
 
 Mr Philip Nye's Exhortation at the taking of the Covenant, Sep- 
 tember 2iUh, 1643, p. 2. 
 
 * This Oath is such, and in the matter and consequence of it, 
 
 * of such concernment, as I can truly say, it is worthy of us ; 
 
 * yea, of all the kingdoms of the world ; for it is swearing fealty 
 
 * and allegiance to Christ the King of kings, and a giving up of 
 ' all these kingdoms, which are his inheritance, to be subdued 
 
 * more to his throne, and ruled more by his sceptre, upon whose 
 
 * shoulders the government is laid.* 
 
THE 
 
 NATIONAL COVENANT; 
 
 OR THE 
 
 Confession of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland ; 
 
 Subscribed at first hy the King's Majesty and his Household^ in the 
 year of God, 1580; Thereafter, by persons of all ranks, in the 
 year 1581; By Ordinaiice of the Lords of the Secret Council, and. 
 Acts of the General Assembly. Subscribed again by all sorts of 
 persons in the year 1590, by a new Ordinance of Council, at the 
 desire of the General Assembly, with a Band for the maintenance 
 of the true religioji, and the King's person : Ajid subscribed in the 
 year 1638, by the Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Mi- 
 nisters, and Commons, then under- stibscribing ,- together xvith their 
 resolution and promises for the causes after specified, to maintaiit 
 the True Religion, and the Kings Majesty, according to the con- 
 fession aforesaid, and Acts of Parliament ; And upon the suppli- 
 cation of the General Assembly to his Majesty's High Commission- 
 er, and the Lord's of his Majesty's honourable Privy Council. 
 Subscribed again in the year 1639, by Ordinance of Council, and 
 Acts of General Assembly, Sfc. Sfc. Tfie Tenor "johereof here Jol- 
 loweth. 
 
 WE All, and every one of Us underwritten, protest. That, 
 after long and due examination of our own consciences in 
 matters of true and false religion, we are now throughly resolved 
 in the truth by the word and Spirit of God : And therefore we 
 believe with our hearts, confess with our mouths, subscribe with 
 our hands, and constantly affirm before God and the whole world, 
 that this only is the true Christian faith and religion, pleasing 
 God, and bringing salvation to man, which now is, by the mer- 
 cy of God, revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed 
 evangel ; and is received, believed, and defended by many and 
 sundry notable kirks and realms, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scot- 
 land, and sometimes by the King's Majesty, and the three Estates of 
 this realm, as God's eternal truth, and only ground of our salva- 
 tion ; as more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our 
 Faith, established and publicly confirmed by sundry Acts of Par- 
 liaments, and now of a long time have been openly professed by 
 the King's Mijesty, and whole body of this realm both in burgh 
 and land. To the which Confession and form of religion we 
 wiHingly agree in our own consciences in all points, as unto God'p 
 
THE NATIONAL COVENANT. 41 
 
 undoubted truth and verity, grounded only upon his written word. 
 And therefore we abhor and detest all contrary religion and doc- 
 trine : but chiefly all kind of Papistry in general, and particular 
 heads, even as they are now damned and confuted by the word of 
 God, and kirk of Scotland. But in special we detest and refuse 
 the usurped authority of that Roman Antichrist upon the scrip- 
 tures of God, upon the kirk, the civil magistrate, and conscienccK 
 of men : All his tyrannous laws made upon indifferent things 
 against our Christian liberty : His erroneous doctrine against the 
 sufficiency of the written word, the perfection of the law, the offices 
 of Christ, and his blessed evangel : His corrupted doctrine con- 
 cerning original sin, our natural inability and rebellion to God's 
 law, our justification by faith only, our imperfect sanctification and 
 obedience to the law ; the nature, number, and use of the hol}-^ 
 sacraments : His five bastard sacraments ; with all his rites, cere- 
 monies, and false doctrine, added to the ministration of the true 
 sacraments, without the word of God : His cruel judgment 
 against infants departing without the sacrament : His absolute 
 necessity of baptism : His blasphemous epinion of transubstanti- 
 ation, or real presence of Christ's body in the elements, and 
 receiving of the same by the wicked, or bodies of men : His dis- 
 pensations with solemn oaths, perjuries, and degrees of marriage 
 forbidden in the word : His cruelty against the innocent divorced r 
 His devilish mass : His blasphemous priesthood : His profane 
 sacrifice for the sins of the dead and the quick : His canonization 
 of men; calling upon angels or saints departed; worshipping of 
 imagery, relics and crosses; dedicating of kirks, altars, days; 
 Vows to creatures : His purgatory, prayers for the dead ; pray- 
 ing or speaking in a strange language ; with his processions and 
 blasphemous litany, and multitude of advocates or mediators ; 
 His manifold orders, auricular confession : His desperate and 
 uncertain repentance : His general and doubtsonie faith ; his 
 satisfactions of men for their sins : His justification by works, 
 opus operatum, works of supererogation, merits, pardons, pere- 
 grinations, and stations : His holy water, baptizing of bells, 
 conjuring of spirits, crossing, sayning, anointing, conjuring, 
 hallowing of God's good creatures, with the superstitious opinion 
 joined therewith : His worldly monarchy, and wicked hierarchy ; 
 His three solemn vows, with all his shavellings of sundry sorts : 
 His erroneous and bloody decrees made at Trent, with all the 
 subscribers and approvers of that cruel and bloody bond, con- 
 jured against the kirk of God. 
 
 And finall}", we detest all his vain allegories, rites, signs, and 
 traditions brought into the kirk, without or against the word of 
 God, and doctrine of this true reformed kirk; To the which we 
 join ourselves willingly, in doctrine, faith, religion, discipline, 
 and use of the holy sacraments, as lively members of the same in 
 Christ our head : Promising and swearing by the Great Name of 
 
 F 
 
4g THE NATIONAL 
 
 the Lord our God, that we shall continue in the obedience of the 
 doctrine and discipline of this kirk, and shall defend the same 
 according to our vocation and power, all the days of our lives, 
 under the pains contained in the law, and danger both of body 
 and soul, in the day of God's fearful judgment : And seeing that 
 many are stirred up by Satan, and that Roman Antichrist, to 
 promise, swear, subscribe, and for a time use the holy sacra- 
 ments in the kirk deceitfully, against their own consciences, mind- 
 ing thereby, first, under the external cloak of religion, to corrupt 
 and subvert secretly God's true religion within the kirk, and af- 
 terwards, when time may serve, to become open enemies and 
 persecutors of the same, under vain hope of the Pope's dispensa- 
 tion, devised against the Word of God, to his greater confusion, 
 and their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus. 
 
 We therefore, willing to take away all suspicion of hypocrisy, 
 and of such double dealing with God and his kirk, protest, and 
 call, The Searcher oj (ill hearts for witness, that our minds and 
 hearts, do fully agree with this our Confession, Promise, Oath 
 and Stibscription, so that we are not moved with any worldly res- 
 pect, but are persuaded only in our own consciences, through 
 the knowledge and love of God's true religion, imprinted in our 
 hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we shall answer to him in the day, 
 when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. And because we 
 perceive, that the quietness and stability of our religion and kirk, 
 doth depend upon the safety and good 
 * The law/id suprcvie behaviour of [the * King's Majesty,] as 
 Magistrate. upon a comfortable instrument of God's 
 
 mere}, granted to this country, for the 
 maintaining of this kirk, and ministration of justice amongst us, 
 we protest and promise with our hearts, under the same oath, 
 hand-write, and pains, that we shall de- 
 \ The persons and ail- fend [his f person and authority,] with 
 thority of such, ivhcn our goods, bodies and lives, in the de- 
 Godof his mercy shall fence of Christ his evangel, liberties of 
 grant them tons. our country, ministration of justice, and 
 
 punishment of iniquity, against all ene- 
 mies within this realm, or without, as we desire our God to be a 
 strong and merciful defender to us in the day of our death, and 
 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: To whom with the Father, 
 and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory eternally. Amen. 
 Likeas, many Acts of Parliament not only in general do ab- 
 rogate, annul and rescind all laws, statutes, acts, constitutions, 
 canons, civil or municipal, with all other ordinances and prac- 
 tique penalties whatsoever, made in prejudice of the true religion 
 and professors thereof; Or, of the true kirk-discipline, jurisdic- 
 tion, and freedom thereof; Or in favours of idolatry and super- 
 stition ; Or of the Papistical kirk: As Act 3. Act 31. Pari. 1. 
 Act 23. Pari. 11. Act lU. Pari. 12. of K. James VI. that 
 
COVENANT. 4S 
 
 Papistry and superstition may be utterly suppressed, according 
 to the intention of the Acts of parliament, repeated in the 5. Act 
 Pari. 20. K. James VI. And to that end they ordain all Papists 
 and priests to be punished with manifold civil and ecclesiastical 
 pains, as adversaries to God's true I'eligion, preached, and by law 
 established within this realm. Act 24. Pari. 11. K. Ja. VI. as 
 common enemies to all Christian government, Act 18. Pari. 16. 
 K. Ja. VI. as rebellers and gain-standers of our sovereign Lord's 
 authority, Act ^Y. Pari. 3. K. Ja. VI. and as idolaters. Act 104. 
 PBrl. 7. K. Ja. VI. But also in particular, by and attour the 
 Confession of Faith, do abolish and condemn the Pope's authority 
 and jurisdiction out of this land, and ordains the maintainers 
 thereof to be punished, Act 2. Pari. 1. Act 51. Pari. 3. Act 106. 
 Pari. 7. Act 114. Pari. 12. K. James VI. do condemn the Pope's 
 erroneous doctrine, or any other erroneous doctrine repugnant 
 to any of the articles of the true and Christian religion, pub- 
 licly preached, and by law established in this realm ; and or- 
 dains the spreaders and makers of books or libels, or letters, 
 or writs of that nature, to be punished. Act 46. Pari. 3. Act 
 106. Pari. 7. Act 24. Pari. 11. K. James VI. do condemn all 
 baptism conform to the Pope's kirk, and the idolatry of the 
 mass ; and ordains all sayers, wilful hearers, and concealers of 
 the mass, the maintainers and resetters of the priests, Jesuits, 
 trafficking Papists, to be punished without any exception or re- 
 striction. Acts. Pari. 1. Act 120. Pari. 12. Act 164. Pari. 13. 
 Act 193. Pari. 14. Act 1. Pari. 19. Act 5. Pari. 20. K.James 
 VI. do condemn all erroneous books and writs, containing erro- 
 neous doctrine against the religion presently professed, or contain- 
 ing superstitious rites and ceremonies Papistical, whereby the 
 people are greatly abused ; and ordains the home-bringers of them 
 to be punished. Act 25. Pari. 11. K. James VI. do condemn the 
 monuments and dregs of the bygone idolatry, as going to crosses, 
 observing the festival days of Saints, and other superstitious and 
 Papistical rites, to the dishonour of God, contempt of true reli- 
 gion, and fostering of great error among the people ; and ordains 
 the users of them to be punished for the second fault, as idolaters, 
 Act 104. Pari. 7. K. James VI. 
 
 Likeas, many acts of parliament are conceived for maintainance 
 of God's true Christian religion, and the purity thereof in doc- 
 trine and sacraments of the true church of God, the liberty and 
 freedom thereof, in her national, synodal assemblies, presby- 
 teries, sessions, policy, discipline and jurisdiction thereof, as 
 that purity of religion and liberty of the church was used, pro- 
 fessed, exercised, preached and confessed according to the re- 
 formation of religion in this realm. As for instance, the 99tli 
 Act, Pari. 7. Act 23. Pari. 1 1. Act 114. Pari. 12. Act 160. Pari. 
 13. of K. Ja. VI. Ratified by the 4. Act of K. Cnarles. So that 
 the 6. Act, Pari. 1. and 68. Act, Pari. 6, of K. James VI. in the 
 
U THE NATIONAL 
 
 year of God 1579, declares the ministers of the blessed evangel, 
 whom God of his mrcy had r.used up, or hereafter should raise, 
 agreeing with them that then lived, in doctrine, and administra- 
 tion of the sacraments, and the people that professed Christ, as 
 he was then offered in the evangv'l, and doth communicate with 
 the holy sacraments, (as in the reformed kirks of this realm they 
 were publicly administrate) according to the Confession of Faith, 
 to be the true and holy kirk of Christ Jesus within this realm, 
 and decerns and declares all and sundry, who either gainsays the 
 word of the evangel, received and approved, as the heads of the 
 Confession of Faith, professed in parliament, in the year of God 
 1560, specified also in the first parliament of K. James VI. and 
 ratified in this present parliament, more particularly do specify, 
 or that refuses the administration of the holy sacraments, as 
 they were then ministered, to be no members of the said kirk 
 within this realm, and true religion, presently professed, so long 
 SK they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christ's 
 body : and the subsequent Act 69, Pari. 6, of K. James VI. de- 
 clares, that there is none other face of kirk, nor other face of re- 
 ligion, that was presently at that time, by the favour of God es- 
 tablished within this realm, which therefore is ever stiled, God's 
 true relig207if Christ's true religion, the true and Christian religion, 
 and a 'perfect religion ; Which by manifold acts of parliament, all 
 within this realm are bound to subscribe the articles thereof, the 
 Confession of Faith, to recant all doctrine and errors, repugnant 
 to any of the said articles. Act 4, and 9, Pari. 1. Act 4J, 46, 
 47. Pari. 3. Act 71, Pari. 6. Act i06, Pari. 7. Act 24, Pari. 11. 
 Act 123, Pari. 12. Act 194, and 197, Pari. 14. of K. James VI. 
 And all magistrates, sheriff^., &c. on the one part are ordained to 
 search, apprehend and punish all contravteners; for instance. Act 
 ,5, Pari. 1. Act 104, Pari. 7. Act 25, Pari. 11. K. James VI. 
 and that notwithstanding of the King's Majesty's licence to the 
 contrary, which are discharged and dt.clared to be of no force, in 
 so far as they tend in any ways, to the prejudice and hinder of 
 the execution of the acts of Parliament against Papists and adver- 
 'jarics of true religion, Act 106, Pari. 7- K. James the VI. On 
 the other part, in the 47 Act Pari. 3. K. James VI. it is de- 
 clared and ordained, seemg the cau^e of God's true I'eligion, and 
 his Highness' authority are so joined, as the hui't of the one is 
 common to both ; and that none shall be reputed as loyal and 
 laithful subjects to our sovereign Lord, or his authority, but be 
 punishable as rebellers and gainstanders of the same, who shall 
 not give their confession, and make their profession, of the said 
 true religion, and that they who after defection shall give the 
 confession of their faith of new, they shall promise to continue 
 therein, in time coming, to maintain our sovereign Lord's au- 
 thority, and at the uttermost of their power to fortify, assist, and 
 maintain the true preachers and professors of Christ's evangel, 
 
COVENANT. 4S 
 
 against whatsoever enemies and gainstanders of the same : and 
 namely against all such (of whatsoever nation, estate, or degree 
 they be) that have joined, and bound themselves, or have assist- 
 ed, or assists to set forward, and execute tlie cruel decrees of Trent, 
 contrary to the preachers and true professors of the word of God, 
 which is repeated word by word in the articles of pacification at 
 Perth the 23d of February, 1572, approved by Parliament the 
 last of April, 1573, ratified in Parliament, 1587, and related, Act 
 123, Pari. 12, ofK. James VI. with this addition, that they are 
 bound to resist all treasonable uproars and hostilities raised against 
 the true religion, the King's Majesty, and the true professors. 
 
 Likeas all lieges are bound to maintain the King's Majesty's 
 royal person, and authority, the authority of Parliaments, without 
 the which neither any laws, or lawful judicatories can be estab- 
 lished. Act 130, Act 131, Pari. 8, K. James VI. and the sub- 
 jects' liberties, who ought only to live and be governed by the 
 King's laws, the common laws of this realm allenarly. Act 48, 
 Pari. 3. K. James I. Act 79, Pari. 6, K. James IV. rtpeatedin 
 the Act 131. Pari 8, K. James VI. W^hich, if they be innovat- 
 ed or prejudged, the commission anent the union of the two king- 
 doms of Scotland and England, which is the sole Act of the 17 
 Pari, of K. James VI, declares such confusion would ensue, as 
 this realm could be no more a free monarchy, because by the 
 fundamental laws, ancient privileges, offices and liberties of this 
 kingdom, not only the princely authority of his Majesty's royal 
 descent hath been these many ages maintained, but also the 
 people's security of their lands, livings, rights, offices, liberties, 
 and dignities preserved, and therefore for the preservation of the 
 said true religion, laws, and liberties of this kingdom, it is sta- 
 tute by the 8 Act, Pari. 1. repeated in the 99 Act, Pari. 7. rati- 
 fied in the 23 Act, Pari. 1 !. and 114 Act, Pari. 12. of K. James 
 VI. and 4- Act of K. Charles I. That all kings and princes at 
 their coronation and reception of their princely authority, shall 
 make their faithful promise by their solemn oath in the presence 
 of the eternal God, that enduring the whole time of their lives ; 
 they shall serve the same,, eternal God to the uttermost of their 
 power, according as he*hath required in his most holy word, 
 contained in the Old and New Testaments. And according to 
 the same word, shall maintain the true religion of Christ Jesus, 
 the preaching of his holy word, the due and right ministration of 
 the sacraments now received and preached within this realm (ac- 
 cording to the Confession of Faith) and shall abolish and gain- 
 stand all false religion contrary to the same, and shall rule the 
 people committed to their charge, according to the v,'ill and com- 
 mand of God, revealed in his foresaid word, and according to 
 the laudable laws and coustitutions received in this realm, no 
 ways repugnant to the said will of the eternal God ; and shall 
 procure, to the uttermost of their power, to the kirk of God and 
 
45 THE NATIONAL 
 
 whole Christian people, true and perfect peace in all time com- 
 ing : And th;it they shall be careful to root out of their empire 
 all heretics, and enemies to the true worship of God, who shall be 
 convicted by the true kirk of God, of the foresaid crimes, which 
 
 was also observed by his Majesty * at his 
 * King Charles the 7. coronation in Edinburgh 1633, as may 
 
 be seen in the order of the coronation. 
 In obedience to the commandment of God, conform to the prac- 
 tice of the godly in former times, and according to the laudable ex- 
 ample of our wortliy and religious progenitors, which 
 
 was warranted also by Act of Council, commanding a general bond 
 to be made and subscribed by his Majesty's subjects, of all ranks, 
 for two causes : one was, for defending the true religion, as it was 
 then reformed, and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above 
 mentioned, and a former large Confession established by sundry 
 acts of lawful General Assemblies, and of Parliament, unto which 
 it hath relation, set (town in public Catechisms, and which had 
 been for many years with a blessing from heaven, preached and pro- 
 fessed in this kirk and kingdom, as God's undoubted truth, ground- 
 ed only upon his written word. The other cause was, for maintain- 
 ing the King's Majesty, his person, and estate : The true worship 
 of God and the King's authority, being so straitly joined, as that 
 they had the same friends, and common enemies, and did stand, 
 and fall together. And finally, being convinced in our minds, 
 and confessing with our mouths, that the present and succeeding 
 generations in this land, are bound to keep the foresaid national 
 
 oath and subscription inviolable. We 
 
 under subscribing, considering divers times before, 
 
 and especially at this time, the danger of the true reformed I'eli- 
 
 gion, and of the public peace of the kingdom : 
 
 by the manifold innovations and evils generally contained, and 
 
 particularly mentioned, [in supplications, 
 f Ilemo7istrances, de- complaints, and protestations,]-] do here- 
 darations and testhno- by profess, and before God, his angels, 
 nicsojold^ andoflate. and the world, solemnly declare, that, 
 
 with our whoWhearts we agree and re- 
 solve, all the days of our life, constantly to adhere unto, and to 
 defend the foresaid true religion, and (forbearing the practice of all 
 novations, already introduced in the matters of the worship of 
 God, or approbation of the corruptions of the public government 
 of the kirk, or civil places and power of kirkmen ;| till they be 
 tried and allowed in free assemblies, and in Parliaments) to la- 
 bour by all means lawful, to recover the purity and liberty of the 
 
 J Or any other corrupiions thereof, Prelatic or Erastian, either 
 tried or to be tried, such as indulgence, the toleration, the magis- 
 trate's appointing fasts 'vciihoid advice and consent (f the church, dis- 
 solving osse?nblies, 4^c. 
 
