give the Confession of their Faith of new they shall promise to continue therein in time coming to maintain our Soveraign Lords Authority and at the uttermost of their power to fortifie assist and maintain the true Preachers and Professors of Christs Evangel against whatsoever enemies and gainstanders of the same and namely against all such of whatsoever nation estate or degree they be of that have joyned and bound themselves or have assisted or assist to set forward and execute the cruel decrees of the Counsel of Trent contrary to the true Preachers and Professors of the Word of God which is repeated word by word in the Articles of Pacification at Perth the 23 of February 1572. approved by Parliament the last of April 1573. Ratified in parliament 1587. and related Act. 123. parl 12. of King James 6. with this addition that they are bound to resist all treasonable uproars and hostilities raised against the true Religion the Kings Majesty and the true Professors LIKE AS all Liedges are bound to maintain the Kings Majesties Royall Person and Authority the Authority of Parliament without the which neither any Laws or lawfull Judicatories can be established Act. 130. Act. 131. parl 8. King James 6. and the Subjects liberties who ought only to live and be governed by the Kings laws the common laws of this Realm allanerly Act. 48. parl 3. King James the 1. Act. 79. parl 6. King James the 4. repeated in the Act. 131. parl 8. King James 6. Which if they be innovated or prejudged the Commission anent the Union of the two Kingdomes of Scotland and England which is the sole Act of the 17. Parl. of King James 6. declares such confusion would ensue as this Realm could be no more a free Monarchy because by the fundamentall laws ancient priviledges offices and liberties of this Kingdom not only the Princely Authority of his Majesties Royall discent hath been these many ages maintained but also the peoples security of their Land livings rights offices liberties and dignities preserved And therefore for the preservation of the said true Religion Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome it is statute by the 8 Act. Parl. 1. repeated in the 99. Act. Parl. 7. Ratified in the 23. Act. Parl. 11. and 114. Act. parl 12. of K. James 6. and 4. Act of K. Charles that all Kings and princes at their Coronation and reception of their Princely authority shall make their faithfull 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 Testament 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 according to the Confession of Faith immediately preceeding and shall abolish and gainstand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid Word and according to the laudable Lawes and Constitutions received in this Realm no wayes repugnant to the said will of the Eternall GOD and shall procure to the uttermost of their power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect peace in all time coming and that they shall be carefull to root out of their Empire all Hereticks 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 Coronation at Edinburgh 1633. as may be seen in the order of the Coronation IN OBEDIENCE to the Commandement of God conform to the practise of the godly in former times and according to the laudable example of our Worthy and Religious Progenitors and of many yet living amongst us which was warranted also by Act of Councel commanding a general Band to be made and subscribed by his Majesties 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 written and a former large Confession established by sundry Acts of lawfull General Assemblies and of Parliament unto which it hath relation set down in publick Catechisms and which had been for many years with a blessing from Heaven preached and professed in this Kirk and Kingdom as Gods undoubted Truth grounded only upon his written Word The other cause was for maintaining the Kings Majesty his Person and Estate the true Worship of God and the Kings Authority being so straitly joyned 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 Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons underscribing considering divers times before and especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion of the Kings honour and of the publick peace of the Kingdom by the manifold innovations and evils generally contained and particularly mentioned in our late supplications complaints and protestations Do hereby professe and before God his Angels and the world solemnly declare that with our whole hearts we agree and resolve all the dayes of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true Religion and forbearing the practise of all novations already introduced in the matter of the worship of God or approbation of the corruptions of the publick Governments of the Kirk or civil places and power of Kirk-men till they be tryed and allowed in free Assemblies and in Parliaments to labour by all means lawfull to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel as it was established and professed before the foresaid novations And because after due examination we plainly perceive and undoubtedly believe that the innovations and evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God are contrary to the articles of the foresaid Confessions to the intention 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 ruine of the true reformed Religion and of our liberties lawes and estates We also declare that the foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted and ought to be understood of the forsaid novations and evils no lesse than if every one of them had been expressed in the foresaid Confessions and that we are oblieged to detest and abhorre them amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duty to God to our
same Oath hand-writ and pains that we shall defend his person and Authority with our goods bodies and lives in the defence of Christ his Evangell Liberties of our Countrey ministration of Justice and punishment of Iniquity against all enemies within this Realm or without as we desire our God to be a strong and mercifull 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 LIke as many Acts of Parliament not only in generall do abrogate annull and rescind all Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons civil or municipal with all other Ordinances and practique penalties whatsoever made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professors thereof or of the true Kirk discipline jurisdiction and freedom thereof Or in favours of Idolatry and Superstition Or of the Papisticall Kirk As Act. 3. Act. 31. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. of King James the sixt That Papistry and Superstition may be utterly suppressed according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament repeated in the 5 Act. Parl. 20. King James 6. And to that end they ordain all Papists and Priests to be punished by manifold Civil and Ecclesiasticall pains as adversaries to Gods true Religion preached and by Law established within this Realme Act. 24. Parl. 11. King James 6. as common enemies to all Christian government Act. 18. Parl. 16. King James 6. as rebellers and gainstanders of our Soveraign Lords Authority Act. 47. Parl. 3. King James 6. and as Idolaters Act. 104. Parl. 7. King James 6. But also in particular by and attour the Confession of Faith do abolish and condemn the Popes Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land and ordain the maintainers thereof to be punished Act. 2. Parl. 1. Act. 51. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 114. Parl. 12. King James 6. do condemn the Popes erroneous doctrine or any other erroneous doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian Religion publikely preached and by Law established in this Realm And ordain the spreaders and makers of Books or Libels or Letters or Writes of that nature to be punished Act. 46. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 24. Parl. 11. K. James 6. do condemn all Baptisme conform to the Popes Kirk and the Idolatry of the Masse and ordain all sayers willfull hearers and concealers of the Masse the maintainers and resetters of the Priests Jesuits traffiquing Papists to be punished without any exception or restriction Act. 5. Parl. 1. Act. 120. Parl. 2. Act. 164. Parl. 13. Act. 193. Parl. 14. Act. 1. Parl. 19. Act. 5. Parl. 20. K. James 6. do condemn all erroneous books and writes containing erroneous doctrine against the Religion presently professed or containing superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papisticall whereby the people are greatly abused and ordain the home bringers of them to be punished Act. 25. Parl. 11. K. James 6. do condemn the monuments and dregs of bygane Idolatry as going to the Crosses observing the Feastival dayes of Saints and such other superstitious and Papistical Rites to the dishonour of God contempt of true Religion and fostering of great error among the people and ordain the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. James 6. LIKE AS many Acts of Parliament are conceived For maintenance of Gods true and Christian Religion and the purity thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God the liberty and freedome thereof in her National and Synodal Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions Policy Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof as that purity of Religion and liberty of the Church was used professed exercised preached and confessed according to the Reformation of Religion in this Realm As for instance the 99 Act. Parl. 7. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. Act. 160. Parl. 13. of King James 6. ratified by the 4 Act. of King Charles So that the 6 Act. Parl. 1. and 68. Act. Parl. 6. of King James 6. in the year of God 1579. declare the Ministers of the blessed Evangel whom God of his mercy had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and Administration of the Sacraments and the people that professed Christ as he was then offered in the Evangel and doth communicate with the holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirks of this Realm they were publikely administrate according to the Confession of Faith to be the true and holy Kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realm And decern and declare all and sundry who either gainsay 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 King James 6. and ratified in this present Parliament more particularly do specifie or that refuses the administration of the holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to be no members of the said Kirk within this Realm and true Religion presently professed so long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christs Body And the subsequent Act 69. Parl. 6. of King James 6. declares that there is none other Face of Kirk nor other Face of Religion then was presently at that time by the favour of God established within this Realm which therefore is ever stiled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true and Christian Religion and a perfect Religion Which by manifold Acts of Parliament all within this Realm are bound to professe to subscribe the articles thereof the Confession of Faith to recant all doctrine and errours repugnant to any of the said Articles Act 4. and 9. Parl. 1. Act. 45 46 47. Parl. 3. Act. 71. Parl. 6. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 24 Parl. 11. Act. 123. Parl. 12. Act. 194. and 197. Parl. 14. of King James 6. And all Magistrates Sherifs c. on the one part are ordained to search apprehend and punish all contraveeners For instance Act 5. Parl. 1. Act. 104. Parl. 7. Act. 25. Parl. 11. K. James 6. And that notwithstanding of the Kings Majesties licences on the contrary which are discharged and declared to be of no force in so far as they tend in any wayes to the prejudice and hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parliament against Papists and adversaries of true Religion Act. 106. Parl. 7. K. James 6. On the other part in the 47. Act. Parl. 3. K. James 6. It is declared and ordained seeing the cause of Gods true Religion and his Highnesse authority are so joyned as the hurt of the one is common to both and that none shall be reputed as loyall and faithfull Subjects to our Soveraign 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
King and Countrey without any worldly respect or inducement so far as humane infirmity will suffer 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 errours and corruptions according to our vocation and to the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life And in like manner with the same heart we declare before God and Men that we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turn to the dishonour of God or to the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority but on the contrary we promise and swear that we shall to the uttermost of our power with our means and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraign the Kings Majesty his Person and Authority in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes 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 Religion and his Majesties Authority with our best counsel our bodies means and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shal be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in general and to every one of us in particular And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion or allurement or terrour from this blessed and loyall Conjunction 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 lawfull means labour to further and promove the same And if any such dangerous and divisive motion should be made to us by word or writ we and every one of us shall either suppresse it or if need be shall incontinent make the same known that it may be timously obviated Neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion combinations or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us seeing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfained desire to maintain the true worship of God the Majesty of our King and peace of the Kingdom for the common happinesse of our selves and posterity And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our profession and subscription we joyn such a life and conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God We therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all others under us both in publick in our particular Familes and personal carriage to endeavour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian liberty and to be good examples of all godlinesse sobernesse and righteousnesse and of every duty we owe to God and Man And that this our Union and Conjunction may be observed without violation We call the living GOD the Searcher of our hearts to witnesse who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfained Resolution as we shal answer to JESUS CHRIST in the great Day and under the pain of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamy and losse 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 blesse our desires and proceedings with a happy successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glory of God the honour of our King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses The article of this Covenant which was at the first subscription referred to the determination of the General Assembly being 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 unlawfull within this Kirk We subscribe according to the determination foresaid FINIS