COVENANT. 4? 
 
 gospel, as it was established and professed before the foresaid no- 
 vations : and because, after due examination, we plainly perceive) 
 and undoubtedly believe, that the innovations and evils contain- 
 ed in our [supplications, complaints, and 
 
 protestations *] have no warrant of the * Bemonstranccs, dc- 
 word of God ; are contrary to the articles darations a?id testimo- 
 of the foresaid Confessions, to the inten- nies. 
 tion and meaning of the blessed reformers 
 
 of religion in this land, to the above-written Acts of Parliament, 
 and do sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish religion 
 and tyranny, and to the subversion and ruin of the true rcfonned 
 religion, and of our liberties, laws and estates : We also declare, 
 that the foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted, and ought to 
 be understood of the foresaid novations and evils, no less thaji if 
 every one of them had been expressed in the foresaid Confessions, 
 and that we are obliged to detest and abhor them, amongst other 
 particular heads of Papistry abjured therein : And therefore from 
 the knowledge and conscience of our duty 
 
 to God, [to f our King and country,] f To rigJiteous govern- - 
 without any worldly respect or induce- ors, (\solien obtained) 
 ment, so far as human infirmity will suf- and to our country. 
 fer, wishing a further measure of the grace 
 
 of God for this effect we promise, and swear by the great name 
 of the Lord our God, to continue in the profession and obedience 
 of the foresaid religion : that we shall defend the same, and resist 
 all these contrary errors and corruptions, according to our voca- 
 tion, and to the uttermost of that power that God hath put in 
 our hands, all the days of our life : and in like manner, with the 
 same heart, we declare before God and men, that we have no in- 
 tention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turn to the dis- 
 honour of God, or to the diminution of 
 
 [the X King's] greatness and authority : % The lawful supreme 
 but on the contrary, we promise and Magistrate's. 
 swear, that we shall, to the uttermost of 
 
 our power, with our means and lives, stand |1 The persons and au- 
 to the defence of [our |! dread sovereign, thority of sovereigns^ 
 the King's Majesty, his person, and au- having the quaUfica- 
 thority,] in the defence and preserva- tions which the scrip- 
 tion of the foresaid true religion, liber- tures require. 
 ties and laws of the kingdom : as also to 
 
 the mutual defence and assistance, every one of us of another, in 
 the same cause, of maintaining the true re- 
 ligion and [his 51 Majesty's! authority, with ^ The lawful supreme 
 our best counsel, our bodies, means, and Magistrate's. 
 whole power, against all sorts of persons 
 
 whatsoever. So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for 
 that cause, shall be taken as done to us all in general, and to every 
 •ne of us in particular. And that we shall, neither directly nor in- 
 
4$ THE NATIONAL 
 
 directly, suffer ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoevei 
 suggestion, allurement, or terror, from this blessed and loyal con- 
 junction, nor shall cast in any let or impediment, that may stay or 
 hinder any such resolution, as by common consent shall be found 
 to conduce for so good ends. But on the contrary, shall, by all 
 lawful means, labour to further and promote the same, and if 
 any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by word 
 or write, we, and every one of us, shall either suppress it, or if 
 need be shall incontinent make the same known, that it may be 
 timeously obviated : neither do we fear the foul aspersions of re- 
 bellion, combination, or what else our adversaries from their craft 
 and malice would put upon us, seeing what wc do is so well war- 
 ranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned de- 
 
 * Lawful supreme Ma- sire to maintain the true worship of God, 
 gistrates. the majesty of [ * our King,] and peace 
 
 of the kingdom, for the common happi- 
 ness of ourselves, and the posterity. 
 
 And because we cannot look for a ble«sing from God upon out 
 proceedings, except with our profession and subscription we join 
 such a life and conversation, as beseemeth Christians, who have 
 renewed their covenant with God ; we, therefore faithfully pro- 
 mise, for ourselves, our followers, and all other under us, both 
 in public, in our particular families and personal carriage, to en- 
 deavour to keep ourselves within the bounds of Christian liberty, 
 and to be good examples to others of all godliness, soberness and 
 righteousness, and of every duty we owe to God and man. And 
 that this our union and conjunction may be observed without vio- 
 lation, we call the living God the searcher of our hearts to wit- 
 ness, who knoweth this to be our sincere desire, and unfeigned 
 resohition, as we shall answer to Jesus Christ, in the great da}', 
 and under the pain of God's everlasting wrath, and of infamy, 
 and loss of all honour and respect in this world : Most humbly 
 beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this 
 end, and to bless our desires and proceedings with an happy suc- 
 cess, that religion and righteousness may flourish in the land, to 
 
 the glory of God, the honour of [our 
 
 * Lawful supreme Ma- King *] and peace and comfort of us all. 
 gistrates. In witness whereof v.'e have subscribed 
 
 with our hands all the premises, &c. 
 
 The Article of this Covenant, which was at first subscription 
 
 ■j- referred to the determination of the General A» 
 
 I Anno 1638. sembly, being now determined, and thereby the 
 
 five Articles of Perth, the government of the 
 
 kirk by bishops, the civil places and power of kirkmen, upon 
 
 the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General 
 
 Assembly, declared to be unlawful v/ithin this kirk, we subscribe 
 
 according to the determination foresaid. 
 
THE 
 
 SOLEMN LEAGUE & COVENANT, 
 
 For Reformation^ and Defence of Religion^ 4'C' 
 
 'VXT'E Having before our eyes the glory of God, and the 
 
 W advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour' 
 Jesus Christ, the honour and happiness 
 
 of [the * King's Majesty and liis posteri- * Lawful sujjreme Ma- 
 ty'] and the true public liberty, safety, and gistrates. 
 peace of the kingdoms, wherein every one's 
 
 private condition is inckided; And calling to mind the treach- 
 erous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts and practices of 
 the enemies of God against the true religion and professors there- 
 of in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, ever since 
 the reformation of religion, and how much their rage, power and 
 presumption are of late, and at this time increased and exercis- 
 ed ; whereof the deplorable estate of the church and kingdom of 
 Ireland, the distressed estate of the church and kingdom of Eng- 
 land, and the dangerous estate of the church and kingdom of 
 Scotland, are present and public testi- 
 monies : We have now at last [f after f After all supplica- 
 other means of supplication, remonstrance, tiojis, remojistrances, 
 protestation and suffering] for the pre- protestations, and suf- 
 servation of ourselves and our religion ferings of mir fathers, 
 from utter ruin and destruction, accord- and our otum grievous 
 ing to the commendable practice of these sufferings, and contend- 
 kingdoms in former times, and the ex- ings, both before and 
 ample of God's people in other nations, since the late Revolu- 
 after mature deliberation, resolved and tion, 
 determined to enter into a mutual aiid 
 
 Solemn League and Covenant : Wherein we all subscribe, and 
 each one of us for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most 
 high God, do swear; 
 
 i. That we shall sincerely, really and constantly, through the 
 grace of God, endeavour in our several places and callings, the 
 preservation of tlie reformed religion in the church of Scotland, ia 
 doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, against our com- 
 mon enemies; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of 
 England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline and gov- 
 ernment, according to the word of God, and the example of the 
 best reformed churhes ; and shall endeavour to bring the churches 
 of God in the three kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and 
 uniformity in religion. Confession of Faith, Form of Church-gov- 
 ernment, Directory for Worship and Catechizing ; that we and 
 
 G 
 
50 THE SOLEMN LEAGUE 
 
 our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love, 
 and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us. 
 
 2. That we shall, in like manner, without respect of persons, 
 endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy (that is, church- 
 government by arch-bishops, bishops, their chancellors and com- 
 missai'ies, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other 
 ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy) superstition, 
 heresy, schism, profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be 
 contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of godliness ; Lest we 
 partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of 
 their pl.ngues ; And that the Lord may be one, and his name one 
 in the three kingdoms. 
 
 3. We shall with the same sincerity, reality and constancy, in 
 our several vocations, endeavour with our estates and lives mutu- 
 ally to preserve thtr ights and privileges 
 
 * W/ien restored, ac- of the parliaments * and the liberties of 
 cording to their ancient the kingdoms ; And to preserve and de- 
 foundation. fend [the King's f Majesty's] person and 
 
 f The lawful supreme authority, in the preservation and defence 
 Marristrafe's. of the true religion, and liberties of the 
 
 kingdoms; That the world may bear wit- 
 ness with our consciences of our loyalty, and that we have no 
 thoughts or intentions to diminish [his 
 i The laxaful Magis- :{: Mij. -sty's] just power and greatness. 
 irate's. 4. We shall also with all faithfulness en- 
 
 deavour the discovery of all such as have 
 been, or shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil instruments, 
 by hindering the reformation of religion, 
 il T/ie lawful M-igis- dividing [the |1 King] from his people, or 
 trate, when obtained. one of the kingdoms from another, or 
 making any faction, or parties amongst 
 the people contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may 
 be brought to public trial, and receive condign punishment, as 
 the degree of their olTeiices shall require or deserve, or the 
 supreme judicatories of both kingdoms respectively, or others 
 having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient. 
 
 5. And whereas the happiness of a blessed })eace between these 
 kingdoms, denied in former times to our progenitors, was by 
 
 the good providence of God granted unto 
 
 ^ Our Reformers. [^ us] and -concluded, and settled by 
 
 both parliaments. We shall each one of us, 
 
 according to our place and interest, endeavour that they may be 
 
 and remain conjoined *!1 in a firm peace and 
 
 % As they were then, union to all posterity, and that justice may 
 
 be done upon the wilful opposers thereof, 
 
 in manner expressed in the piecedent article. 
 
 6. We shall also according to our places and callings in this 
 sommon cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdomj'^ 
 
AND COVENANT. 51 
 
 assist and defend all those that enter into this league and cove- 
 r.ant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; And shall not 
 suffer ourselves, directly or indiiLCtly, by whatsoever combina- 
 tion, persuasion or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from 
 this blessed union and conjunction, whether to make detection to 
 the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indiftlrency 
 or neutrality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory 
 of God, the good of the kingdoms, and 
 
 honour of [the * King;] But'shal! all the * The laxsjful mpreme 
 days of our lives z alously and constantly Magistrate. 
 continue therein, against all opposition, 
 
 and promote the same according to our power, against all lets 
 and impediments whatsoever ; and, what we are not able ourselves 
 to suppress or overcome, w^e shall reveal and make known, that 
 it may be timely prevented or removed ; all which we shall do as 
 in the sight of God. 
 
 And because these kingdoms are guilty of many sins, and pro- 
 vocations against God, and his Son Jesus Christ, as is too mani- 
 fest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof; we 
 profess and declare before God, and the world, our unfeigned 
 desire to be humbled for our own sins, and for the sins of these 
 kingdoms, especially that we have not, as we ought, valued tfie 
 inestimable benefit of the gospel, that we have not laboured for 
 the purity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured 
 to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to w^alk worthy of him in our 
 lives, which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so 
 much abounding amongst us ; and our true and unfeigned pur- 
 pose, desire and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our 
 power and charge, both in public and private, in all duties we 
 owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go 
 before another in the example of a real reformation ; that the 
 Lord may turn away his wrath, and heavy indignation, and es- 
 tablish these churches and kingdoms in truth and peace. And 
 this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God, the 
 searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, 
 as we shall answer at the great day, when the secrets of all hearts 
 shall be disclosed; most humbly beseeching the Lord, to streng- 
 then us by his Holy Spirit Ibr this end, and to bless our desires, 
 and proceedings with such success, as may be deliverance jaid 
 safety to his people, and encouragement to other Christian 
 churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichris- 
 tian tyranny, to join in the same, or like association and Cove- 
 nant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the kingdom of 
 Jesus Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Christian kingdom*, 
 and common-wealths. 
 
 N. B, These Covenants ahne written., formerlif 7iatio)i. 
 ally taken and reiieweci, and still national ti/ binding, He^ 
 
$i ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 in our private statioji only^ swear and subscribe in their ge- 
 nuine sense, conjorrn to the Explication and Application 
 thereof, in our present Acknowledgment of the public Sins 
 and Breaches of the same, and Engagement to the Duties 
 contained therein, which do in a special way relate to the 
 present times, and are proper for our capacities therein. 
 
 A 
 
 SOLEMN ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 PUBLIC SINS, 
 
 And Breaches of the National Covenant, and 
 Solemn League and Covenant. 
 
 WE all and every one of us being hy the good hand of 
 our God upon us, now, after a long and due deliberation, 
 determined to testify to the world, for the glory of God, and the 
 exoneration of our consciences, in the matter of our duty, our 
 adherence to the whole of our attained Reformation, by renewing 
 these our vows and Covenant-engagements with God, and know- 
 ing, that it is a necessary preparative for the right performance of 
 that so great and solemn a duty, that we be duly sensible of, and 
 deeply humbled for, the many heinous breaches thereof, which 
 these nations, and we ourselves in particular are guilty of; do 
 therefore, with that measure of sorrow and repentance, which God 
 of his mercy shall be pleased to grant us, desire to acknowledge 
 and confess our own sins, and violations of these vows, and the sins 
 and transo-ressions of our fathers ; to which we have also an example 
 left us byl/ie Cloud of witnesses, which through faith and patience have 
 inherited the promisses, ever since the Lord had a visible national 
 church upon earth, and more especially by our progenitors in this 
 nation ; as for instance in the year 1 596, ' Wherein the General 
 « Assembly, and all the kirk judicatories, with the concurrence of 
 
 < many of the nobility, gentry and burgesses, did with many tears 
 
 < acknowledge the breach of the National Covenant, and engaged 
 * themselves into a reformation, even as our predecessors, and 
 « theirs had done in the General Assembly, and Convention of 
 « Estates in the year 1567.' As also the more recent practice of 
 the godly renewing the National Covenant, and acknowledging 
 the breaches of it, both before they obtained the concurrence of 
 
OF SINS. SS 
 
 ^vil authority, in the year 1638, and again, by authority, in the 
 year 1639. And that noble precedent of that National solemn 
 Acknoisokdgment of public si7is and breaches of the Solemn League 
 and Covenant, and solemn Engagement to all the duties coyitained 
 theiein, (which we are here taking for our pattern, and enlarging 
 the same, as the sad sins and transgressions since that time com- 
 mitted, and the circumstances of time give occasion) condescend- 
 ing upon, ' by the Commission of the General Assembly, and 
 ' approven by the Committee of Estates, and publicly owned in 
 
 * all the churches, at the renewing of the Solemn League, Anno 
 ' le^S and 1649, together with that solemn renovation thereof, 
 ' accompanied with such confession of sins, as did best suit that 
 ' time, by that small company of the Lord's people at Lanark, be- 
 ' fore their discomfiture at Pentland hills. And perceiving by the 
 ' foresaid instances, that this duty, when gone about out of con- 
 
 * science, hath very often been attended with a reviving out of 
 ' troubles ; or at least out of deadness, security and formality, 
 ' under which we and the land are at present sinking, and with a 
 
 * blessing and success from heaven ; " We do humbly and slncere- 
 *' ly, as in His sight who is the seacher of hearts, acknowledge the 
 *' many sins and great transgressions of the land : we have done 
 " wickedly, our kings, our princes, our nobles, our judges, our of- 
 " ficers, our teachers, and our people. Albeit the Lord hath long 
 " and clearly spoken unto us, we have not hearkened to his voice. 
 " Albeit he hath followed us with tender mercies, we have not 
 " been allured to wait upon him, and walk in his way. And 
 " though he hath stricken us, yet we have not grieved : nay, 
 " though he hath consumed us, we have refused to receive cor- 
 " rection. We have not remembered to render unto the L(n-d 
 *' according to his goodness, and according to our vovvs and pro- 
 " mises ; but have gone away backward, by a perpetual back- 
 " sliding, and have most sinfully and shamefully broken the Na- 
 " tional Covenant, and all the Articles of the Solemn League 
 " and Covenant, which our fathers sware before. God, angels and 
 " men." Albeit there has been in the land, ever since the re- 
 formation of religion, some of all ranks who have been for a tes- 
 timony unto the truth, and for a name of joy and praise unto the 
 Lord, by living godly, studying to keep their garments pui'e, 
 and being steadfast in the Covenant and cause of God : and there 
 yet continues to be some, though reduced to a very small number, 
 destitute of outward power and ability, and other helps fit for 
 their right managing of a testimony, wanting the countenance of 
 civil authority, and having few to feed or lead them, who are, not- 
 withstanding all these difficulties, labouring in the strength of 
 Christ to keep the good old way^ of these faithful witnesses, who 
 are gone before, in bearing testimony to the truths of Christ ; 
 < Yet we have reason to acknowledge, that most of us, in this 
 f land, have not endeavoured with that reality, sincerity and 
 
.-5* ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 ' constancy that did become us, to preserve the work of reforma- 
 ' tion in the kirk of Scotland, as we are obh'ged by the first 
 ' Article of the Solemn League, and by the National Covenant ; 
 ' wherein we promise and swear by the great name of the Lord 
 
 * our God, that we shall continue in the obedience of the doc- 
 
 * trine and discipline of this kirk, and shall defend the same ac- 
 « cording to our vocation and pov^^er all the days of our lives, un- 
 
 * der the pains contained in the law, and danger both of body 
 
 * and soul in the day of God's fearful judgment, and resist all 
 <^ contrary errors and corruptions, according to our vocations, 
 ' and the utmost of that power God hath put in our bands all 
 
 * the days of our life : according to these scriptures.' 
 
 Ezra ix. 10. " And now, O our God, what shall we say after 
 this? for we have forsaken thy commandments. Verse 11. 
 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, &c." 
 Isaiah xxiv. 5. " The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants 
 thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the or- 
 dinance, broken the everlasting Covenant." Jeremiah ix. 13. 
 *' And the Lord saith, because they have forsaken my law, which 
 I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked 
 therein: verse 15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the 
 God of Israel, behold I will feed them, even this people, with 
 wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink." Daniel vii. 
 25. " And he shall speak great words against the Most High, 
 and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to 
 change times and laws." Galatians v. 1. " Stand fast therefore 
 in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not 
 entangled again with the yoke of bondage." 1 Timothy iv. 16. 
 "Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine: continue in 
 them : for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them 
 that hear thee." 2 Timothy i. 13. " Hold fast the form of sound 
 words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith, and love, which 
 is in Christ Jesus." Revelation iii. 10, 11. " Because thou hast 
 kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour 
 of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them 
 that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly ; hold fast 
 that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." 
 
 ' But we have been so far from such endeavours, that there 
 
 * hath been a stupid submission to our rulers and great ones, 
 
 * breaking down and ruining the whole work of Reformation, 
 ' razing the bulwarks thereot^ rescinding the laws in favours of 
 
 * the same, and not only breaking but burning the Covenants for 
 ' preserving it, enacting the breaches thereof, and declaring the 
 ' obligation thereof void and criminal to be owned, and upon the 
 ' ruins thereof setting up abjured Diocesan-Erastian- Prelacy, 
 
 * with its concomitant bondage of patronages ; a blasphemous and 
 
 * sacrilegious supremacy and arbitrary power in the magistrate, 
 
 * over church and state. There was little conscience made of 
 
OF SINS. 55 
 
 ' constant endeavours to preserve the Reformation, when there 
 
 * was not a seasonnble testimony exhibited against these audacious 
 'and heaven-daring attempts: when our ministers were by a 
 ' wicked 'edict ejected from their charges, both they and the peo- 
 ' pie too easily compHed with it. Albeit in the National Covenant, 
 
 * the land is obliged to defend the Reformation, and to labour by 
 ' all means lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the gospel, by 
 
 * forbearing the practice of all novations introduced in the worship 
 
 * of God, or approbation of the corruptions of the public govern- 
 ' ment of the kirk. Yet was there given all the approbation requir- 
 
 * ed by law of the novation and corruption of Prelacy by hearing 
 
 * the Prelatic curates. Both ministers and people, in a great mea- 
 
 * sure complied with, submitted unto, and connived at the en- 
 
 * croachments of the supremacy and absolute power, both in accept- 
 ' ing and countenancing the former indulgences and latter tolera- 
 
 * tion: the generality took and subscribed oaths and bonds imposed 
 
 * during the reigns of these tyrants Charles II. and James Duke 
 ' of York, pressing conformity with the then establishments of 
 ' church and state, most contrarj' to the reformation which the na- 
 
 * tion sware to preserve, some of these oaths and bonds restraining 
 ' the takers from all endeavours to preserve it, as those that re- 
 
 * nounced the privilege of defensive arms ; some of them abjuring 
 ' the Covenants expressly, and condemning the prosecution of 
 ' the ends of them as rebellion, viz. the declaration and test, the 
 ' most part did, Issachar, like, crouch beneath all the burthens of 
 ' maintaining and defending an arbitrary power and absolute 
 
 * tyranny, wholly employed and applied for the destruction of 
 
 * reformation, and paid such subsidies and supplies, as were de- 
 
 * claredly imposed for upholding the tyrant's usurpations, and 
 
 * suppressing all endeavours to preserve the Reformation.' 
 
 And after the Lord was pleased in mercy, to break the rod of 
 oppression, and burst the bands of that horrid tyranny, from off 
 his people's necks, and to allow us a time of peace and ease ; yet 
 have we not made conscience of keeping this our oath ; but in- 
 stead of all lawful means to preserve the discipline and govern- 
 ment of this church, there have been frequent invasions made 
 thereupon by the civil powers, exercising an Erastian supremacy 
 over her assemblies, by indicting, prorogucing, and dissolving 
 them at their pleasure, and in their name and authority ; where- 
 by Christ's supremacy and kingly dignity was highly injured. 
 And as the state for their part have, contrary to this Article, 
 made these usurpations upon the government of the church, so 
 have backslidden ministers in their stations shamefully succumbed 
 to, been silent at, and pleaded in defence of these usurpations, 
 and have not zealously and faithfully asserted their Master's pre- 
 rogatives, and the privileges of his church, sacrilegiously en- 
 croached upon by the magistrate. And people likewise have in 
 their stations been unconcerned about these wrongs and injuries 
 
56 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 done to Christ, and have not used all lawful endeavours witk 
 their superiors (which they own as such) whether of church or 
 state, in order to reformation thereof, nor made faithful protesta- 
 tion against them, when they could not obtain redress : and as 
 the government of the church has not been duly preserved ; so 
 there has been a want of constant endeavours to preserve pure the 
 doctrine of this reformed church, and that ever since that fatal 
 distraction of picblic -resolution-principles began to creep into this 
 church, which corrupted people in that doctrine of abstaining 
 from association with malignants, and enemies to truth and god- 
 liness, and so far prevailed, that the avowed enemies of religion 
 were brought into places of greatest trust and authority. And these 
 associations have not been made only with the haters of religion at 
 home, but are also entered into with the enemies to the Protest- 
 ant religion abroad; and many backsliding ministers in late times 
 of tyranny were very faulty in this point of not labouring to pre- 
 serve the purity of doctrine, either by express condenming of 
 some important truths then persecuted, or at least in being silent, 
 and not asserting them, nor applying their doctrine to the time's 
 corruptions ; whereby many of the people wex'e left to be over- 
 come by snares : ' And so laid open to seek out other principles 
 
 * to justify their practices of compliance, or extravagances on the 
 ' right or left hand, not consistent with the doctrine, and rules 
 
 * of the church of Scotland, others were not constant in confessing 
 
 * those doctrines before men, when called to suffer for, and avouch 
 ' them.' Neither are there at this day, nor has there been all 
 along, during these years of peace and quiet, suitable endeavours 
 for suppressing all sorts of unsound doctrine, or purging the land 
 of the leaven of erroneous principles. Although there has been 
 many laws made against Popery, yet how have they been put to 
 execution, when Papist's are so rife, and Popery so prevalent ? the 
 idolatrous mass being set up in several places of the kingdom : 
 the maintainers and promoters of Quakerism, Bourignianism, 
 Arminianism, &c. are not punished, but protected by the state, 
 and connived at by the church. And whereas the right endea- 
 vouring of maintaining sound doctrine, doth require uprightness 
 and sincerity in the profession and belief thereof, and a suitable 
 practice accompanying that belief; we have it to lament, that the 
 most part of us in this land are but hypocritical in the professing 
 of the doctrines of the gospel, and want a suitable practice and 
 conversation becoming the gospel, cause and cross of Christ. 
 Many are grossly ignorant of the fundamental doctrines of Chris- 
 tianity, or study the circumstantial and controverted more than 
 the fundamental truths. 
 
 There has also been great shortcoming of real, si?icere, and 
 constant endeavours to prt serve the worship God, public and private. 
 < In times of hazard many ministers left off preaching, aixl the 
 ' people hearing. We have been negligent and remiss in family 
 
OF SINS. 57 
 
 '' worship ; and instead of preserving, many have done much to 
 ' discourage and hinder it : And in secret we have been formal 
 ' and careless : Many have satisfied themselves with the purity of 
 
 * the ordinances, neglecting the power thereof, yea some have 
 
 * turned aside to crooked ways destructive to both.' Neither have 
 we been careful to preserve the discipline, church censures beino* 
 laid aside, and not impartially exercised against scandals, person- 
 al and public. Scandalous persons being admitted to hold up 
 their children to baptism, and to partake of the Lord's table, and 
 other privileges of the church, without respect to the rules of 
 Christ. The discipline of the church hath also been circumscrib* 
 ed, limited, and bounded by Acts of Parliament, and is now ren- 
 dered ineffectual by the late Act of the British Parliament, enti- 
 tled Act for preventing the Dhturhina of those of the Episcopal 
 Coinmunion in that part of Great Britain called Scotland. So that 
 ministers could not without transgressing these Acts (which they 
 too punctually observe) draw out the sword of discipline against 
 many covenant-breakers; perjured hireling-curates being allowed 
 to enjoy churches and benefices without censure or molestation, 
 if subject to the civil government, as is evident from the 27th Act 
 of the fifth Session of William's first Parliament, entitled. Act 
 C07icernifig the Church. Ministers have neglected to draw out the 
 sword of discipline, duly and impartially against scandalous per- 
 sons of every rank and quality ; so that many gross offenders have 
 been passed over without censure, as namely such as shed the 
 blood of the Lord's people, complied with the tyrants and usurp- 
 ers in the times of persecution, by testing, bonding, hearing of 
 curates, paying of cess and other taxations, intelligencers and in- 
 formers against the people of God, accepters of indulgences and 
 toleration, and such as preached under the covert of remissions 
 and indemnities bought by sums of money from the council ; such 
 as had been lax and negligent in testifying against the corruptions 
 of the times, were not brought to an acknowledgment of it ; but 
 upon the contrary encouraged as well-doers, and advanced to office 
 and public employment in the church, without evident signs of 
 repentance. And many other scandalous persons are daily con- 
 nived at and superficially past, without sufficient discoveries of their 
 repentance and amendment : many also have been overlooked be- 
 cause of their eminency in the world, or past over for pecuniary 
 mulcts : and whereas, in the same first Article of the Solemn 
 League, we are bound " to endeavour the promoting and propa- 
 "gating of the Pteformation, and uniformity in religion, Conies- 
 •' sion of Faith, Form of Church Government (which as it was 
 " primarily understood, so still we own to be only Presbyterial) 
 " Directory for Worship and Catechising. According to the 
 *' scriptures," 
 
 Isai. xix. 18. " In that day shall five cities in the land of 
 Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of 
 
 H 
 
58 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 hosts." Jer. xxxii. S9. " And I will give them one heart and one 
 way, that they may tear me for ever, for the good of them and of 
 their children after them." Zech. xiv. 9. *' And the Lord shall 
 be King overall the earth: in that day there shall be one Lord, 
 and his name one." Acts ii. 46. " And they continuing daily 
 vi'ith one accord in the temple, and breaking bread, from house 
 to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of 
 heart." Acts iv. 32. " And the multitude of them that believ- 
 ed were of one heart, and one soul." 1 Cor. vii. 17. " But as 
 God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every 
 one, so let him walk ; and so ordain I in all churches." Gal. 
 vi. 16. " And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be 
 on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." Phil. iii. 16. 
 *' Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained ; let us walk by 
 the same rule, let us mind the same thing." 
 
 Yet as our fathers had reason to complain, " that the profane, 
 " loose and insolent Carriage of many in their armies, who went 
 " to the assistance of their brethren in England, and the tamper- 
 " ings and unstralght dealings of some commissioners, and others 
 "of our nation, in London, the Isle of Wight, and other places, 
 " had proved great lets to the work of reformation, and settling 
 " of kirk government there; whereby error and schism in that 
 " land had been greatly increased ; and sectaries hardened in 
 " their way;" so much more during the time of the late persecu- 
 tion, the offensive carriage of many who went to England, is to 
 be bewailed, who provtd very stumbling to the Sectarians there. 
 
 There hath been little zeal or endeavour, for such an uniform- 
 ity ; little praying for it, or mourning over the obstructions of it ; 
 but upon the contrary a toleration was embraced, introductive of 
 a sectarian multiformity of rel'gion, without a testimony against 
 the toleration, even of Popery itself, under the usurper James 
 Duke of York; and since the Revolution the land hath done ex- 
 ceeding much to harden them. 1st, By accepting such persons 
 to the royal dignity over this realm, as had sworn to maintain the 
 antichristian hierarchy of Prohicy, with all the superstitions and 
 ceremonies of the church of England, and who countenance a 
 multiformity in the worship of God, and government of the 
 church, and do not suppress such as are unsound and heterodox 
 in the nmdamental articles of the (^hristian faith : And next, lo 
 put a full stop to all endeavours of uniformity and union in the 
 Lord's way, and to bring the nation under an inciisperisible ne- 
 cessity of covenant- breaking, this nation hath entered into an 
 Incorporating- Union with England in such terms, and upon such 
 conditions as formally and explicitly established Prelacy, as the 
 church-government there, to all succeeding generations ; and 
 that while in the mean time, all manner of Sectarian errors are 
 there encouraged, maintained, and supported by inears.s of a tol- 
 eration ; by the concluding of which Union, this land hath sai"d 
 
OF SINS. 59 
 
 upon the matter, that there is no oWigation upon us to tender 
 tiie advahceiuent of religion in that nation, or to study such means 
 and methods as might tend to bring them to a sense of their 
 breach of Covenant, or reduce them to a performance of the du- 
 ties vvhereunto they are engaged ; and thus this land hath harden- 
 ed them in their sinful ways and courses, contrary to this Solemn 
 League; and given them ground to think, that we look upon 
 the obligation thereof to be loosed. This land hath been want- 
 ing in compassion to them r.s brethren, in not labouring to shew 
 them their sin and danger, while persisting in a professed violation 
 of their vows ; and refusing them help in their need, when suppli- 
 cation was made by some of them to the first Assembly after the 
 Revolution for ministers to preach the gospel. And though this 
 land hath sought out methods how to entertain amity and friend- 
 ship with them, yet have they not endeavoured to have it such as 
 that ihe Lord should, upon that account, delight to dwell 
 amongst us : nay, upon the contrary, unless these methods be re- 
 pented of and forsaken, it is impossible that reformation should 
 ever amount to that degree of perfection in these kingdoms, to 
 which, through the mercy of God, it once arrived ; so that instead 
 o{ living together in j)eace and loxie, ive a?id our posterity after us, are 
 like to live in a joint defection from our Covenant-engagements, 
 made to the Most High God. 
 
 In the second Article of the Solemn League and Covenant, 
 we swear, " That we shall, without respect of persons, endea- 
 "vonr the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Heresy, 
 " Schism, Profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be cou- 
 <' trary to sound doctrine, and the j-jower of godliness. And in 
 " the National Covenant, to abhor and detest the antichristian 
 *' wicked Hierarchy," &c. According to the scriptures, 
 
 Exod. xxiii. 32, 33. " Thou shalt make no covenant with them, 
 nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they 
 make thee sin against me : for if thou serve their gods, it will 
 surely be a snare unto thee." Exod. xxxiv. 12, 13. " Take heed 
 to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the 
 land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of 
 thee : but ye shall destroy their altars, break their ima^-cs, and 
 cut down their groves," Deut. xiii. chap, throughout. Judges 
 ii. 2. *' And ye shall make no league v/ith the inhabitants of this 
 land; you shall throw down their altars," &c. Zech. xiii. 2, 3. 
 " And it shall come to pass in that day saith the Lord of hosts, 
 that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and also 
 1 will cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to pass out of 
 the land. Andjt shall come to pass, that when any shall yet 
 prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat' him, shall 
 say unto him. Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the 
 name of the Lord : and his father, and his mother, that begat 
 him, shall thrust him through, when he prophesieth." I Tim. 
 
do ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 iv. 1, 2, S. *' Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the lat- 
 ter times some j-hai! depart from the faith, giving heed to seclu- 
 cing spirits and doctrines of devils: speaking lies in hypocrisy, 
 having their conscience seared with a hot-iron: forbidding to 
 marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath 
 created to be received wiih thanksgiving of them which believe, 
 and know the truth.' Rev. xvii. 5. " And upon her forehead 
 %vas a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, 
 THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS 
 OF THE EARTH. Verso T6. And the ten horns, which thou 
 sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make 
 her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her 
 with fire." Compared with Rev. xviii. 4, 5, 6. " And I heard 
 another voice from heaven, sayhig, Come out of her, my people, 
 that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of 
 her plagues : for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God 
 hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she reward- 
 ed 3'ou, and double unto her double according to her works: 
 in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double." 
 
 Yet alas ! so far has the land been defective in this, that upon 
 the contrary, it hath been polluted with idolatrous masses ; altars 
 and other monuments of idolatry were suffered again to be erect- 
 ed ; the penal statutes were disabled, stopped and suspended by an 
 absolute arbitrary power, by means of a toleration, in its own na- 
 ture tending, and in its design intending to introduce Ppperv and 
 slavery ; which yet was accepted and addressed for by many back- 
 slidden ministers, who to this day have made no public acknow- 
 ledgment of the sin of so doing, notwithst.-niding all the reforma- 
 tion which is brt'gged of ; and was countenanced, complied and 
 concurred with by many people, without a testimony, or endea- 
 vour to withstand it. Yea, the administration of the government 
 and the greatest ofhces of power and trust were comniitted into, 
 and permitted to abide in the hands of Papists ; and the head of 
 them, and great pillar and promoter of Popery, James the VII. 
 was ov,^ned as King, contrary to the laws of God and man, and 
 Covenant-obligations, without respect of persons, to extirpate 
 Popery apd Papists ; and few during that time evidenced any 
 just zeal or indignation against, or fear of the manifest appear- 
 ances of the coujing in of Popery, and intended establishment of 
 it in the land. And not only then ; but even to this day, there is 
 too much conniving at Papists ; the laws are not piit in execution 
 against them in their full extent and latitude : and albeit this land, 
 yea whole Britain and Ireland, were purged of Popery, yet cannot 
 we be said to have made conscience of performing this part of the 
 oath of God, while there is a confederating v/ith Papists abroad, and 
 fighting in their quarrel, and that, whilst in the mean time they 
 are persecuting with the height of rigour and severity, all such as 
 profess any thing of the reformed religion in their dominions^ 
 
OF SINS. 01 
 
 And as there hath been great failures in respect of extirpating 
 Popery ; so especially in the performance of that part of the Co- 
 venant, which binds us to the extirpation of Prelacy. '< i. e. 
 " Church-government by arch-bishops, bishops, their chancellors 
 " and commisearies, deans, deans and chapters, arch-deacons, 
 " and all other officers depending upon that hierarchy." There 
 hath been a most wilful and palpable violation of the oath of God, 
 though it be most clearly our duty prescribed in his word. 
 
 Mat. XX. 25, 26. " But Jesus called them unto him, and said, 
 ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over 
 them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them : but 
 it shall not be so among you : but whosoever will be great among 
 you, let him be your minister." Luke xxix. 25, 26. " And he 
 said unto them the Kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over 
 them," &c. Acts xxix. 17. " And from Miletus he sent to 
 Ephesus, and called the elders of the church." Compared with 
 verse 28. " Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the 
 flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (bishops) 
 to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own 
 blood." 1 Peter v. 3. " Neither as being lords over God's herit- 
 age : but being ensamples to the flock." 3 John, verse 9. " I 
 wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the 
 jpre-eminence among them, receiveth us not." 
 
 And these breaches of it were not only made during the times 
 of persecution, when Charles the II. by an arbitrary power, grant- 
 ed him by a parasitical Parliament, did overturn Presbyterian 
 government, and introduce Prelacy, to which change the great- 
 est part of the ministry did prefidiously yield, and became vassals 
 to the bishops ; such as were not willing to conform, were pressed 
 to it by confinement, banishment, imprisonment, confiscation of 
 goods, all manner of tortures, and finally, death itself. 
 
 During which hour and power of darkness, many complied 
 with the enemy, by taking oaths and bonds, indulgences and tol- 
 eration, and became so remiss in this matter, that it was all one 
 to them which government had the ascendant, so they might 
 enjoy their worldly accommodations. And not only then while 
 Satan was let loose in his members and emissaries, to persecute 
 and waste the church of Christ ; but since peace and quietness is 
 obtained, this duty continues to be greatly slighted : yea, in place 
 of extirpating Prelacy, have there not been courses taken effectu- 
 ally to establish it? to instance a few; the accepting of William 
 and Mary, and after them, the present possessor of the crown, 
 to be supreme magistrates, while they are knownly and profes- 
 sedly Prelatical in their judgment, and engaged by oath at their 
 coronation to maintain the same ; the swearing oaths of allegiance 
 to them without security for their preserving of the true Reformed 
 Religion, yea, without any limitation or qualification whatsoever ; 
 ks also the taking an oath of abjuration, wherein by e©naeq«encc 
 
62 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 the takers engage, to do to the utmost of their power to procure 
 that the Kings or Queens of these kingdoms shall be of the com- 
 munion of the Prelatical church, and so that they shall contribute 
 to the support of Prelacy. 
 
 Again the Episcopal clergy, who subjected to it during the 
 time of its legal establishment, have not been therefore prosecuted 
 by the discipline of the church ; but such, as did and yet do pro- 
 fess it as their principle, are allowed equal encouragement with 
 the Presbyterians, only providing they evidence good affection 
 to the civil government. And now since the late incorporating 
 union with England, we of this nation have consented that Pre- 
 lacy shall be established there to all succeeding generations (as 
 was observed \\\ the first article) and moreover have given into 
 the hands of the Prelates in England, the power of making laws 
 which must become binding upon this land, they being members 
 of the British Parliament and council ; which power has been 
 already improved, to jestablish a liberty and protection for the 
 whole rabble of the Episcopal clergy, in the free exercise of the 
 Popish ceremonies of the church of England, without any pro- 
 vision against the grossest heretical opinions that they please to 
 broach, excepting only the denying of the doctrine of the blessed 
 Trinity : Where then are our endeavours for the extirpation of 
 the wicked hierarchy ? where is the abhorrence and detestation 
 ;of it, sworn and engaged to in these Covenants ? do not man^ 
 who profess themselves to be Presbyterians, show themselves so 
 indiflerent in this point that they can join with either, as may 
 suit their interest? instance the Sacramental Testers. Few 
 mourn over and pray earnestly for the subversion of that hier- 
 archy. Few doctrinally discover the evils of such a government, 
 and how contrary it is to God's word ; or labour to bring their 
 hearers into a dislike and detestation of it, and the sad fruits 
 which result from it. Few study to convince others of the evil of 
 such a principle, and following such a course by the Apostle's 
 rule of avoiding all unnecessary company with them, that they 
 may be ashamed ; but upon the contrary, many Presbyterians, 
 by too fanailiar and unnecessary converse with them, encourage 
 and harden them: and particularly ministers are to be blamed 
 herein, who preach one half oC the Lord's day in the church, and 
 allow, the curate the other half. Few impartially reprove and 
 warn them of their sin and danger, but upon the other hand 
 many professed Presbyterians by their untender and unchristian 
 walk anil conversation, or by their lukewarmness and indifferency 
 in Christ's matters, now called vioderation, and by their walking 
 contrary to covenant engagements, do exceedingly harden them in 
 their evil way, and scandalize them at their duty. Instead of en- 
 deavours to extirpate superstition and heresy, as we are bound 
 by the same article of the Solemn League, and by the " National 
 ** Covenant to detest all superstition aiid heresy without or against 
 
OF SINS. 65 
 
 '* the word of God, and doctrine of this reformed kirk ; accord- 
 " ing to the scripture." 
 
 Deut. xii. 30, 31, 32. " Take heed to thyself, that thou he 
 not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from 
 before thee, and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying. 
 How did these nations serve their gods ? even so will I do like- 
 Avise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God : for every 
 abomination to the Lord which he hateth, have they done unto 
 their gods : for even their sons and their daughters they have 
 burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command 
 you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish 
 from it." Acts xvii. 22. " Then Paul stood in the midst of 
 Mars- hill, and said. Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all 
 things ye are too superstitious." Gai. iv. 10. " Ye observe days, 
 and months, and times, and years." Gal. v. 20. " Idolatry, 
 witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, 
 heresies." Co!, ii. 20. " Werefore if ye be dead with Christ from 
 the. rudiments of the world; why, as though living in the world, 
 are ye subject to ordinances? Verse 21. Touch not, taste not, 
 handle not : Verse 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wis- 
 dom in will- worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body, 
 not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." Tit. iii. 10. 
 " A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admoni- 
 ition, reject." 
 
 Yet in the darkness of the times of persecution, many dregs of 
 Popish superstition were oberved, many omens and freets too much 
 looked to; Popish festival days, as Pasche, Yule, Fastings-even, 
 &c. have been kept by many ; and Prelatical anniversary days, 
 and festivities devised of their own heart, appointed for com- 
 memorating the King's and Queen's birth days (as May 29, 
 October 13, February 6.) who were born as a scourge to this 
 realm, were complied witli by many. Yes, some have supersti- 
 tiously made use of the scriptures as a fortune book, looking to 
 that which first cast up to them, or to impressions borne in upon 
 their minds from such and such places of scripture as divine re- 
 sponses, without a due search of them as the Lord hath com- 
 manded. And many wavering and unstable souls have been 
 seduced unto damnable and pernicious heresies, as Quakers, and 
 delirious delusions, as these that followed John Gib. All which 
 have been breaches of Covenant, as well as of divine commands. 
 Yea even to this very day, the same superstitions are observed and 
 practisetl, as abstaining from labouring upon the foresaid festi- 
 vities, and observing presages of good or bad fortune (as it is 
 called) upon them and other times ; as likewise many practisers 
 of inchantments, and users of charms; yea such as are in actual 
 compact with the devil, are not carefully sought out, nor accurate- 
 ly tried, in order to be brought to punishment, but overlooked 
 and protected. 
 
64 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 There has been also since the Revolution (as well as before) a 
 great deluge of errors through these covenanted lands, which to 
 this day continue and increase; that might be sufficient to con- 
 vince us, that there have not been proper measures taken to sup- 
 press them, as this article obliges us to do. Nay, instead there- 
 of, they are tolerated, maintained and pi-otected by authority, as 
 appears both from the late x\ct of Parliament, and from the lib- 
 erty allowed to that pestilent generation of Quakers, who keep 
 their general meetings yearly in Edinburgh, being guarded by a 
 company of the town guards. And as the state do not prosecute 
 the promoters and abettors of these heresies with civil pains, a» 
 is the duty of such as call themselves God's vicegerents, and own 
 themselves to be intrusted with keeping of both tables of the law ; 
 so the church is nothing speedier or more active, in drawing out 
 their ecclesiastical sword to cut off these luxuriant branches, and 
 to take the lit/ le foxes which spoil the vines. Many whose duty by 
 virtue of their office, is to give warning from Zion's walls, as 
 watchmen intrusted with the city of God, neglect to discover, 
 and from the scriptures to confute these errors, or to shew their 
 flocks by doctrine or writing the danger of being tainted with 
 them. And as suitable endeavours have been wanting effectually 
 to extirpate heresy and error, so schism, its inseparable compa- 
 nion, and necessary consequent, has exceedingly grown and in- 
 creased, to the great damage of the church of Christ in these 
 kingdoms, and utter subversion of that most pleasant fabric of 
 uniformity in religion, which the League and Covenant binds us 
 to endeavour. The word of God makes schism a very great sin, 
 as is evident from 
 
 Rom. xvi. 17. " Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them 
 which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which 
 ye have learned, and avoid them." 1 Cor. xi. 18. " For first of 
 all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be 
 divisions among you." 1 Cor. xii. 25. *' That there should be 
 no schism in the body : but that the members should have the 
 same care one for another." Heb. x. 25. " Not forsaking the 
 assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is," &c. 
 Jude ver. 19. " These be they who separate themselves, sensual; 
 having not the Spirit." 
 
 And all the nation are to be reputed guilty of it, who depart 
 from the doctrine and laudable constitutions delivered by Christ 
 and his apostles, and adhered unto by the church of Scot.land in 
 her purest times of Reformation. And if we consider schism un- 
 der this notion, as we ought to do, then will we find, that the 
 greatest part of the land is guilty of it. Few are firmly and con- 
 stantly adhering to the attained Reformation ; but many upon the 
 left hand, have turned aside to compliance with Prelacy and 
 Erastianism, and so have by their defection broken the church's 
 beauii/ and bands, order and union, in making a faction rcpug- 
 
OF SINS. 65 
 
 tiaut to her established order, and censurable by all her standing 
 acts, in bringing in novations in the government, and making a 
 rent in the bowels of the church ; by causing divisions and offences 
 contrary to the doctrine of the church ; whereby they have made 
 themselves guilty of sciiism ; and some have fallen into delusions 
 and dottages upon the right hand, who, in seeking to be religiouki 
 above what is counnandtd, have come short of tlie truth of reli- 
 gion, and made a faction repugnant to this Covenant. Some, 
 being private persons, have pretended an immediate commission 
 to preach the word, and administer the sacraments. Others, being 
 stumbled with the defections of the time, have turned aside to in- 
 dependency. ' Some upon slender and insufficient grounds, have 
 
 * and do separate both from faithful ministers and christian 
 ■ societies and families, because of differences in judgment and 
 
 * incident debates, wherein the testimony of Christ is not much 
 ' concerned ; or because of personal offences easily removed, not 
 ' observing the rules of Christ for removing of them, not having 
 
 * respect to his great commands of charity, forbearance, forgiv- 
 ' ing one another, or condescendency. And among divided 
 
 * parties, which in our day have been long biting and devouring 
 ' one another, there hath been too much both of sinful union and 
 
 * confederacy in terms prejudicial to truth; as our joining in the 
 
 * Angus regiment, at the Revolution, and our guarding and suppli- 
 « eating that corrupt Convention of Estates, which consisted mostly 
 ' of such as had been directly or indirectly guilty of the murder of 
 ' the Lord's people ; and upon the other hand, there hath been 
 ' too much of sinful heats, animosities, jealousies, pride, passion, 
 ' and prejudice, grieving the Spirit of the Lord, and eating out 
 « the power and life, and much hindering the holy practice and 
 ' spiritual exercise of religion.' 
 
 JVe have been so far from e7ideavou7'ing to extirpate profanenesSt 
 mnother evil engaged against in the Covenant, and condemned in the 
 tvord of God. Deut. xxix. 1 9. " And it shall come to p.iss, when he 
 heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heartj. 
 saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of 
 mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst." Job xxi. 14. " There- 
 fore they say unto God, Depart from us ; for we desire not the 
 knowledge of thy ways." .Jer. xxiii. 15. " Therefore thus saith 
 the Lord of hosts; concerning the prophets, behold I will feed 
 them with v/orn)wood, and make them drink the v/ater of gall : 
 for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth un- 
 to all the land." Ezek. xxii. 26. " Her priests have violated ray 
 law, and have profaned my holy things: they have put no differ- 
 ence between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed dif- 
 ference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their 
 eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." Hos. 
 
 iv. 1. " There is no truth nor mercy, nor knowledge of 
 
 God in the land. Verse. 2. By swearing, and lying, and kil- 
 
66 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 liug, and stealing, and committing adultery, they, break out, and 
 blood toucheth blood. Verse 3. Therefore shall the land mourn 
 
 &c." Heb. xii. 15. " Looking diligently, lest any man 
 
 fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up 
 trouble you, and thereby many be defiled : lest there be any for- 
 nicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat 
 sold his birth-right." 
 « That profanity hath been much winked at, and profane per- 
 
 * sons much countenanced, and many times employed, till iniquity 
 
 * and ungodliness have gone over the land as a flood, and profan- 
 ' ity beginning at the court hath spread itself through every rank 
 
 * and quality in the land : so that immoralities and sins against 
 
 * every precept of both tables are greatly abounding.' As name- 
 ly, great contempt of God and godliness, ignorance, atheism, 
 and irreligion, unsuitable walking to the knowledge of him and 
 his perfections which we have, and not labouring in the use of 
 means to attain more. Much neglect of pressing after peace and 
 reconciliation with him, through a Mediator, and of living up to 
 the profession which we make of him Despising of his holy or- 
 dinances and means of worship ; deafness and stupidity imder the 
 calls of his word. Profanation ot his holy sacraments, neglect of 
 secret prayer (wherein much of the life of religion lies) and of pray- 
 er in families, or a negligent, careless and superficial performance 
 thereof: many using a formality of words and expressions learned 
 by custom. Some using our blessed Lord's prayer as a set-form, 
 which ought to be used as a rule of direction in all our prayers, 
 and not as a dead form of words : many seeking more to be seen 
 of men in this, and all other duties, than to approve themselves 
 to God, and more careful to come by apposite words and expres- 
 sions, when praying with others, than to attain and entertain the 
 breathings and influences of the Spirit of God. Much neglect cf 
 propagating Christian knowledge in congregations and families; 
 ministers and masters of families not makuig diligent search into 
 the knowledge of the flocks and tamilies under their charge, and in- 
 structing them suitably. Much swearing, and profanation of God's 
 name, by loose and vain oaths in common discourse, yea, swear- 
 ing by the creatures, as, soul, faith, conscience, and the like, 
 thereby sacrilegiously attributing to them divine honour ; as als(i 
 by imposing upon all persons in any public trust, the unlimited 
 and unlawful oath of allegiance, together with the bond of assur- 
 ance, and the oath of abjuration, contrary to the oath of the 
 Covenant, thereby debauching jieople's consciences, and involving 
 them in the guilt of perjury. Great profanation of the holy sab- 
 bath, and neglect or overly performance of the duties therein 
 required ; breaking it by unnecessary feasting, walking, idle, 
 vain, and impertinent discourse, and such like recreations; yea, 
 by hunting, hawking, riding, and going of journeys, soundirig 
 fcrumpels before tlieir lords of justiciary wlien going to church 
 
OF SINS. ©V 
 
 reading of proclamations wholly irrelative to religion, and mak- 
 ing publications not necessary, nor expedient to be made upon 
 that day. Much disobedience to parents, and undue carriage of 
 persons of all ranks and relations, towards each other Great 
 murder and blood-shed, so that the land is defiled with blood, 
 and that not only the blood of the Lord's people, who, in the 
 times of persecution, were led forth like sheep to the slaughter, 
 because of their adherence to their duty, and refusing conformity 
 with wicked courses, and subjection to wicked laws, eversive of 
 their covenant engagements, not yet mourned over, nor purged 
 away by the blood of those that shed it : but likewise many 
 through the land are murdered frequently, and the murderers are 
 not prosecuted with due severity : nay, such are the methods that 
 are now taken to embolden the wicked in that, and all other 
 crimes, that whatever presumptions of guilt may be had, or how 
 ample confession soever be made, if it be extrajudicial, and the 
 very fact not proved by witnesses, the delinquent is passed over 
 and absolved as a well-doer, and many actually convicted of mur* 
 der are indemnified and let pass unpunished. 
 
 Much uncleanness and filthiness, adultery, fornication, incest, 
 bestiality, Sodomy, lasciviousness, promiscuous dancing, stage 
 plays, excessive drinking, vanity in apparel, and the like abom- 
 inable unchastity and incentives to it. Much stealing, robbery 
 and oppression, grinding the faces of the poor by unjust taxations 
 and heavy impositions, and by hindering the poor from begging, 
 for the support of their lives, in times of scarcity, by a wicked 
 edict. Perverting of justice in law suits; lawyers and advocates 
 finding means for their own gain and worldly advantage, to obtain 
 decisive sentences in favours of the rich, contrary to justice and 
 equity : much cheating and deceiving in bargaining, forestalling 
 of markets in time of scarcitj^, depriving the poor of their habita- 
 tions and livelihoods by building of parks and inclosures. Ten- 
 ants taking leases over their neighbour's head, and the like. It is 
 moreover to be bewailed, that many ministers, who should be 
 examples of charity and good works, are ring-leaders in this sin 
 of oppression. Much lying and bearing of false witness, defam- 
 ing one another's good name, reproaching persons for their 
 adherence to the truths and cause of Christ, or discovering any 
 piece of zeal and affection that way. Much covetousness and 
 worldly-mindedness, repining, murmuring and discontentment 
 with God's dispensations, revenge, wrath, malice, envy, bitter- 
 ness, and innumerable sins, both against the precepts of the 
 moral law, and against the offers of Christ in the gospel ; which 
 plainly says, that we have not used the endeavours, which in this 
 Article we promise, for' Rooting up profaneness, and whatsoever 
 ' is found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness, 
 
 * lest we partake of other men's sins, and so be in danger to re- 
 
 * ceive of their plagues.' Nay, hath not much unsound doctrine 
 
6« ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 been maintained, in the arguments which have been used, iot 
 defending the hxwfulness of the courses of coniphance with Pre- 
 lacy and Erastianism ? and these, amongst other unsound notions, 
 have been entertained amongst us ; ' That lesser and circumstan- 
 
 * tial truths are not to be suffered for : that confession of these 
 ' truths hath not been called for in our day : that people are not 
 < in hazard of the sins of others, especially of magistrates and 
 ' ministers, if they do not directly act the same sins themselves : 
 ' that sins of bypast times (if they be not presently practised) are 
 ^ not to be confessed, nor the persons guilty, to be stood at a dis- 
 
 * tance from., till they give evident documents of their repent- 
 ' ance :' contrary to express and plain scripture. 
 
 2 Sam. xxi. 1. " Then there was a famine in the days of David 
 three years, year after year, and David enquired of the Lord; 
 and the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, 
 because he slew the Gibeonitcs." 2 Sam. xxiv. 17. " And David 
 spake unto the Lord, when he saw the angel, that smote the peo- 
 ple, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly : but 
 these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand I pray thee be 
 against me, and agnin'«t my father's house." 2 Kings xxi. 1 1, 12. 
 " Because Manasseh King of .ludah hath done these abominations, 
 and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which 
 were before hiui, and hatli made Judah to sin also with his idols : 
 therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, behold I am bring- 
 ing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth 
 of it, both his ears shall tingle." Isa. xliii. 27. " Thy first father 
 hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. 
 Verse 28. Therefore I have profaned the Princes of the sanctu- 
 ary, and have given Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproaches." 
 Jer. xiv. 15. *' Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the pro- 
 phets that prophesy in my name, and 1 scut them not, yet they 
 say. Sword and famine shall not be in this land ; by sword and 
 famine shall those prophets be consumed. Verse 16. And the 
 people to v/hom they prophesy, shall be cast out in the streets of 
 Jerusalem, because of the famine, and the sword; and they shall 
 have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor 
 their daughters : for 1 will pour their wickedness upon them." 
 Mic. iii. 11. " The heads thereof judge for reward, and the 
 px'iests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for 
 money : yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say. Is not the 
 Lord among us ? none evil can come upon us. Verse 12. There- 
 fore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem 
 shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high 
 places of the forest." 
 
 Whence both ministers and people have been involved into 
 the sins of Prelacy, Indulgence, Toleration, Erastian subjecting 
 the government of the church to the secular and civil authority t 
 jv-hile they thought these only to be the sins of Prelates, or of 
 
OF SINS. 69 
 
 *icked and usuvpiiig rulers; they in the mean time yielding all 
 the conformity with, submission unto, and approbation of them, 
 that was by wicked laws required. On the other hand, many of 
 us have rested too much in a non-compliance with these, and 
 " having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 
 In the third Article, whereas we are bound, ' in our several vo- 
 
 < cations mutually to preserve the rights and privileges of Parlia- 
 « ments, and liberties of the kingdoms ;' meaning the true, real, 
 and righteous privileges and liberties : Consonant to the word of 
 God. 
 
 Deut. i. 13. "Take ye wise men, and understanding, and 
 known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you." 
 Deut. xvi. 18. " Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all 
 thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout thy 
 tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment," Isa. 
 i. 26. " And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy 
 counsellors as at the beginning: afterwards thou shalt be called 
 the city of righteousness, the foithful city." 
 
 Likeas all leiges are bound by the laws of the land inserted in the 
 National Covenant, to ' maintain the authority of Parliaments, 
 
 * without which neither any laws, nor lawful judicatories, can be 
 
 * established.' Yet as our fathers had reason to complain, ' That 
 
 < neither had the privileges of the Parliament, nor liberties of the 
 
 * subject been duly tend< red, but some amongst them had labour- 
 
 * ed to put into the hands of the king an arbitrary and unlimited 
 
 * power destructive to both, and many of them had been acces- 
 « sary to these means and ways, whereby the freedom and privileged 
 
 * of Parliaments had been encroached upon ; and the subjects op- 
 ' oppressed in their consc'ences, persons and estates;' so afterwardn, 
 all alongst the tract of tyranny and persecution, they had rather 
 the name and shew, than the real power and privileges, of law- 
 fully constituted Parliaments ; having advanced the royal preroga- 
 tive to such a boundless pitch of arbitrariness, and being so cor- 
 rupted, that faithful men, and honest and honourable patriots 
 were excluded, and these admitted, who by the law of God and 
 man should have been debarred ; and so prelimited, that the 
 members behoved to take such oaths (for instance the declaration 
 and test, abjuring and condemning the Covenants) as engaged 
 them to be perjured, and conjured enemies both to our religion 
 and liberty, which both the electors of members of Parliament, 
 and the elected did sinfully comply with ; neither did the body of 
 the land make conscience of recovering these rights and privileges, 
 thus perverted and polluted ; but in stupid subjection did own 
 these for representatives, who betrayed their liberties, and made 
 laws to enslave the nation, and entail slavery upon the posterity. 
 On the other hand, they that disowned them, did not make con- 
 science of preserving those rights and privileges of supreme judi- 
 catories, when inadvertently and unadvisedly they put in such 
 
TO ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 expressions and stiles in some of their aeclarations, as do not 
 belong to j)rivate persons, but only to such judicatories. And 
 not only then, but since the Revolution, have there been many ways 
 taken for corrupting and depravmg the members of Parliament ; 
 as that all members and electors or numbers have been obliged to 
 take the oath of allegiance with the assurance, to such as did, 
 and do, in iheir dominions, su{)port Prelacy, and exercise an Eras- 
 Rian supremacy over the church of Christ. 
 
 And now last of all, by the means of this fatal Union with 
 England, in terms and upon conditions inconsistent with our cove- 
 nanted Union, engaged to in the League and Covenant; the na- 
 tion's sovereignty and independency are given up, the rights of 
 Parliament entirely lost, or vanished into a shadow, little prefer- 
 able to no Parliament ; so few being to represent this nation in 
 the Parliament of Great Britain, as can never be able to prevent, 
 by their number of voices, any act which it shall please the Eng- 
 iii-ii to make, how destructive soever the same be to our sacred or 
 eivil concerns. Which treaty of Union was concluded in a Par- 
 liament as manifestly prelimited, as any which ever was seen in 
 Scotland; the members were corrupted with bribes and prefer- 
 ment, and so engaged to act contrary to the will and mind of 
 those whom they did represent, and 4o comply with that strata- 
 gem hatched by the English, for enslaving this poor nation, and 
 denuded it of its privileges, as well sacred as civil. And alas ! how 
 insignificant were the endeavours then used to prevent that course, 
 and preserve the privileges of the Parliament and liberties of this 
 kingdom ? only some faint addresses, all other attempts being 
 laid aside at their Queen's command, by her proclamation, as 
 treasonable convocations of the leiges. 
 
 Again, the subject's liberties, both as men and as Christians, 
 which the scriptures allow, we should preserve, 
 
 1 Sam. xiv. 25. " And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jona- 
 than die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel ? So 
 
 the people rescued Jonathan that day, that he died not." Acts 
 xxii. 25. " And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto 
 the Centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man 
 
 that is a Roman and uncondemned ? Verse 28. And Paul 
 
 said. But I was free born. Acts xxv. 11. But if there be none 
 
 ol these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me 
 unto them. Verse 16 — -It is not the manner of the Romans to 
 deliver anv man to die, before that he which is accused have the 
 accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself con- 
 cerning the crime laid against him. Verse 27. For it seemeth 
 to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify 
 the crimes laid against him." Gal. v. 1. " Stand fast therefore 
 in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not 
 entangled again with the yoke of bondage." 
 
 Have been miserably encroached upon by arbitrary govern- 
 
OF SINS 71 
 
 ment, whereby the subjects have been oppressed in their consci- 
 ences, persons and estates, by all the oaths and bonds pressing 
 conformity with the corruption^, novations, and usurpations in 
 the government ot" church and state, and persecutions for recus- 
 ancy, and by impositions on the freedom of secret thoughts, 
 ■which no law of man can reach, v/hich yet in the time of the Jate 
 persecution were extorted, by threatening of death and manifold 
 tortures ; the church's liberties have also been invaded by the ec- 
 clesiastical supremacy, declared by a blasphemous law inherent 
 to the crown, which law, though it be not now in force, is yet still 
 kept up in practice by the indiction, prorogation, and dissolution 
 of Assemblies, and prescribing diets and causes of fasting and 
 thanksgiving in the magistrate's name and authority, to which 
 ecclesiastical supremacy, usurped by the magisti-ate, this back- 
 slidden church hath always subjected, and now to discover to the 
 world that they are not ashamed of this surrendering of our 
 Lord's prerogatives to his enemies they have, in their Assembly, 
 holden at Edinburgh, Anno 1710. most explicitly and fully sub- 
 scribed to this ecclesiastical supremacy, in their Act for observa- 
 tion of fasts, wherein they affirm, « that it is much for the honour 
 
 * of God that fasts, whether appointed by the church, or the civil 
 ' magistrate, be duly observed.' 
 
 In that same third Article, we are likewise bound to defend 
 
 * The supreme magistrate's person and authority, in the preserva- 
 
 * tion and defence of the true religion and liberties of the kingdom :' 
 as in the National Covenant is expressed : likewise, * to defend his 
 
 * person and authority, in the defence of Christ his evangel, libcr- 
 
 * ties of our country, ministration of justice, and punishment of 
 
 * iniquity; and to stand to his defence, in the defence of the true 
 
 * religion, liberties and laws of the kingdom ;' as tlie duty is qua- 
 lified in scripture. 
 
 2 Sam. v. 3. " So all the elders of Israel came to the king to 
 Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebr(m be- 
 fore the Lord : and they anointed David king over Israel." 2 
 Kings xi. 17. " And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord 
 and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's peo- 
 ple ; between the king also and the people." 2 Chron. xxvi. 15. 
 " But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his de- 
 struction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and 
 went into the temple of the Lord, to burn incense. Ver. 17. 
 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore 
 priests of the Lord, that were valiant men. Ver. 18. And 
 they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him. It apper- 
 taineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Loi*d, 
 but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn 
 incense, go out of the sanctuary for thou hast trespassed, neither 
 shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God. Verse 21. And 
 Uzatiah the king was a leper unto the day gf his death, and dwelt 
 
72 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 in a several house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the 
 house of the Lord, and Jotham his son was over the king's house, 
 judging the people of the land." Rom. xiii. 3, 4. " For rulers 
 are not a terror to good works, but to the evil : wilt thou then 
 not be afraid of the power ? do that which is good and thou shalt 
 have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee 
 for good : for if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for he 
 beareth not the sword in vain : for he is the minister of God, a 
 revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Verse 6. 
 For, for this cause pay you tribute also, for they are God's mi- 
 nisters, attending continually upon this very thing." 1 Pet. ii. 
 13. " Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the 
 Lord's sake, whether it be to the king ds supreme. Verse l^. 
 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the 
 punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do 
 well." 
 
 As our fathers in their acknowledgments had reason to say, 
 
 < Neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might 
 
 * harden the king in his evil way; but upon the contrary he hath 
 
 * not only been permitted, but many of us have been instrumental 
 
 * to m^ke him exercise his power in many things tending to the 
 « prejudice of religion, and of the Covenant, and of the peace 
 
 * and safety of these kingdoms : which is so far from the right 
 
 < way of preserving his Majesty's person and authority, that it 
 
 * cannot but provoke the Lord against him unto the hazard of 
 
 * both. Nay, under a pretence of relieving and doing for the 
 
 * king, whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the house of 
 ' God, some have ranversed and violated most of all the Articles 
 
 * of the Covenant.* 
 
 So, during the unhappy days of the late tyranny, it was the 
 land's sin and shame, and ought to be our sorrow, that men were 
 mounted upon a throne of iniquity, whose main design and prac- 
 tice was, to subvert religion and persecute it, to introduce Po- 
 pery itself, and slavery, to destroy the nation's liberties, suppress 
 the evangel, and oppress its professors ; who enacted and executed 
 manifest injustice, stopped the ministration of justice against 
 idolaters, adulterers, murderers and other malefactors, and pun- 
 ished equity and duty, instead of iniquity ; arrogated and obtained 
 a monstrous prerogative above all rights and privileges of Parlia- 
 ments, all laws, all liberties ; a power to tyrannise as they pleased 
 without controul. But as it was their sin, Vvho inaugurated 
 Charles the II, after such discoveries of his hypocritical enmity 
 to religion and liberty', upon his subscription of the Covenants, so 
 xvhen he burned and buried tl)at Covenant, and degenerated into 
 manifest tyranny, and had razed the very foundation upon which 
 both his right to govern, and the people's allegiance were Ibunded, 
 and remitted the subjects' allegiance, by annulling the bond of it; 
 it was the land's sin, that they continued still to own his authorityj 
 
OF SINSf. 73 
 
 y/hen opposite to, and destructive of, religion and liberty ; and 
 of these who app -ared in arms at Pcntland and Bo thwel- Bridge, 
 that they put in liis, interest (with application of the woi'ds of the 
 Covenant to him, tliough stated in opposition to it) into the state 
 of the quarrel^ in their declaration qfwar^ for which (so far as the 
 godly could discern) the Lord put them to shame, and went nol: 
 torth with their armies. It was likewise the sin of the land, and 
 a great breach of Covenant, that the Duke of York was admitted 
 to the exercise of the royal office, against the laws of God and 
 man ; being uncapable of the Covenant qualifications of a magis- 
 trate, and being a Papist, and so uncapable of taking the ' oath 
 
 * of coronation, to maintain the true Protestant religion, and 
 
 * gain-stand and abolish Popery ;' which, for the preservation of 
 the true religion, laws and liberties of this kingdom, is stated by 
 the 8th act of Parliament 1, King James VI. ' That all Kings, at 
 
 * the reception of their princely authority, shall take and swear ;* 
 yet this authority, though inconsistent with, and declaredly op- 
 posite to, religion and liiSerty, was owned and upheld, by paying 
 cess and supplies, expressly exacted for upholding tyranny, in 
 the destruction of religion and liberty : and though the Lord did, 
 for a long time, by the tyranny of Charles II. and James VII. 
 chastise these covenanted lands, yet there has not been a turning 
 to him that smiteth : but these lands have again transgressed the 
 Lord's commandments, and broken this part of the Covenant of 
 the Lord, by receiving, admitting, supporting and subjecting to 
 such, for Kings and Queens over these realms, as want the qua- 
 lifications required in God's word, and enacted by the righteous 
 and laudable laws of the land, to be in magistrates, superior, and 
 inferior : which were not brought under Covenant ties and obli- 
 gations, to be for God and religion in their own persons and 
 families, and to advance and preserve the same alienarly in their 
 dominions ; but in place thereof have come under oath and obli- 
 gation to countenance, protect, and advance the Romish super- 
 stitions and iimovations in the worship of God and government 
 of the church, which the Covenant binds these kingdoms to 
 suppress and extirpate, and in consequence of, and conformity 
 to, these obligations, do maintain and defend, or tolerate and 
 allow Prelacy and Sectarian errors in their dominions, contrary 
 to the true religion, and sound doctrine; contrary to justice and 
 equity ; yea, contrary to that trust, especially committed to the 
 hands of Christian magistrates, who for that end have the sword 
 given them, That they may be a terror to evil doers^ preserve and 
 defend the true religion and professors thereof, and punish and 
 extirpate false religion, and heresies, and bring the wheel over 
 the broachers, maintainers and abettors thereof; which did, and 
 do exercise an Erastian supremacy over the church, in prorogu- 
 ing, and dissolving General Assemblies, appointing diets and 
 ©auses of fasts and thanksgivings ; and by their civil authority 
 
 K 
 
■74. ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 causing them to be kept and observed : which do not impavtiallr 
 execute justice upon all offenders, witness the frequent indemni- 
 ties and remissions granted to murderers ; as particularly, the 
 passing without punishment the persons wliich perpetrated the 
 inhuman, barbarous, and lawless action of the massacre of Glen- 
 coe. Which waste and destroy the kingdom, by levying men 
 and raising money for maintaining a long and expensive war, un- 
 dertaken neither for the advancement of the true religion, nor for 
 the advantage and safety of the nation ; but in favours of the 
 house of Austria, which hath been, and yet continues to be, one 
 of the strong pillars of Antichrist's kingdom, and implacable en- 
 emies to the true reformed religion, as appears by the persecu- 
 tion^ of the Protestants in Silesia, Hungary, 8zc. And yet not- 
 withstanding of all this, many in the land of all ranks have sworn 
 to bear true and faithful allegiance to them, without any condi- 
 tional restriction or limitation ; so that it is not possible for them, 
 in a consistency with their oath, to disown their authority, and 
 deny them subjection, or refuse to defend their persons and gov- 
 ernment, albeit they should proceed to the greatest pitch of arbi- 
 trariness; which is very far from the defence promised to Magis- 
 trates in the Covenant : The whole land (almost) hath complied 
 with them in all the forementioned particulars so diametrically op- 
 posite to the Covenants, and supported, strengthened, and en- 
 couraged them in these evil courses, by paying them cess and 
 other subsidies; and ministers have minded so much to be loyal 
 to their government, that they have forgotten to be faithful to 
 their souls, in that they Jiave not discovered to them the sin and 
 danger of patronizing Prelacy, and exercising Erastianism over 
 the church; but in order to obtain their favour, have clapped 
 their heads in these sins, which certainly is most opposite to that 
 loyalty, which we ought to maintain towards Princes, and tends 
 rather to diminish their just power and greatness, than to increase 
 and preserve it ; and instead of being a proper way of defending 
 their persons and authority', is rather a mean to bring the wrath 
 of a just and jealous God both upon them, and those who defend 
 or connive at them, in these unlawful courses. 
 
 * Our own consciences within, and God's judgments upon u-^ 
 
 * without, do convince us of the manifold, wilful renewed breach- 
 < es of the fourth Article, which concerneth the discovery of mal- 
 
 * ignants; consonant to the scriptures,' 
 
 2 Sam. xxiii. 6. " But the sons of Belial shall be all of them a* 
 thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands." 
 Esther vii. 5, 6. " Then the King Ahasuerus answered and said 
 imto Esther the Queen, Who is he ? and where is he th:it durst 
 presume in his heart to do so? and Esther said, The adversary 
 and enemy is this Micked Plaman." Psal. xxvi. 5. " I have hat- 
 ed the congregation of evil doers: and will not sit with the wick- 
 ed." Psal. ci. 8. " 1 will early destroy all the wicked of the land i 
 
OF SINS. 75 
 
 that I may cut off' all evil doers from the city of tlie Lord." 
 Prov. XXV. 5. " Take away the wicked fron before the King, 
 and his throne shall be established in righteousness." 
 
 " For their crimes have not only been connived at ; but dispens- 
 " cd with and pardoned, and then.sclves received into intimate fcl- 
 " lowship, intrusted with couii^els, admitted into Parliaments, 
 -' and put in places of power and aiithoritv for mai;aging the pub- 
 " lie affairs of the kingdom; whfr^-b}-, in Gods justice, they got 
 " at last into their hands the whc-le power and strength of liic 
 *' kingdom, both in judicatories and armies, ai'd did em|}loy 
 *' the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful en- 
 " gagement in war against the kingdom of England, notwirh- 
 *' standing of the dis^rnt of many considerable members of Pi;r- 
 *' liamenc, who had given constant proof of their integrity in the 
 *' cause, from the beginning ; of many faithful testimonies and 
 *' free warnings of the servants of God ; of the supi)lications of 
 *' many synods, presbyteries, and shires; and the dt claration of 
 *' the General Assembly and their Coinm.issioners to the contrary; 
 " which engagement, as it was the cause of much sin, so also of 
 " much misery, and calamity unto this land, and held forth the 
 *' grievousness of our sin, in complying with malignants, in the 
 *' greatness of our judgment, that we may be taught never to 
 *< split again upon the same rock, upon which the Lord hath set 
 *' so remarkable a beacon. And, after all that is come to pass 
 " unto us, because of this our trespass, and after that grace hath 
 " been shewed unto our fathers and us once and again from the 
 "Lord our God, by breaking these men's yoke from o^ fheir 
 ^^ and our 7iecks, and sonictimcs delivering our iniher & so far from 
 *' their insulti?igs, that he put them in a capacity to act for the 
 " good of religion, their own safety, and the peace and safety of 
 " the kingdoms, should they and we again break the commandment 
 " and Covenant of the Lord, by joining once more with the people 
 <' of these abominations, and taking unto our bosom these serpent?, 
 " which had formerly stung us almost unto death : this, as it would 
 " argue great madness and folly upon our part, so no doubt, if it 
 " be not avoided, will provoke the I^ord against us, to consume 
 " us until there be no remnant nor escaping in the land ? many 
 " times have we been warned of tlie sin of complying with malig- 
 " nants, both by laithful ministers, and fatherly corrections, from 
 " the Lord;" yet after all these punishments, and after all these 
 mercies in mitigating these punishments, we have again joined 
 with the people of these abominations ; the Lord is righteous, 
 for we remain yet escaped as it is this day ; behold, we are be- 
 fore him in our trespass, we cannot stand before him because of 
 this. 
 
 These incendiaries, malignants and evil instruments made 
 many grievous encroachments, and prevailed much in the days 
 of our fathers, but not uiithout dissent, testimonies, warnings and 
 
76 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 declarations ; but more especially in the dismal days of persecu- 
 tion and tyranny, they were suffered, yea, encouraged, without 
 any significant joint testimony, not only to hinder the reformation 
 of religion, but to overturn the whole work of Reformation, to 
 burn and bury the Covenants for it, to re-establish abjured Pre- 
 lacy, erect a monstrous Christ-exauctorating and church-enslav- 
 ing supremacy, attempt the introduction of Popery and slavery 
 at the gate of an antichristian toleration, and to persecute and 
 destroy the godly, who durst not in conscience coniply with them ; 
 and not only to divide the King from his people^ or one of the 
 kingdoms from another ; but first to divide the bulk and body of 
 both kingdoms, and make them pursue divided interests from the 
 interest and cause of Christ, and then to divide the remnant of 
 such as adhered to it, amongst themselves, by indulgences, and 
 other bonds of contention, in order to get them more easily 
 destroyed ; and at length to engage the king into such a division 
 from the people, as to make him, instead of their protector, their 
 declared destroyer; and not only to make parties amon<i the people 
 contrary to this league and Covenant ; but to draw and divide the 
 whole people ii;to a party with perjuries. The generality not- 
 withstanding did own allegiance to the head of these incendiaries, 
 and malignants ; yea, a Popish incendiary, because he wore a 
 crown on his head : and did pay the cess, im{)i'sed tor the main- 
 tenance and encouragement of malignants: many did associate 
 with them in expeditions of war, drawing up with them in their 
 musters and rendezvouses, thereby countenancing a malignant 
 cause, and listing themselves under a malignant, yea, Popish 
 banner : many subscribed and sware themselves contrary to the 
 Covenant, by taking tests, oaths, and bonds, obliging them to 
 surcease from covenanted duties, and to keep the peace and good 
 behaviour with them, whom they were obliged by Covenant to 
 seek to bring to punishment : yea, some, and not a few, were in- 
 veigled in the snare of the oath of delation, to delate the perse- 
 cuted people of God to their courts, and thereby made them, 
 instead of discovering malignants according to the Covenant, to 
 discover their brethren to malignants. And very many, almost 
 the universality of the land, were involved in the snare of the 
 oath of abjuration, renouncing the principle of declaring war 
 against a malignant King, and of asserting the lawfulness of 
 bi'inging his murthering complices and incendiaries to condign 
 })unishment; but on the other hand, some of the suffering party 
 did sometimes exceed the bounds of moderation in this matter, 
 in usurping the sword without God's call, without respect to the 
 rule, and against the scope of their own declarations, to take ven- 
 geance on them at their own hand ; yea, even to that degree of 
 taking the lives of som.e of them in an extravagant manner *, for 
 
 ** Such as the Curate of Carsphairn and some others. But it is to be 
 
 I 
 
OF SINS. 77 
 
 which they were sadly rebuked of God, and occasion was given 
 and taken to reproach and blaspheme the way of God upon that 
 account. But to descend to our own time, we have it to bewail ; 
 that whatever alteration there is in the face of affairs, since the 
 yoke of tyranny was taken off our neck, yet there is no alteration 
 in this matter to the better, but rather to the worse ; malignants 
 are so far from being brought to condign punishment, that they 
 are the whole administrators of the affairs in the kingdom ; whence 
 it is come to pass, that the supreme judicatories, which should 
 take trial of such, and bring them to punishment, and to whom 
 they should be delated, are wholly, or mostly composed of such ; 
 yea, none may now be I'eputed malignant, unless he be disaffected 
 to the civil government ; so that malignancy is not now, disaffec- 
 tion to the cause and work of God, but disaffection to the pre- 
 sent establishment, and so far are they, that are truly disaffected 
 to Christ and his interest, this day advanced and strengthened in 
 their designs, that they have (so far as in them lies) put a final 
 stop to all further progress in Reformation in these Covenanted 
 kingdoms ; so that instead of discovering and bringing to punish- 
 ment them who make parties and factions against the League and 
 Covenant, and Reformation therein concerted, the most part of 
 Britain and Ireland are nought else, but a party and faction 
 against it, who have cast it out of doors, and, for what is appa- 
 rent, are never minded to receive it again ; and upon the contra- 
 ry, such as ar^' labouring to adhere most closely (though in weak- 
 ness) to these engagements, and prosecute the ends of these 
 Covenants, are unjustly looked upon as a party and faction, and 
 prosecuted as offenders, by such, as according to the genuine 
 sense of this Article, ought to be brought to condign punishment. 
 It is likewise promised in this Article, that such shall he brought 
 to trial, as shall divide the king from his people, or one of the king- 
 doms from another, which clause hath been broken, by using 
 endeavours to have king and people, and the kingdoms all con- 
 joined in an Union and conjunction contrary to, and eversive of, 
 this Solemn League and Covenant ; and these, that go under the 
 character of ministers, from whom it might in all reason be 
 expected, that they should interpose for having malignants duly 
 punished, are so far from doing so, that they make it their en- 
 deavour to please them, and upon the contrary, they spare no 
 pains to incense the persons in the government, against those, 
 
 noted, that this sentence is not meant of those, who either designed, 
 or aciiually executed that Act of extraordinary justice upon the Arch- 
 Bishop of St. Andrews, who being an arch-traitor, and pubhc incendiary, 
 and implacable enemy to the work of God, and all the godly in the 
 kingdom, was therefore justly put to death ; though (because of the de- 
 fect of justice in those that had authority) the Act, in respect of the 
 persons executing, was singular and extraordinary. See the same via- 
 dicated, Hind Let Loose, Head vi. Page 633. kc. 
 
7S ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 whose design it is, in the Lord's strength, to adhere to their 
 Covenant engagements, and to keep themselves unspotted from 
 the abominations of the times. We acknowledge also ourselves 
 guilty of the breach of this Article, insofar as, we have not more 
 frequently and fervently, from a real respect and zeal to the glory 
 of God, after we saw no means of getting such evil instruments 
 and opposers of Reformation punished and suppressed by human 
 judicatories, applied by prayer and supplication to God, that he 
 would either of his infinite mercy convince them of, and reclaim 
 them from, or in justice reprove and punish them for, their op- 
 position to his cause and interest. As also, that we have not duly 
 :5earched into our own sins, and especially the malignancy of our 
 own hearts, by means whereof, the Lord is highly provoked to 
 permit such evil instruments, not only to afflict and oppress us, 
 but also to retard the success of his own work ; and that we have 
 not impartially and sincerely mourned over these sins in our own 
 hearts and lives, whicli hinder our own personal, and so have in- 
 fluence to impede. National Reformation, and have not forsaken 
 and abandoned them. 
 
 In the fifth Article, we are bound, ' according to our place and 
 * station, to endeavour, that the kingdoms may remain conjoined 
 ' in a most firm peace, and union to all posterity ; and that justite 
 ' may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof:' According to, 
 
 Isa. ii. 2, 3. " And it shall come to pass in the last days, that 
 the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established upon the 
 top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills ; ^and 
 all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say. 
 Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the 
 house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and 
 we will walk in his paths. Isa. xix. 23, 24. In that day shall 
 there be a high way out Egypt to Assyria; and the Assyrians 
 shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the 
 Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel 
 be the third with Egypt, and with Assyria, even a blessing in the 
 midst of the land. Jer. 1. 4', 5. In those days and in that time 
 saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the 
 children of Judah together, going and weeping : they shall go and 
 seek the Lord tlieir God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with 
 their faces thitherward : saying. Come, and let us join ourselves 
 to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. 
 Ezek. xxxvii. IG, 17. Moreover, thou son of man, take tliee one 
 stick, and write upon it, lor Judah, and for the children of Israel 
 his companions ; then take another stick, and write upon ii, for 
 Joseph the slick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his 
 companions, and join them one to another into one stick, and 
 they shall become one in thine hand. Zech. ii. 11. And many 
 nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my 
 people, &c. Zech. viii. 21, 22. And the inhabitants of one city 
 
OF SINS. '^ 
 
 shall go to another, saying, Let us go speoclily to pray before the 
 Lord, and to seek tlie Lord of hosts : I will go also. Yea, many 
 people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in 
 Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Gal. v. 12. I would 
 they were even cut off which trouble you." 
 
 * But though the peace and union of the kingdoms (while dul}' 
 
 * subordinate to the interest of religion) was a great blessing of 
 
 * God unto both, and a bond which we -are obliged to preserve 
 
 * inviolated, and to endeavour that justice may be done upon the 
 
 * wilful oppo;?ers thereof; yet some in this land, who have come 
 
 * under the bond of the Covenant, have made it their great study, 
 
 * how to dissolve this union, and few or no endeavours have been 
 
 * used by any of us for punishing of such ;' yea, very little, or 
 none at all, have the most of us been concerned about this 
 Article ; whether there be peace with, or holiness and truth in, 
 the other kingdoms ; or what sort of peace, or on what founda- 
 tion it be settled : both kingdoms are mutually guilty of dissolv- 
 ing this Covenanted Union, in invading each other, at several 
 times, contrary to the Covenant, the English nation in subjecting 
 us to their conquest, and forcing us to a submission to their Sec- 
 tarian usurpations on church and state ; and this nation, in giving 
 such provocations to them, by the unlawful engagement in the 
 year 1648, by^ treating with, setting up and entertaining, the 
 head of the malignant party, their enemy and oui's both, as our 
 King in the year 1650, and invading them upon his quarrel, at 
 the Worcester expedition Anno 16ol ; since which time, after 
 that kingdom and this both united in that unhappy course of 
 restoring the King, without respect to the Covenant, and re-es- 
 tablishing Prelacy, which broke our Covenanted Union and 
 Conjunction, that nation ham sometimes sent aid to our perse- 
 cutors, for siippressing our atiejnpts to recover our religion and 
 liberties : and this nation hath sent force^ to heip thtir destroyers, 
 and to suppress their endeavours for the recovery of their privi- 
 leges. And in the mean time, we have been very little solicitous 
 for correspondence to settle union with such of them as owned 
 the Covenant, or for giving to, or receiving from them, mutual 
 informations of our respective cases and conditions, under all our 
 calamities, and calumnies cast upon us ; nor have we studied 
 to keep up sympathy or communion of saints, or mutual bearing 
 of one another's burdens, as became covenanted brethren. 
 
 On the other hand instead of union in truth and duty according 
 to the bond of the Covenant, a coiifederacy hath been studied in 
 defection from the Covenant, and an union and peace which v.-ant- 
 ed the foundation laid down in th : foregoing Articles of the Cove- 
 nant, viz. ' Uniformity in doctrii e, worship, discipline and gov- 
 ' ernment, against Popery, Prel; jy, Schism, Sectarianism, for 
 * our religion, laws, and liberties, and discovering, suppressing 
 ' and punishing the enemies of these interests.' Such an Union 
 
so ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 hath not been studied nor sought, but on the contrary an Union 
 against the Reformation and Uniformity, for Prelacy and Sectar- 
 ian multiformity, by maintaining tyranny and strengthening mal- 
 ignancy. Yea, by the means of this incorporating Union now of 
 late established, Prelacy is not only strengthened and confirmed, 
 but so settled as to continue to all succeeding generations, and this 
 nation's slavery as well as their sin perpetuated. And persons of 
 all ranks have had a deep hand in this trespass : the nobility and 
 gentry who respresentcd the nation, in surrendering their own 
 and the nation's rights and privileges : ministers in not warning 
 them faithfully to beware of that covenant-breaking course, which 
 could not but provoke God to anger against this poor island, but 
 shewing more concern in that juncture for settling their own, 
 than for securing and advancing Christ's interest : and the body 
 of the land, in that they did not bestir themselves, for the de- 
 fence of their own libcjrties in a lawful way. 
 
 In the sixth Article we are bound, ' according to our places 
 
 * and callings, in this common cause of religion, liberty and 
 
 * peace, to assist and defend all those that enter into this League 
 
 * and Covenant, in the maintaining thereof. And in the national 
 
 * Covenant, in like manner, we are bound to stand to the mutual 
 
 * defence and assistance, every one of us of another, in the same 
 
 * cause, with our best counsel, our bodies, means, and whole pow- 
 « er, against all sorts of persons whatsoever; so that whatsoever 
 
 * shall be done to the least of us for that cause, should be taken 
 
 * as done to all of us in general, and to every one of us in parti- 
 
 * cular.' A duty very clear in the scriptures ; 
 
 Judges v. 23. " Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, 
 curse ye bitterly the inhaljitants thereof; because they came not 
 to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the 
 mighty." 1 Chron. xii. 1. " Now these ai'e they that came to 
 David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close, because of Saul 
 the son of Kish ; and they were among the mighty men, helpers 
 of the war. Verse 18. Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who 
 waschief of the captains, and he said. Thine are we, David, and 
 on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and 
 peace be to thine helpers : for thy God helpeth thee. Then Da- 
 vid received them and made them captains of the band." Neh. 
 iv. 14-. " And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and 
 to the rulers, and to the rest of the people. Be not ye afraid of 
 them : remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight 
 for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives 
 and your houses." Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. " If thou forbear to deliver 
 them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be 
 slain : if thou sayest. Behold we knew it not ; doth not he that 
 pondereth the heart consider it? and he that kecpeth thy soul, 
 doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man ac- 
 cording to his works ?" 
 
OF SINS. §i 
 
 But aias ! how little conscience hath been made of this duty ? 
 
 * We have suffered many of our brethren in many parts of the 
 
 * land to be oppressed of the common enemy, without compas- 
 
 * sion or relief. There hath been great murmuring and repining 
 
 * because of expences of means and pains in doing of our duty ;* 
 and not only so, but many did swear and subscribe oaths, and 
 bonds expressly against such assistances, and to condemn all such 
 endeavours, to assist, defend or rescue them, as rebellion and se- 
 dition, and obliging them to assist their murdering malignant en- 
 emies, by such concurrences as they required. Yea, many in- 
 stead of coming out to help the Lord agninst the mighty, and 
 defending their brethren, did come out to the help of the mighty 
 against the Lord, his cause, Covenant, and oppressed people; 
 concurring in arms against them at all the appearances that were 
 made and essayed for the cause of Christ ; compearing at courts, 
 held for informing against and condemning their brethren, that 
 were present at, or concerned in such appearances for the Cove- 
 nanted cause, and coming in as witnesses against them ; sitting in 
 assizes for condemning them, and guarding them to their execu- 
 tions, when martyred for their duty, and the interest of truth. 
 Many likewise denied to reset, harbour or entertain their bre- 
 thren, persecuted for maintaining the Covenanted Reformation; 
 some raised the hue and cry after them, thereby occasioning, and 
 assisting in, the murder of several faithful brethren: the most 
 part owned the great murderer who authorized all the rest, and 
 enacted all these murders, and assisted him and his complices, 
 and executioners of his murdering mandates, with their persons 
 and estates, in paying the supplies professedly demanded, and de- 
 claredly imposed, for cnabUngthem to accomplish these mischiefs. 
 Yea, many were so far from assisting, that they added afflictions to, 
 their afflicted brethren, their reproaches, and persecuting by the 
 tongue, those whom the Lord had smitten, and talking to the 
 grief of those \vhom he had wounded. And all sorts of us have 
 been wanting in our sympathy with, and endeavouring succour 
 to, our suffering brethren, let be to deliver them from their 
 enemies' hands according to our capacity. So also, it is for mat- 
 ter of lamentation, that many ministers all alongst discovered 
 great unconcernedness with, and contempt of, poor despised and 
 Reproached sufferers, condemned the heads of their suffering, 
 forgot or refused to pray for them publicly. And as this Article 
 was all alongst through the persecuting limes, most grossly vio- 
 lated, so to this day it continues to be. Any that would appear 
 in the least active for this cause, are so far from being assisted, 
 that they are borne down, derided, sentenced, and sometimes 
 imprisoned ; whatever motions are made in private discourses, or 
 public sermons, which may import a respect to, or liking of, this 
 noble cause of religion, or a dislike of, and displacency with the 
 courses opposite unto it, are so far from being countenanced,- thai 
 
 L 
 
82 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 the movers are hated, vilipended, contemned or censured, as 
 raisers of dust, fomenters oi" division, pragmatic, turbulent and 
 factious spiiits, and loaded with many other defamatory epithets 
 and calumnies. Muny instances of which may be given since 
 the Revolution. For example, when in the year 1690, there 
 was a paper of grievances presented to the Assembly by some of 
 those who had been keeping up a witness against the iniquitous 
 courses of the times, and were now expecting that as the fruit of a 
 merciful delivery from tyrannical usurpations, and antichristian 
 persecution, Reformation should be revived, grievances redress- 
 ed, judicatorPes rightly constituted, and duly purged, it was far 
 from receiving a kind and friendly reception, and they who pre- 
 sented it left without assistance and help, contrary to the tenor of 
 the Covenant, so that that paper could not be allowed a hearing, 
 let be a redress, and the persons, who ofTerecT it to their consider- 
 ation, were, to their gijeat sorrow and grief of heart, dismissed with- 
 out a satisfying answer. As also when Mess. Linning, Shields 
 and Boyd, who had been carrying on a Testimony against the 
 time's defections, and were now minded to join with the Assem- 
 bly, after the exhibition of their Testimony, whatever acceptance 
 it might meet with at their hands, had in prosecution of this their 
 design, exhibited their proposals to the Committee of Overtures, 
 these proposals, though both worth}' of consideration and neces- 
 sary to be redressed, were not allowed a hearing in open Assem- 
 bly, but rejected as being ' made up of mistakes, reflections, un- 
 ' seasonable and impracticable overtures,' and the said persons, so 
 far from being assisted, in order to a removal of the evils therein 
 complained of, as destructive to the cause of God, that upon the 
 contrary the forenamed persons stand in the fifth Act of that pre- 
 tended Assembly characterized with the name and epithet of per- 
 sons who had followed courses contrary to the order of the 
 church, and in their Moderator's exhortation, to xvalk onJcrlij in 
 time coining, in opposition to nil schism and division, their former 
 ])ractice of testifying against the corruptions of the times, was im- 
 plicitly condemned as disorderly, schismatick and divisive. An- 
 other instance of this appeared not long after; when in the year 
 1692, some of the godly of the land published their declaration 
 disowning William and Mary's government, because not qualified 
 as God's word, and our Covenants do require, as it is specifieo" 
 at large in the narrative of that declaration ; some of them were 
 apprehended and imprisoned, for that piece of adherence to the 
 Covenanted Reformation, and opposing or at least witnessing 
 against tht» courses which they found to be contrary to it. Yet 
 who at that juncture appeared to assis^ them in tlieir laudable 
 undertakings? And all alongst since, whosoever has offered 
 t;'rievances, or any way witnessed against the bypast and present 
 defections, have been tuid are prosecuted with church censure, or 
 persecuted with bitter and malicious invectives and reproaches'. 
 
OF SINS 83 
 
 ftilling from the tongues and pens of those^that arc obliged by 
 Covenant to have assisted, defended and enc(Jlraged them. And 
 especially ministers, who by virtue of their office, as well as cove- 
 nant engagements, arc obliged to excite persons to, and assist 
 them in their duty, have been activ;.- to do the quite contrary ; for 
 instance, wiicn some persons ofiercd to give public satisfaction for 
 their compliance with Christ's enemies, tliey refused to admit them. 
 But to what purpose do we repeat these instances ? It is too 
 certain and evident, that there is more assistance and encourage- 
 ment afforded to the enemies of this cause and Covenant, by per- 
 sons of all ranks, than to the friends and v/ell wishers of it. Love 
 to, and zeal for this cause are greatly decayed, and therefore mu- 
 tual sympathy and affection amongst the people of God in the 
 prosecution and maintenance of it are much a wanting. 
 
 In the same Article we are bound, '' not to suffer ourselves 
 " directly, nor indirectly, by whatsoever combination, or terror,' 
 " to be divided or withdrawn trom this blessed union and con- 
 "junction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or 
 " to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in 
 " this cause: and in the National Covenant, that we shall neither 
 " directly nor indirectly suffer ourselves to be divided, or with- 
 *' drawn by whatsoever suggestion, allurement, or terror, from 
 " this blessed and loyal conjunction. According to scripture 
 " warrants." 
 
 Gen. xiii. 8. " And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no 
 strife, 1 pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herd- 
 men and thy herd men ; for we be brethren." Psalm cxxxiii. 
 throughout. Zech. viii. 19. '• Therefore love the truiii and 
 peace." 1 Cor. i. 10. " Now 1 beseech you brethren, by the name 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and 
 that there be no divisions among you ; but that ye be perfectly 
 joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.", 
 Eph. iv. 3. " Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in 
 
 the bond of peace." Phil, i, 27. " That ye stand fast in one 
 
 spirit, v/ith one mind, striving together for the faith of the gos- 
 pel." Phil. ii. 2. " Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, 
 having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Heb. 
 xii. 14. '• Follow peace with all men, and holiness," &c. Jer. 
 
 ix. 3. ■" But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth." 
 
 Ezek. >ux.ii. 25. " There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the 
 midst thereof." Hag. i. 2, '• Thus sjieakcth the Lord of hosts, 
 saying. This people say. The time is not come, the time that the 
 Lord's house should be built." Phil. ii. 21. " For all seek their 
 own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." 2 Tim. iv. 10. 
 *' For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." 
 Rev. iii. 15. '• I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor 
 hot : I w^ould thou wert cold or hot." 
 
 But alas I it is long since our fathers had reason to compla^a 
 
8* ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 and confess, * That#nany in their day through persuasion or ter- 
 
 * ror suffered themSfelves to be divided and withdrawn to make 
 
 * defection to the contrary part. Many had turned off to a de-f 
 *^ testable indifferency and neutrality in this cause, which so much 
 
 * concerneth the glory of God, and the good of these kingdoms. 
 
 * Nay many had made it their study to walk so, as they might 
 
 * comply with all times, and all the revolutions thereof. That it 
 
 * was not their care to countenance, encourage, entrust and cm- 
 ^ ploy, such only as from their hearts did affect and mind God's 
 *= work J but the hearts of such, many times had been discouraged, 
 *^ and their hands weakened, their sufferings neglected, and them- 
 •^ selves slighted, and many who had been once open enemies, and 
 
 * always secret underminers, countenanced and employed. Nay 
 " even those, who had been looked npon as incendiaries, and 
 
 * upon whom the Lord had set marks of desperate malignancy, 
 < falsehood and deceit, were brought in as fit to manage public 
 
 * affairs.* 
 
 All which sins and breaches of Covenant have now increased to 
 a great height of heinousness ; for in our day these incendiaries, 
 desperate and engrained malignants have only been employed in, 
 and admitted to the management of, the affairs of the kingdom, 
 and none but they accounted habile by law ; and such divisions 
 from this Covenanted-conjunction, and defections to the contrary 
 part have been, and are enacted and established by law ; yea, all 
 the unhappy divisions, that have been from the public resolutions, 
 and downward, have been the woful consequents and effects of 
 defections to the contrary part. At the first erection of Prelacy, 
 many, both ministers and professors, partly by terror, partly by 
 persuasion, did withdraw from this Covenanted-conjunction, and 
 make defection unto Prelacy, with which they combined, con- 
 forming with, and submitting to, the ministry of the conforming 
 curates ; and afterward by the terror of the fear of men, and 
 the persuasions of their counsel and example, many of the land 
 ■were seduced into a combination with malignants, in taking oaths 
 and bonds contrary tQ the Covenant : '1 hereby dividing them- 
 selves from the recusants, and making defection to the party im- 
 posing them, and opposing the Covenants. By combination of 
 these that preferred peace to truth, and ease to duty, by the terror 
 •of threatened continuance of persecution, and the persuasion of a 
 promised relaxation and immunity from troubles ; many ministers 
 Lave been divided from the testunony of the church of Scotland, 
 against the encroaching supremacy, and absolute power, and one 
 from another, and have made defection to that part and party, 
 that were advancing these encroachments and usurpations on the 
 prerogatives of Christ and privileges of his church, by receiving 
 indulgences and tolerations from them, in their own nature de- 
 structive unto, and given and received on terms inconsistent with 
 the duties of the Covenants, which were contrived and conferred 
 
OF SINS. 85 
 
 on purpose la divide them from this cause, and from their bre- 
 thren, that more tenaciously adhered to it ; and did effectuate 
 that design in a great measure : and others gave themselves to a 
 detestable indifferency in complying with, conniving at, and not 
 witnessing against these defections, but passing them over in a 
 secure and submissive silence. And as in the times of persecuting^ 
 violence, these breaches of this Article were made by reason of 
 the snares of that sinful time ; so much more has there been a 
 manifest violation of it since, when at this day there is such an 
 universal combination of interests in opposition to the Covenanted 
 Reformation : are not the most of the three kingdoms in one 
 great combination against it, by this cope-stone of defection, this 
 incorporating Union ? How have we made conscience of perform- 
 ing that part of the Covenant anent resisting the persuasion of men 
 to make defection to the contrary part, when the whole land is so 
 deeply involved into it? There has been, alas ! too much way 
 given to carnal arguments and persuasives, such as worldly gain, 
 ease, peace, profit and prefermtnt, and too much slavish fear and 
 terror of men, whose breath is but in their nostrils, has been en- 
 tertained, without a due reliance and dependence upon Omnipo- 
 tency ; which has greatly carried men oft' their feet, and wheedled 
 them into a compliance with, and defection to, the contrary part, 
 or into a neutrality and indifferency in this cause ; so that few- 
 are found valiant for the truth upon the earth. What strange 
 laxncss and Laodicean indifferency has there appeared in this 
 cause, through the whole conduct of affairs in church and slate, 
 since the Revolution ; whereby many discover to every observant 
 eye, that they are satisfied, if they obtain a peaceful enjoyment 
 of their own things, and liberty to dwell in their ceiled houses ; 
 albeit the Lord's house (in a great measure) lies wast ? Wht-re are 
 there any acts of Assemblies, or proceedings of the church, which 
 discover any due concern, or zeal for the Covenanted interest .'' 
 Nay the contrary has too frequently appeared, as for instance ; 
 when by the 5th act of the 2d session of William and Mary's 1st 
 Pari, the establishment of the church was calculated for the me- 
 ridian of state-policy, according to act Hi, Pari. 12, King 
 James VL Anno 1592. On puipose to pass over in shameful 
 oblivion the church's choicest attainments in Reformation betwixt 
 1638 and 1649 : and particularly, lo make void the League and 
 Covenant, with the Assembly's explanatory declaration affixed to 
 the National, the malignants' grand eye-sore ; there was no faithful 
 protestation and testimony exhibiteil against this by the Assembly 
 then indicted, and conveened the 16th of October following; 
 which, if duly pondered in all its circumstances, without the 
 mask and pretexts industriously drawn over it, will appear to be 
 (perhaps) one of the greatest sins of this nation, and to be little 
 inferior in nature and aggravations to the burning of the Cove- 
 nants, which is granted by all Presbyterians to be a most atro- 
 
86 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 cious act of contempt done to the eternal God, and his Son Jesus 
 Christ; and cannot be recalled to mind by any of the gouiy, 
 without great abhorrence and detestation of it, in so far as, the 
 passing over, and not ratifying these acts of Parliament and 
 Assembly, by tlie respective judicatories, which were madeuuring 
 that time of lieformacion, was a practical and interpretative con- 
 demning of them, as unprofitable, and did greatly corroborate 
 the acts, whereby Charles 11. had declared thcin null, and not 
 obligatory; and did likewise import a viliiying and dehpising of 
 what God had wrought for his people in these lands, during that 
 time; and lastly was a manifest indication of disregard to the oath 
 of God, which these lands had come under. Neither did that, 
 nor any succeeding Assembly impartially and explicitly enumer- 
 ate the land's sins in their national Fasts"^ ; namely the indulgence 
 and toleration, with the addresses and thanksgivings for it, and 
 the burning of the Covjenant, &c. Neither have they in any of 
 their addresses to their ICiug or Queen, by letters or other means, 
 declared unto them the indispensible duty of renewing the Cove- 
 nants, nor applied to the Parliament for that eifect : neither have 
 they, by their Assembly-acts, asserted the intrinsic power of the 
 church : neither did they in any of their acts, or public papers 
 make honourable mention of these, who had laid down their lives 
 for their adherence to Christ's truths, during the times of tyran- 
 nical persecution, nor testified their approbation of what was 
 done that way : and yet many of us have been wanting in testify- 
 ing our dislike of these backsliding courses, by discountenancing, 
 withdrawing from, and keeping ourselves tree of all participation 
 with them; but have received the sacraments of baptism and the 
 Lord's supper, and the privilege of marriage at their hands, and 
 paid them tythes and stipends. By all which it is apparent, how 
 much indilferency there has been in this cause and Covenanted 
 interest, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good 
 of the kingdoms, and the honour of the civil Magistrate. 
 
 Moreover in the same Article we are sworn '^ All the days of 
 *' our lives, zealously and constantly to continue in this cause, 
 " against ail lets and impediments whatsoever, and what we are 
 "' not able ourselves to suppress and overcome, to reveal and make 
 " known the same, that it may be tlmeously prevented. And in 
 " the National Covenant, never to cast in any let^ that may stop 
 " or hinder any such resolution, as by common consent shall be 
 " found to conduce for so good ends ; but on the contrary, by ail 
 " lavviul means, to labour to further and promote the same ; and 
 " if any such dangerous or divibive motion be made to us by vvord 
 *' or writ, that we and every one of us shall either suppress it, or 
 '•if need be, incontinent make the same known, that it may be 
 "' timeously obviated. Agreeing very well with the scriptures." 
 
 Numb, xiv 9, 10. " Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither 
 fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread ior us ; their 
 
OF SINS. 87 
 
 defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us : fear them 
 not. But ail the congregation bade stone them with stones." 
 Neh. vi. 3. " And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am do- 
 ing a great work, so that I cannot come down : why should the 
 work cease, whilst 1 leave it and come down to you ?" See also 
 the 6 — 8, 9, 10, and 11, verses. Isa. viii. 12, ly. " Say ve not 
 a confederacy, to all them, to whom this people shall say a confe- 
 deracy; neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid. Sanctify the 
 Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be 
 your dread." Verse 14. " And he shall be for a sanctuary," &c. 
 Acts iv. 19. " But Peter and John answered and said unto them, 
 Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more 
 than unto God, judge ye." Acts xx. 24. " But none of these 
 things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that 
 
 I might finish my course with joy."— Acts xxi. 13. " Then 
 
 Paul answered. What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart ? 
 for 1 am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, 
 for the name of the Lord Jesus." Gal. ii. 5. " To whom we gave 
 place by subjection, no not for an hour: that the truth of the 
 gospel might continue with you." Phil. i. 28. " And in nothing 
 terrified by your adversaries." 
 
 Nevertheless, many have been the lets and impediments, that have 
 been cast hi the ixiay, to retard and obstruct the Lord's isoork, by Pre- 
 lacy, supremacy, indulgences, toleration, and absolute tyranny 
 and compliance therewith, enacted by law, and all the mischietis 
 established by a throne of inquity since the unhappy restoration 
 of Charles IL to this day. Yet iew have ever zealously contend- 
 ed, and fewer have constantly continued in contending, against 
 these obstructions, so obstructive to the cause, many have kept 
 secret the first motions and appearances of these things, while 
 they might have been suppressed and overcome, and the general- 
 ity liave passed them over in silence, and not made known, nor 
 adverted unto the evil of these things when declared, by witness- 
 ing against these things, when they could not be otherways remov- 
 ed or overcome. Yea, many of us have ourselves cast in lets and 
 impediments, obstructive to the cause, by our defections, divi- 
 sions and disorders against common consent, and precipitances, 
 without common consent even of our brethren adhering to the 
 testimony. Many a divisive motion hath not been counted dan- 
 gerous, as those which tended to divide us from the Covenanted 
 cause. And many a good and necessary motion hath been ac- 
 counted divisive, namelj' such as proposed the necessity of con- 
 fessing and forsaking sin. 
 
 ' Besides these and many other breaches of the Articles of the 
 ' Covenant, in the matter thereof, which concerneth every one of 
 ' us, to search out and acknowledge before the Lord, as we could 
 ' wish his wrath to be turned away from us, so have many of us 
 ' failed exceedingly in the manner of following and pursuing the 
 
88 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 * duties contained therein, not only seeking great things for 
 
 * ourselves, and mixing private interests, and ends concerning 
 
 * ourselves, and friends, and followers, with these things which 
 
 * concern the public good; but many times preferring such to tht- 
 
 * honour of God, and good of his cause ; and retarding God's 
 
 * work, until we might carry alongst with us our own interests 
 ' and designs : it hath been our way to trust in the means, and 
 
 * to rely upon the arm of flesh for success ; albeit the Lord hath 
 'many times made us meet with disappointments, and stained 
 
 * the pride of all our glory, by blasting every carnal confidence 
 
 * unto us. We have followed for the most part the counsels of 
 'flesh and blood, and walked more by the rules of policy than 
 ' piety, and have hearkened more unto men than unto God/ 
 
 In the conclusion of the Solemn League and Covenant there is 
 a profession and declaration " before God and the world of our 
 " unfeigned desires to be humbled [a) for our own sins, and for 
 " the sms of these kingdoms (b) ; especially that we have not valu- 
 " ed, as we ought, the inestimable benefit of the gospel (c), that 
 " we have not laboured for the purity (cf) and power thereof (e), 
 " and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ into our 
 " hearts ( / ), nor to walk worthy of him in our lives (g), which 
 " are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abound- 
 *' ing amongst us (h): all which we are under many obligations to 
 *' confess and mourn over, from the word ; and of our true and 
 " unfeigned purpose and desire, to endeavour for ourselves and 
 " all others under our power and charge {i) both in public and 
 
 (a) Ezek. vii. 16. But they that escape of them, shall escape, and 
 shall be upon the mountains, like doves of the vallies, all of them, 
 mourning, every one for his iniquity. 
 
 {b) Ezek. ix. 4-. — Set a mark upon the foreheads of the me» 
 
 that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the 
 midst thereof. 
 
 (c) Mat. xxii. 5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one 
 to his farm, another to his merchandise. 
 
 {d) 1 Tim. VI. 14'. That thou keep this commandment without spot, 
 unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 {e) 2 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of godliness ; but denying the power 
 thereof. 
 
 (y) Eph. iii. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. 
 
 Col. ii. 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the 
 
 Lord, so walk ye in him. 
 
 (o-) Col. i. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all 
 pleasing 
 
 (A) 2 Thes ii. 10, 11, 12. Because they received not the love of the 
 
 truth ; For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that 
 
 they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned, who behev- 
 ed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 
 
 (?) Josh. xxiv. 15. But as for me and my house; we will serve 
 
OF SINS. S9 
 
 ** in private, in nil duties (k) we owe to God and man, to amen J 
 *' our lives (/) and e;ich one to go before another (w) in the exam- 
 " pie of a real reformation, that the Lord might txn-n away his 
 " wrath and heavj^ indignation (n), and establish these kingdoms 
 *' in truth and peace (o). Yet we have rtlused to be reformed 
 " and have walked proudly and obstinately before the Lord, not 
 *' valuing his gospel, nor submitting ourselves unto the obedience 
 *' thereof; not seeking after Christ, nor studying to honour hiia 
 " in the excellency of his person, nor to employ him in the vir- 
 " tue of his offices ; not making conscience of the public ordinan- 
 *' ces, nor studying to edify one another in love. The ignor- 
 *' ance of God and his Son Jesus Christ prevails exceedingly in. 
 *' the land." Even our fathers in their pui'est times confessed ia 
 their acknowledgment of sins, " That the greatest part of masters 
 *' of families among noblemen, barons, gentlemen, burgesses, 
 " and commons, neglected to seek God in their families, and to 
 *' endeavour the reformation thereof. And albeit it had been 
 " much pressed, yet few of the nobles and great ones could be 
 *' persuaded to perform family duties themselves, in their owu 
 *' persons, which made so necessary a duty to be misregarded by 
 *' persons of inferior rank." 
 
 We may add, in our degenerate times, not only the great ones 
 generally profess the neglect and contempt of so necessary a duty, 
 both in their own persons and in the use of chaplains ; but the 
 great part of the commons are altogether strangers to it ; many 
 
 the Lord. Gen. xviii. 19. For I know him, that he will command his 
 children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the 
 Lord, to do justice and judgment. 
 
 {k) 1 Tim. iii. 15. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to 
 
 behave thyself in the house of God. 
 
 (/) Psal. ci. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 
 Jer. vii. 3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend, 
 your ways, and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 
 Isa. i. 16, 17. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well 
 
 [m) Jer, 1.^8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out 
 of the land of the Chaldeans, and be ye as the he-goats before th(i 
 flocks. 
 
 (rt) Zech. i. 3. Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will 
 turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Psal. Ixxxv. 3. Thou hast 
 taken av.-ay all thv wrath : thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness 
 of thine anger Verse 4. Turn us O God of our salvation, and cause 
 thine anger towards us to cease. 
 
 (o) Psal. Ixxxv 9, 10. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear 
 him; that glory may dwell in our land. Vlercy and truth are met to- 
 gether : righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 
 - Isa. xxxii. 17- And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and 
 the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever. 
 
 Zech, viii. 19.— ———Therefore love the truth and peace. 
 M 
 
^6 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 performing no part of family worship at all, others only singings 
 psalm and reading a chapter without praying, and others making 
 a fashion of all, but very perfunctoriously, formally, and indiffer- 
 ently, and scarce once in a day. And ministers also making little 
 conscience of visiting families, to see how this duty is performed, 
 not pressing it upon the negligent, nor stirring up the formal to 
 a more spiritual way of performance of it, nay, some giving bad 
 example to their flocks, by neglecting it themselves in their own 
 families. The nobility, gentrij, and barons, iv/io should be examples 
 of sober walking unto others, are very general/ij ring-leaders of excess 
 and rioting. We have been fir from amending our lives, and 
 promoting a personal reformation, and going before one another 
 m the example of a real reformation, when we have been exam- 
 ples of deformation, in our personal practices and public transac- 
 tions, and being too familiar, and too ftir united with the patrons 
 and patterns of the land's deformations. ' Our fatliers also ac- 
 « knowledged, albeit they were the Lord's people engaged unto 
 
 * him in a solemn way ; yet they had not made it their study that 
 
 * judicatories and armies should consist of, and places of power 
 ' and trust be filled with, men of blameless and Christian conver- 
 ' sation, and of known integrity and approven fidelity, affection 
 ' and zeal unto the cause of God. And not only these who were 
 '■ neutral and indifferent, but disaffected and malignant, and 
 ^ others who were profane and scandalous were intrusted. By 
 " which it came to pass that judicatories, EVEN THEN, were 
 ' the seats of injustice and iniquity. And many in their armies by 
 
 * miscarriages became their plague, unto the great prejudice of 
 « the cause of God, the great scandal of the gospel, and the great 
 ' increase of looseness and profanity throughout all the land :' but 
 since the time of that acknowledgment, there has still been more 
 and more degeneracy, so that judicatories have consisted of, and 
 been filled with, perjured traitors to God and their country. And 
 armies made up of these plagues marshalled under a displayed 
 banner, againt Christ and his interest, not only to the scandal, 
 but for the suppression of the gospel, and forcing people to pro- 
 fanity throughout the land; and now are, to the disgrace of the 
 Protestant religion, made up of the refuse of tlie lands, and em- 
 ployed to the support of an antichristian interest abroad. Yet 
 have we not sighed and cried for these abominations, nor have we 
 been concerned, as we ought, with the abounding of them through 
 the land. As also, with blushing, we must confers our pride, 
 and presumptuous boasting of external privileges of the gospel, 
 and outward reformation, and of a testimony which we bragged of, 
 as if that had made us better than others, while we made no con- 
 science of personal reformation ; which, no doubt amongst other 
 sinful miscarriages, was a main cause of the Lord's depriving us 
 so long a time of the comfortable and soul-enriching mercy of a 
 faithfully dispensed gospel 
 
OF SINS. 91 
 
 ♦ And in like manner the conceittdness of some in suffering and 
 " contending for nuth, rather for kce[>h.g up the contention and 
 
 * abetting a party, and many times under too lofty names of the 
 ' suffering party and remnant, and the like, than to keep, and 
 ' hold fast the word of the Lord's patience, to his glory as our 
 ' crown ; and many other evidences oi pride hateful to God ; such 
 
 * as boasting in the strength of armies in the suffering times, in an 
 
 * ostentatious way, vaunting of, and being too nmch taken uj) 
 ' with them, though then necessary for the defence of our lives ; 
 ' rejoicing in our numerousness or worldly abilities, or in the 
 
 * number of them that frequent the public ordinances in the fields, 
 
 * or that they, who are owners of the testimony, are for the most 
 
 * part kept free from the gross out-breakings, into which others 
 ' are left to fall ; which things, though very good and desirable in 
 
 * themselves, may yet be, and have been occasions of sin when 
 ' boasted in, more than humbly and thankfully acknowledged to 
 
 * be from the hand of God.' As also revengeful resenting of af- 
 fronts, passionate and disdainful refusing to take reproof for faults, 
 or for the excess in any duty, as to the manner of it, when we 
 thought the matter vvas right. 
 
 ' And it is likewise matter of regret, that both in the time of 
 
 * greatest suffering and afterwards, idleness of both kinds did too 
 
 * much prevail amongst us : both that when we were in a manner 
 
 * driven from the world, and shut up from all employments, but 
 
 * the exercise of godliness ; many did not improve that opportu- 
 
 * nity of the cross to promote acquaintance and communion with 
 
 * God, being slothful in prayer, reading, and other duties ; and 
 
 * some again, even when they might have had access to lav/ful em- 
 ' ploymeuts, continued idle and out of work, to the opening of 
 
 * the mouths of many against the cause; albeit they were not call- 
 
 * ed to, or employed in, any public business for the same. 
 
 And besides all these things, there be many other transgressions isohere-- 
 of the lands wherein we live, are guilty, and these attended "with 
 many heinous aggravating circumstances beyond what they were in 
 our fathers, which xoe have not been humbled for to this day : hit 
 instead of mourning for them, confessing and forsaking them, we 
 have bee7i rather defending or daubing, covering or colouring, ex- 
 cusing or extenuating them. All which we now desire to acknow- 
 ledge and be humbled for, that the world may bear witness with us, 
 that righteousness belongeth unto God, and shame and confusio7i of 
 face to us, as appears this day. 
 
A 
 
 SOLEMN ENGAGEMENT 
 
 Duties contained in our National and Solemn League 
 and Covenant. 
 
 Particularly adjusted to the Circumstances of these TimeSj Anno 
 1712. 
 
 BECAUSE it is requisite, in orcler to obtain mercy, not only 
 to confess, but also to forsake our sins, and to do the contrary 
 duties; therefore, that the sincerity and reality of our repentance 
 may appear, we resolve, and solemnly engage belbre God, in 
 the strength and through the assistance of Christ, that we shall 
 carefully endeavour, in all time coming, to avoid all these 
 offences, whertof we have now made solemn public acknowledg- 
 ment, and all the snares and lentations tending thereunto ; and 
 to testify this sincerity of our resolution, and that we may be the 
 better enabled in the power of the Lord's might, to perform the 
 same, we do again renew our Covenants, both National and So- 
 lemn League, promising to make conscience of a more exact 
 performance of all the duties therein contained, so far as we, in 
 our stations, and present deplorable circumstances, are capable ; 
 particularly such as follow : 
 
 Because religion is of all things the most excellent and precious 
 in its own nature, and therefore most to be desired by the chil- 
 dren of men, and the knowledge of the great truths of the gospel, 
 so generally decreased in this land, is so absolutely necessary to 
 salvation ; therefore in order to attain it. we shall labour to be 
 better acquainted with the 'voriltcn i£ord of God, the only infallible 
 rule of taith and manners; and shall (according to our capacity) 
 study more than formerly the doctrine of the reformed church of 
 Scotland, summed up in our * Confession of Faith, Catechisms 
 Larger and Shorter, Sum of Christian doctrine, and Practical Use 
 of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship (as the same was 
 
 * Nota. The Confession of Faith is here adhered to, as it was received 
 and approven by the General Assembly of this church, by their Act of 
 tlie 27th of Aug. 164'7, Soss. 23. the 2d Article of the 31st Chap, be- 
 ing understood, as explained in that Act, and the 4th Sect, of the 23d 
 Chap, being understood, as it is explained in eur Informatory Vindica- 
 tion, page 196, 2d Edition. 
 
ENGAGEMENT TO DUTIES. 9^ 
 
 received and observed by this church in her purest times, viz. in 
 the year IS-iD) Propositions concerning Church Government, and 
 Ordination of Ministers, annexed" to the Confession of Faith, and 
 other writings clearing and confirming these truths, approven by 
 this church, and agreeable to the word of God. 
 
 We shall likewise endeavour the advancing and promoting the 
 power of this true Reformed Religion, against all ungodliness 
 and profanity, and the securing and preserving the purity there- 
 of, against all kind of errors, heresy and schism, as namely Inde- 
 pendency, Brownism, Analjaptism, Antinomianism, Arminian- 
 ism, Socinianism, Libertinism, Familism, Scepticism, Quaker- 
 ism, Deism, Burignonism, and Erastianism : and as we declare, 
 that we willingly agree in our consciences unto the doctrine of the 
 church of Scotland in all points, as unto God's undoubted truth 
 and verity, grounded only upon his written word, so we resolve 
 constantly to adhere unto, maintain and defend, profess and con- 
 fess, and (when called of God) to yield ourselves sufferers for the 
 said doctrine, as we shall desire to be approven and confessed by 
 Jesus Christ, before God and his holy angels. 2dly, We shall 
 also study more sincerity, uprightness, and heart-integrity in the 
 worship of God, and shall not satisfy ourselves with the form of 
 it, without the power and spirituality, which God the alone object 
 of religious worship, doth require: and shall endeavour the due 
 perfonnance of all the duties of religious worship, vihich God hath 
 in his most holy word requii'ed. And shall (if Pl-ovidence offer 
 occasion) endeavour to recover, and labour to preserve the pur- 
 ity thereof from all corruptions, mixtures, innovations, and in- 
 ventions of men. Popish, Prelatical, or any other ; and while we 
 are not able, by reason of the prevailing power of the abettors 
 and maintainers of them, to get them removed, we shall labour 
 (through grace) to keep ourselves free from all sinful communion 
 and participation with them, and shall, in our stations, testify 
 against these corruptions and perversions of God's worship, by all 
 competent means. Sdlij, We shall likewise by all lawful means 
 endeavour, that Presbyterian church government in kirk-sessions, 
 presbyteries, synods and general assemblies, may be recovered in its 
 former purity, established upon its proper basis and foundation, 
 the word of God ; and that it may be freed from all encroach- 
 ments and invasions made thereupon by the powers of the earth ; 
 and that the discipline of the church may be impartially exercis- 
 ed against all scandalous offenders, great or small ; and when the 
 ministers of this church, or any of them, shall sincerely and con- 
 scientiously endeavour the restoration of the government in all its 
 privileges, and freedom from all Erastian encroachments, and to 
 have the discipline duly and impartially exercised, then we pro- 
 anise to be obedient, and subject thereunto, as becomes the flock 
 of Christ ; but shall always testify our dislike of all encroachments 
 made and yielded to, prejudicial to the privileges which Christ 
 hath bestowed upon his church. 
 
^4. ENGAGEMENT 
 
 UMy, We shall always desire and pray for the reviving of the 
 work of Uniformity in the three kingdoms, and (if the Lord in 
 his providence shall offer opportunity) shall seek and endeavour it 
 by other means possible, lawful, expedient, an^d competent to us 
 in our capacities ; and shall never cordially consent unto, nor 
 cease to testify against, whatsoever doth obstruct and hinder that 
 work of Uniformity, and shall detest and abhor all multiformity, 
 inU-oduced by Erastianism, Prelacy and Sectarianism, now so 
 prevalent, and confirmed by this late Union with England. 
 
 According to the second Article, we shall do our outmost en- 
 deavour to have the land purged of Popisli idolatry, and the mon- 
 uments thereof destroyed, particularly the abomination of the 
 mass, and so far as lies in our power shall never suffer the same 
 TO be re-introduced, or erected again, nor favour any attempts 
 tending thereunro. We shall nevt-r make any conjunction with 
 these abominable Popis^h idolaters, at home or abroad, in armies 
 or otherwise, and shall according to our National Covenant, de- 
 test and abhor all their wicked superstitious rites and ceremonies. 
 We shall never consent, for any reason whatsoever, that the Pen- 
 al St;itutes made against Papists should be annulled ; but shall, 
 when opportunity offers, be ready to concur in putting them to a 
 due and vigorous execution. 2dly, We shall by all approven 
 means in our stations and vocations, endeavour the extirpation of 
 Prelacy ; and shall never submit to that wicked hierarchy of bis- 
 hops, archbishops, &c. having superiority of order and jurisdic- 
 tion above preaching Presbyters, whether Erastian, or only Dio- 
 cesan, in any form or degree, howsoever reformed, accommodat- 
 ed, limited,* or restricted by cautions and provisions of men : 
 seeing that all such superiority is flatly condemned in the word of 
 God, and hath pi-oven many times fatal to the church of Christ. 
 We shall detest and abhor, and in our stations witness against 
 whatsoever courses, tending to the establishment of that abomin- 
 able hierarchy ; and particularly, the oaths of allegiance with the 
 assurance, and oath of abjuration lately imposed on the persons 
 of public trust in these realms, in regard they may justly be inter- 
 preted to strengthen that hierarchy, by upholding the persons that 
 maintain the same. We shall not submit to any orders issued 
 forth by bishops, nor ow'n them as our lawgivers, nor acknow- 
 ledge any title they have to be members of Parliament or CounciL 
 Sdly, We shall in like manner detest and abhor and labour to 
 extirpate all kinds of superstition, all rites and ceremonies super- 
 added by human invention to the worship of God, not enjoined 
 and required in his word ; together with all heresy and false doc- 
 trine, and ail profaneness and immoralities of every kind, and 
 whatsoever is contrary to sound religion, and shall in the strength, 
 and through the help* of Christ, endeavour to deny all ungodliness 
 and worldly lusts, and from henceforth to live righteously towards 
 our neighbour, soberly in ourselves, and to walk humbly witli 
 our God. 
 
TO DUTIES. 95 
 
 We shall upon the one hand, endeavour to keep ourselves, as 
 far as we can, from all partaking in other men's sins, by consent- 
 ing unto, association, incorporation, combination, compliance 
 with, or conniving at, their sins. And upon the other, to guard 
 against all schism, and sinful separation, or unjust, rash, and 
 disorderly withdrawing from societies, congregations or families, 
 or any part of the communion of the true reformed church of Scot- 
 land, holding purely and entirely the doctrine, worship, discip- 
 line and government of the same, in principle and exercise, ac- 
 cording to the rules of Christ, and standing acts and constitutions 
 of this church, consonant thei'eunto, so far as the Lord gives light 
 therein. And as we look not upon our practice in withdrawing 
 from the backslidden ministers of the present Erastian church, for 
 reasons valid and sufficient, to be a gathering and setting up form- 
 ed separated churches under other ordinances and ministry, dis- 
 tinct from the Presbyterian church of Scotland, (although we be 
 falsely aspersed as doing it) so we purpose and resolve always to 
 adhere to that standard of doctrine, discipline, and government, 
 and that purity and form of worship, which during our reform- 
 ing times were established, and to embrace such ordinances, and 
 such a ministry as are of divine appointment ; and that we shall 
 not presume to withdraw from minister or member of that body 
 for any offence, in any case, where either the offence may be 
 legally removed without withdrawing, or cannot be instructed to 
 be condemned by the word of God, and constitutions of this 
 church, or is in itself an insufficient ground of withdrawing, or 
 where it is not defended, or obstinately persisted in, or is a thing 
 to be condescended upon, forborn, or forgiven ; but shall study 
 to maintain union and Christian communion, with all and every 
 one, whether minister or private Christian, who adhere unto the 
 purity of the doctrine, v/orship, discipline and government of the 
 church of Scotland, and to the whole word of Christ's patience, 
 in the sufferings and contcndings of his people, in opposition to 
 his enemies' encroachments; and shall join, in the way of truth 
 and duty, with all who do, and in so far as they do, adhere to 
 the institutions of Christ. And because many have laboured to 
 supplant the liberties of the true kirk, and have in a great meas- 
 ure, of late, by indulgences and toleration, and now by oaths of 
 allegiance and abjuration, and encroaching on the freedom of 
 Christ's courts, obtained their dislgn : we shall therefore, to our 
 power, withstand and witness against all these encroachments 
 made upon the liberties of Christ's church in our land, and when 
 we can do no more, shall withdrav*- our countenance and concur- 
 rence from such as hold their freedom from, and are modified by 
 such usurpations ; and shall neither hear their sermons, nor pay 
 them stipends, while they continue unfaithful : and shall, when- 
 ever God gives us opportunity, endeavour to recover, and when 
 recovered; to maintain and defend the liberties and privileges of 
 
9ii ENGAGEMENT 
 
 the church of Scotland, against all who shall oppose or undermine 
 the same, or encroach thereuj:)on, under any pretext whatsoever. 
 
 With reference to the third Article, wherein we are bound to 
 defend the privileges of the Parliament, liberties of the kingdoms^ 
 and the King's Majesty's person and authority, in the defence of 
 the true Reformed religion : albeit God, in his righteous judg- 
 ment, hath left the nations so far to the counsels of their own 
 hearts, as to suffer them to set, up Magistrates, wanting the quali- 
 fications requisite, and to fill places of power and trust with 
 insufficient and disaffected persons, who have no respect to the 
 interest of religion, and this nation in particular, to give up the 
 rights and privileges of Parliament, and kingdom, to the will and 
 lust of the English, and so to betray the interest both of religion 
 and civil liberty for unworthy by-ends; yet Ave purpose and pro- 
 mise, that we shall always in our capacities bear witness against 
 these courses, and shall not by any means corroborate them, or 
 encourage and countenance the maintainers and abettors of them. 
 And if ever the Lord in his mercy shall be pleased to open a door 
 of relief, and break the cords of the ungodly, we shall not be 
 wanting in all lawfnl and suitable endeavouis to promote, to our 
 power, the recovery of that liberty and freedom which we have 
 lost, and to have these acts and oaths, which impede Reforma- 
 tion, rescinded : and that all the righteous laws, made in favours 
 of the Covenanted Reformation, may be put in full force, and 
 duly executed. 
 
 We shall earnestly pray to God that he would give us able 
 men, men of truth, fearing God and hating covetousness, to bear 
 charge over his people, and that all places of power and trust in 
 church, state, or army may consist of, and be filled with, men of 
 known good affection to the cause of God, and of a Christian 
 and blameless conversation ; and when it shall please the Lord to 
 give us such Magistrates and judges supreme and subordinate, 
 then we will in the terms of the Covenant yield allegiance to them, 
 ftnd loyally subject to their good government, not from any by- 
 end, or sinistrous principle, but out of sincere obedience to God's 
 commandment ; and shall willingly support and defend them, 
 with our estates and lives, in their preserving and defending the 
 true Reformed Protestant religion, in doctrine, worship, discip- 
 line and government, and suppressing all kinds of false religion 
 in their dominions, and in the administration of justice and pim- 
 ishment of iniquity : but while the. Lord, in his just displeasure 
 for our sins, withholds such from us, we intend to wait till he 
 turn away his anger, and not to stretch forth our hands to ini- 
 quity, in owning and countenancing such as are not duly quali- 
 fied, as particularly these that are Popish or Prelatical, in their 
 professed principle and practice, and by oa'hs engage themselves 
 to maintain, and accordingly to defend, the Prelatical form of 
 church government, who oppose and encroach upon the true 
 
TO DUTIES. 97 
 
 jfovernment of Christ's house by their supremacy, and tolerate 
 fcJectarian errors in their dominions, and that every one of them 
 supreme or subordinate; and shall not corroborate their unjust 
 authority, by paying them cess and supply, for upholding their 
 corrupt courts and armies employed in an unjust and antichristi- 
 an quarrel ; or by compearing before tlieir judicatories, either to 
 defend or pursue law suits ; or upon any other account. 
 
 Because we are not in a case to bring to due trial and punish- 
 ment, condign (according) to the merit of their offences, malig- 
 nants and evil instruments, according to the fourth Article ; 
 Therefore we shall endeavour to keep ourselves, as far as possible, 
 from any compliance with, or approbation of, their cause and 
 courses, opposite to the cause and work of God, and shall endea- 
 vour to keep at a distance from every thing, that may any ways im- 
 port an unitive conjunction, association or confederacy with them, 
 or strengthening them in their opposition to the cause of God, 
 the Covenanted interest. We shall through grace endeavour to 
 represent before the throne of justice their wicked courses, and 
 pray that God would defeat their inventions, though we shall 
 always, as becomes Christians, implore the throne of grace for 
 mercy to their souls, so far as it may be consistent with God's 
 eternal purpose of electing love. Moreover we shall always en- 
 deavour to guard against all unwarrantable and irregular ways, not 
 approven in God's word, of punishing malignants and incendi- 
 aries, for their opposition to Reformation. 
 
 Whereas in the fifth Article we are bound to endeavour, that 
 the kingdoms may remain united in a most firm peace and union 
 to all posterity : Which union did consist in an uniformity in doc- 
 trine, worship, discipline and government, tliough (as was said) 
 it is now laid iiside, and an Union entered into, which establishes 
 multiformity therein, and so is the opposite of this Covenanted 
 Union. We shall, then^bre, deny our consent unto, and appro- 
 bation of, this Union, and shall, as we have in weakness been 
 witnessing against it formerly, so continue to do for the future, 
 and shall not corroborate or strengthen the same ; but upon the 
 contrary (if the Lord afford opportunity) shall do our utmost to 
 have the Union of the kingdoms settled upon the true Covenanted 
 basis ; and shall lay out ourselvts as far as possible, to entertain 
 correspondence and sympathy with evi-ry one, in the kingdoms of 
 England and Ireland, who do, or shall, to our knowledge, ad- 
 here to this League and Covenant. 
 
 According to the sixth Article, considering what danger we 
 and all our brethren, under the bond and owning the obligation 
 <^f these Covenants, are in, and may be exposed unto, from the 
 Popibh and Prelatical malignant faction still prevailing, and from 
 this backslidden church ; and being sensible of the many defects, 
 which have been ampngst us, in the duty of defending and assist- 
 ing one another, in maintaining the common cause of religion 
 
 N 
 
98 ENGAGEMENT 
 
 and liberty, we do here solemnly enter into a bond ot' associatioa 
 with all that do now renew these Covenants, ' with the Acknow- 
 
 * ledgment of the public sins and breaches, and the Engagement 
 
 * to the Duties thereof, and concert and assert the old Covenanted 
 
 * cause and quarrel,' as our ftithers stated and contended for it, 
 from the year 16:^8 to the year 1650. Which cause of the Cove- 
 nanted Reformation in doctrine, worship, discipline and govern- 
 ment, and all interests, or rights, religious or civil, contended for 
 during the foresaid space of years, condncing to promote ihf 
 same, we faithfully promise to prosecute, propagate, preserve, 
 and maintain, to the outmost of our power, with our livts and all 
 that we have ; and to adhere to all the faithful testimonies, pro- 
 testations, and declarations, in the defence of tho foresaid Cove- 
 nanted Reformation, agreeable to, and founded on, (jod's word, 
 ever since the foresaid year 1650, not regarding the foul asper- 
 sions of rebellion, combination, or schism, or what else our ad- 
 versaries, from their craft and malice, would put upon us ; seeing 
 what we do is so well warranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned 
 desire to maintain the true religion, to obtain the protection and 
 preserve the honour of righteous government, and promote the 
 peace and happiness ot the kingdoms. 
 
 And for the better performance of what we here engage to, we 
 shall sympathize, bear all burdens, embark our interest with, assist 
 and defend all these, who enter into, or join with this association 
 and Covenant, and shall reckon whatsoever is done to the least of 
 us, for this cause, as done to us all in general, and to every one of 
 us in particular : and shall account it a breach of Covenant, if 
 seeing our brethren purs^u<.^d for this cause, and having sufficient 
 means to comJort and assist them, any of us shall cither make 
 peace with the persecutors, bind up their hands by oaths and 
 bonds from resisting them, recuse to hide, harbour, or supplv 
 their brethren, dcclme to venture, in lawful and necessary attempts 
 for their relief, or withdraw from their dutiful support; and 
 being thus united and associated in this cause, as we resolve and 
 oblige ourselves to abide iu this firm conjunction, and neiiher 
 consent nor concede to any combination or counsel, suggestion, 
 persuasion, allurement or terror, that may have any known ten- 
 dency or influence, whether direct or indirect, to seduce us, 
 either to division amongst ourselves, or defection to our adver- 
 saries, or a base indifterency and neutrality between the two .; 
 but shall, with all zeal, fidelity and constancy, communicate our 
 best help, counsel and concurrence for promoting all resolutions, 
 which by common consent shall be found to conduce to the good 
 of the cause, and shall endeavour to discover, oppose and sup- 
 press all contrivances or counsels, that may cast in any let or 
 impediment, that may be obstructive or prejudicial to the same. 
 So we shall likewise desire, design and endeavour, (whenever the 
 Lord in his providence shall offer opportunity) to get the dcfec- 
 
TO DUTIES. 99 
 
 tioris, unworthy neutralities, and unhappy divisions, which have 
 Jong and lamentably wounded, and wrecked this church, removed 
 and remedied. And slmll he willing, with all tender sympathy 
 and compassion, to embrace and welcome, with the outmost bowels 
 of kindness and respect that we can, all who shall confess and 
 forsake these defections, and according to their stations, as min- 
 isters or private Christians, shall, by all proper means, labour 
 to satisfy the consciences of the godly, that are through these 
 defections and scandals justly offended, and that according to the 
 rules of Christ, delivered in his word, and received in this church, 
 in her Reforming times, and join cordially with us in the prose- 
 cution of this cause; and we shall be willing, also at their desire, 
 to acknowledge and forsake, for peace and unity, whatever wc 
 can rationally be convinced to be bad in our conduct and manage- 
 ment, as we must acknowledge, that in all things we fail, and 
 come exceedingly short oi" that perfection, which we should and 
 would be at. 
 
 , And because there be many, who heretofore have not made 
 conscience of the oath of God ; but some, through fear, others by 
 persuasion, and upon base ends, and human interests, have 
 entered thereinto, who have afterwards discovered themselves, to 
 have dealt deceitfully with the Lord, in swearing falsely by his 
 name : therefore we, who do now renew our Covenants with re- 
 ference to these duties, and all other duties contained therein, do 
 in the sight of Him, who is the searcher of hearts, solemnly pro- 
 fess, that it is not upon any politic advantage, or private interest, 
 or by-end, or because of any terror or persuasion from men, or 
 hypocritically or deceitfully, that we do a^ain take upon us the 
 oath of God ; but honestly and sincerely, and from the sense of 
 our duty. And that therefore, denying ourselves and our own 
 things, and laying aside all self-interests and ends, we shall, 
 above all things, seek ihn honour of God, the good of his cause, 
 and the wealth of his people ; and that forsaking the counsels of 
 flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnal confidences, we 
 shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of his word, and 
 hearken to the voice of his servants. In all which professing our 
 own weakness, we do earnestly pray to (lod who is the Father of 
 mercies, through his Son JESUS CHllLST, to be merciful unto 
 us, and to enable us by the power of his might, that we may do 
 our duty, unto the praise of his grace in the churches. Amen, 
 
APPENDIX. No, I. 
 
 The Massacre at Glencoe, mentioned page 74, was a most barbarous 
 and treachtrous action. Old M' Donald of (ilencoe was attached to 
 the tamiiy of S'evvart. Pie liad taken the Oath to King William ; but 
 the fact of his submission was concealed while a troop of soldiers 
 were sent to the Va;e of Glencoe ; and after being entertained with the 
 greatest hospitality and festivity for 15 days, early one morning M'Do- 
 nald's house was surrounded, and himself shot through the head, in the 
 arms of his Lady, who died delirious next day. An universal ma^:sacre 
 ensued ; boys, women, infants, and old men, in all about 40 persons, 
 were inhumanly butchered and chiefly in their beds. After this they 
 burnt tlfe village and carried away the spoil. — Abridgement of Robert- 
 sons History of Scotland, and Simpson s History oj Scotland. 
 
 No. II. 
 
 HFRESIES MESTIOSED, PAGE 93. 
 
 Independents maintain, that each church or congregation has suffi- 
 cient powers to perform every thing relatmg to religious government 
 within itself, and is not subject nor accountable to other churches, or 
 superior courts of any kind, whether presbyteries or synods, for any 
 opinion or doctrine, however contrary to the holy scriptures. By this 
 they destroy the unity of the visible church as one body, and prevent 
 that uniformity which ought to be observed among all the subjects 
 of Messiah's kingdom. They lodge the keys of government in the 
 hands of the community of the faithful, and hereby overthrow the dis- 
 tinction between those that rule, and those that are ruled ; those that 
 teach, and those that are taught : and they require positive evidences 
 of regeneration to be produced to the church, before a person be ad- 
 mitted into full communion with them ; whereas the scriptures only 
 require a coujpetent measure of knowledge, and a credible profession, 
 accompanied with a holy conversation. They, with Cromwell at their 
 head, had an active hand in overturning the covenanted uniformity of 
 the three kingdoms, and introducing a formal toleration of the Sec- 
 taries, which brake down the carved work of God's sanctuary, as esta- 
 blished in the days ot Reformation. 
 
 Brownists, anotlur kind of Independents, Mho maintained, that there 
 is no other pure church but themselves; — that the whole body of the 
 faithful should be divided into small congregations, not larger than 
 those which were thought to be formed by the Apostles, in the infant 
 state of the church ; — that such a number only, as could meet in an 
 ordinary place of worship, ought to constitute one church or society, 
 enjoying all the rights and privileges of an ecclesiastical community ; — 
 that such a society is independent, hy divine right, of all other autho- 
 rity ; — that the power of governing each congregation, and providing 
 for its welfare, resided in the people ; — and that all points of doctrine 
 and discipline were to be judged of, and determined by, the whole 
 congregation ; and that the brethren might speak publicly upon any 
 useful subject, v.hen the ordinary pastor had finished his discourse. 
 "I'hey allowed lay preaching : And all the peculiarities of their syste;^ 
 
APPENDIX. 101 
 
 ^ere in opposition to our covenanted uniforniit)'. The modern Taber- 
 nacle plan seems to be formed after tlit'ir inodt;!. 
 
 Anabaptists are so dividinl into difterent parties, that it would be 
 diificult to ascertain their different tenets. It would not be fair to 
 charge all the present enemies of infant-baptism with all the extrava<;ant 
 principles of the old Anabaptists in Germany. Many of them in Eng- 
 land are evanficlical in sentinunt, and maintain all the peculiar doctrines 
 of the (lospel. relative to the sinner's salvation by Christ Among 
 many of the Scots Anabaptists it is otherwise. The Disciples of 
 M'l.ean deny the eternal Sonsb.ip of Christ; the legal imputation of 
 original sin ; the peculiar nature of true faith, as receiving its object, 
 conlining it solely to a simple assent. All kinds of them, however, denj 
 membership to the infant seed of believing church members in virtue 
 of God's gracious promise, " I will be thy God and the God of thy 
 seed ;" refuse baptism as a seal of God's Covenant to these infant- 
 members ; and so rob them of a seal of the righteousness of faith, to 
 which they were intitled, under the former dispensation. And they 
 are all independent in their views of Church Government, and so ini- 
 mical to our covenanted uniformity. 
 
 AxTixoMiANs maintain, that the law is of no use under the Gospel 
 dispensation ; — that good works do not further, nor evil works hinder, 
 salvation ; — that a child of God cannot sin, more than Christ could sm ; 
 — that God never chastises any land for the sins of its inhabitants ; — 
 that murder, adultery, drunkenness, and the like, are no sins in the 
 children of God ; — that no Christian should be exhorted to perform the 
 duties of Christianity. This system is destructive of religion and mor- 
 ality, and contrary both to the doctrine and principles of the reformation. 
 Arminians maintain; 1. That God has not elected any particular 
 number of persons to eternal life. 2. That Christ died for all mankind. 
 3 That every man has a power to save himself, if he pleases. 4. That 
 the special grace of God may be resisted by men. 5. That believers 
 may iall away from a state of grace. This scheme has a tendency to 
 overthrow the method of salvation by the grace of God and the righte- 
 ousness of the Saviour, and to murder the precious souls of men. 
 
 SociNiANs deny the proper Divinity of Christ, and maintain that he 
 was a mere man, who never existed, until he was born of the Virgin 
 Mary ; — that he never gave any satisfaction to Divine justice in the room 
 of his people ; — that he came into the world only to set^befoie us an ex- 
 ample of holiness, which we ought to imitate ; — that reason is our only 
 guide in matters of religion ; — and that the Christian ought to believe 
 nothing that he cannot comprehend. They are open blasphemers of 
 the Holy Trinity, and have too many disciples in modern times. 
 
 LiEERTiXES moititained, that there is only one spirit, which is that 
 of God, diffused through all things ; — that our .'•ouls are notiiing but this 
 spirit of God ; — that the soul dies with the body; — that sin is a mere 
 chimera, and onh' subsists in opinion, so that it is God who does all, 
 both good and evil ; — that paradise (or heaven) is a dream, and hell a 
 phantom invented by priests, and religion a state-trick, to keep men in 
 awe. They were also dreadful blasphemers of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Familists, also called the family of love, maintained, that it is no 
 matter what opinions Christians entertained concerning the Divine nature, 
 provided their hearts burned with the pure and sacred flame of piety and 
 
100 APPENDIX. 
 
 love ; — that the union of the soul with Christ transforms it into the essence 
 of the Deity ; — that the letter of the scripture is "useless, and that it ought 
 to be interpreted in an allegorical manner ; — that, if for their convenience, 
 it was lawful to swear to a falsehood, either before a magistrate, or 
 any other person, who was not of their society ; — that there is no other 
 Christ but holiness, and no other Antichrist but sin ; — that the family of 
 love hath attained the same perfection that Adam had before he fell. 
 
 ScaPTics are those who doubt the truth of religion ; and some have 
 carried their doubts so far. as to question their own existence, and the 
 Existence of every thing else. Scepticism is a short way of overturning 
 ki\ religion, by calling in question the truth of every thing. The world 
 abounds with Sceptics. 
 
 Quakers originally maintained, that there is no Trinity, or one God 
 subsisting in three distinct persons ; — that Christ hath no other body 
 but his church ; — that all men have a light in them sufficient to salva- 
 tion ; — that the soul is apart of God, and long existent before the body : 
 but it is said that modern Quakers do not hold the same blasphemous 
 sentiments as their predecessors respecting the Trinity. Still they de- 
 ny the proper use of the Bible and of Gospel ordinances, as to regular 
 preaching of the word, dispensing Baptism and the Lord's Supper ac- 
 cording to the plain appointment of the Saviour. By trusting to a 
 light within, they despise the imputation of Christ's righteousness, and 
 hold justification by their own inherent righteousness, and they declaim 
 against all regular visible churches whatever. 
 
 Deists deny revealed religion, as contained in the scriptures, and all 
 the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, contained in them, and profess to 
 believe the existence of God, as the great first cause, who made the world, 
 while they think, that he does not at all concern himself with the ma- 
 nagement or government of it : — and some of them have certain articles 
 of what they call natural religion, while at the same time, for many of 
 these, they are indebted to Divine revelation. 
 
 BouRiGNONisTS maint lined, that as God is independent he made 
 man's will so, not subjecting it even to himself; — that the power and 
 freedom of man's will is so perfect, that it is truly God himself; — that 
 Christ had a two-fold body ; one glorious, another mortal ; the one 
 proceeding from Adam before Eve was formed, or sin had corrupted the 
 human nature, to which God united himself most strictly ; the other 
 from the Virgin Mary, as a covert to that one, that he might experience 
 the miseries of sinful man ; — that Christ really had and felt a rebel- 
 lion in his nature and will against the will of God, which he had to re- 
 sist and fight against ; — that, by liis becoming man, his human nature 
 was of the same corrupt kind with tlie nature of other men, as proceed- 
 ing from the same connnon stock ; — that Calvin brought the doctrine 
 of Christ's satisfaction to divine justice, and of our Lord's body suffering 
 for the crimes of so many persons, from hell ; that the doctrine of the 
 Trinity is a Romish error. However blasphemous and absurd these 
 tenets are, they spread in the north of Scotland to that degree, as to 
 engage the pen of the great Mr Black well to confute them. 
 
 Erastians maintain, that the civil magistrate is supreme over all 
 persons, and in all causes ecclesiastical, as well as civil ; — that the of- 
 tice-bearers of the church, in their ecclesiastical functions and admini- 
 strations, are subordinate to the civil magistrate; — that the external 
 
APPENDIX lOi 
 
 gorernment of the church is uncertain, and depends on the will and 
 pleasure of the civil magistrate ; — that the ordering and disposing of the 
 external government and policy of the cliurch doth properly belong to 
 the civil magistrate, by virtue of liis prerogative and supremacy in all 
 causes ecclesiastical ;— and that he may emit such acts, concerning her 
 meetings, and external administration, as he, in his wisdom, shall thmk 
 proper. 
 
 These various opinions do differ greatly, in the degree of guilt at- 
 tached to them, and when our ancestors complain, that they are not 
 punished with civil pains, according to their demei-it ; or in scripture 
 language, that the wheel is not brought over the obstinate propagators 
 of them, it is not to be understood, that all of these are to be punished 
 with the same kind or degree of punishment ; but simply that the Divine 
 law is to be executed, according to the nature of the crime, whether 
 by restraining from publishing corrupt sentiments, tending to affect the 
 public peaceof church and state ; keeping from filling up public offices, 
 by which they might hurt the interests of religion, and prevent the com- 
 ing of Christ's kingdom according to his word ; banishing those who 
 w^puld not live peaceably ; or putting to death such as openly commit 
 treason and rebellion against the righteous Governor of the universe, 
 tending to bring down his judgments on the nation, by the most impi- 
 ous blasphemy, and murder the souls of men, so as to disqualify them for 
 the important duties of civil society ; and at the same time the law of the 
 God of heaven expressly requiring them to be punished in this manner. 
 All the heresies here mentioned are in opposition to the true Presbyte- 
 rian Reformed religion ; and, while the Divine command is to pluck up 
 every plant that is not the planting of the Father's right hand, these 
 should be rooted out, as noxious weeds, injurious to the doctrines and 
 truths of Christ, to the purity of his ordinances, and to the peace 
 and prosperity of church and state ; yet only by means authorised by 
 God's law. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 The clause, page 97 — Not to corroborate their tmjust mithority, hyfaying 
 them cess and supply for upholding their corrupt cow is and armies em- 
 ployed in an unjust and antichristian quarrel, has been interpreted as an 
 engagement to pay no taxes whatever to the existing rulers. But, ac- 
 cording to the pliriin sense and meaning of the language, it does not ex- 
 tend to taxes in general ; but to a particular tax, applied to a specified 
 sinful purpose, viz. to support courts and armies employed in an unjUSt. 
 and afitichristian quarrel. This is the express reason assigned for the 
 non-payment of that tax, and the antichristian quarrel, to which it sole- 
 ly alludes, is stated in the Testimony, p. 73, (fifth edition) where the sin- 
 ful conduct of both church and state, respecting it, is testified against. 
 
 * In agreeableness to the royal appointment, they (viz. the ministers of 
 ' the church) observed the monthly fast, for the success of the war 
 
 * against Lewis XIV. (of France) and in favours of the Pope, which 
 
 * King William was bound to prosecute, by virtue of a covenant (or 
 ' treaty) made with the Allies at the Hague— Feb. 1691, to be seen in 
 ' the Declaration of war, then uiade against France; wherein it is ex- 
 < pressly said, " That no peace is to be made with Lewis XIV. till he 
 ** has made reparation to the HoIt^ See, for whatsoever he has acted 
 
104, APPENDIX. 
 
 «' against it, and till he make void all these infamous proceedings {fiy, 
 « of the Parliament of Paris) against the Holi/ Father Innocent XI." 
 « Behold here the acknowledgment of the Pope's supremacy, and his 
 
 • power and dignity both as a secular and ecclesiastical prince ; and in 
 < the observation of these fosts, the churcli did mediately (tell it not in 
 « Gath — ) pray for success to the man of sin : a practice utterly repug- 
 
 • nant to protestant, much more to prcsbyterian principles, and which 
 
 • will be a lasting stain upon both church and st ite.' 
 
 Considering, then, the cess used for the i:Tiin-?diate support of Anti-^ 
 Christ's kingdom, and in favours of the House of Austria, one of the 
 main pillars of that kingdom ; and an implacable enemy, and persecut- 
 or of the true reformed religion, it was no wonder that they scrupled 
 to pay a tax thus employed. 
 
 The matter of taxes, as to us, has been qualified, limited and ex- 
 plained, by our public ecclesiastical deeds. In the Testimony, there is 
 a plain distinction made between a free and conscientious payment of 
 taxes, to lawful moral ruleifs, who are ministers of God for good, and 
 a constrained forced pa)'ment, by more superior physical power. And 
 also between taxes, exacted for the common security and protection of 
 the country, without any thing affecting our religion and conscience, 
 and those exacted for the express purpose of suppressing the pure 
 preaching of the Gospel in the fields, as was the case with the additional 
 cess in the time of the persecution. There is also a difference between 
 a people, who are in a state of liberty, having power over their own 
 persons and property, that they may dispose ot them according to their 
 best judiiment, and a people in a state of captivity, who have kings set 
 over them, on account of their sins, that have dominion over their bo- 
 dies, and over their cattle, at their pleasure.— The conclusion to be de- 
 duced is, that paying common taxations is not sinful. 
 
 The same subj-jct has been farther limited and qualified, in the Ex- 
 planation of the Terms of Communion. There it is dei hii ed, that we and 
 our zealous forefathers are perfectly agreed, as to the great leading 
 principle, that it is inconsistent for Dissenters to submit to any such 
 things, as, strictly speaking, imply an approbation ol" the present con- 
 stitutions, or a proper recognizing of the constituted authorities ;— that 
 the taxations, which our noble martyrs positiv-^iy refused to pay, were 
 imposed avov.-cdly for suppressing the v-ry cause, which they were en- 
 deavouring, at the hazard of their lives, to maintain. — This brought the 
 matter closely home to their consciences, as faithful vvitnesses for Christ, 
 and his persecuted cause But :js,j>o taxations, in our time, are as yet 
 imposed for a similar purpose, it is surely, pushing the matter too far, 
 to consider the bare yielding unto them for wrath's sake, as necessarily 
 involving a contradiction to the martyr'- ustiinony. -^ While we do nut 
 find the general national bu.dens dema.uled as any proof of our loyalty, 
 nor for suppressing the CaUse, which we are endeavouring, through 
 grace, to maintain, we cannot convid-.r ourselves as convicted of in- 
 consistency ; though we be obliged to allow that those, who are^set 
 over us, have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at theiE 
 pleasure, and we ave in great distress. 
 
 S. "XOUNG, PKINTER. 
 
Oayford Broa. 
 
 Makers 
 
 Syracuse. N Y. 
 
 Date Due 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
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