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A88756 A confutation of the Solemn League and Covenant, against the persecuting dividing sense put upon it by such who seeke more themselves and their ends, then the glory of God, or the peace of the kingdomes. / By R.L. A true friend to all reall covenanters. R. L. 1648 (1648) Wing L53; Thomason E443_38; ESTC R204751 17,854 15

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of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuance thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terror to be divided and withdrawne from this blessed union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or quit our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrallity in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the kingdome and honour of the King but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power againsts all lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able of our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale and make knowne that it may be timely prevented or removed all which we shall doe as in the sight of God The principall thing contained in this sixth head is a mutuall assistance of each other in the pursuing and obtainining the ends of the Covenant which is in a brotherly firme uniting against the Common Enemie to the Covenanted cause viz. the preservation of the purity of religion the liberty and freedome of the people c. To endeavour to retaine unity where we cannot uniformity and to prefer the concurrence and assistance of one approved tryed friend to the Covenanted cause though differing in some particular circumstances before the compliance of many others which stood neuters to it or opposed it when we stood most in need of their help And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his sonne Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present destresses and dangers the fruits whereof we professe and declare before God and the world our unsained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these kingdomes especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospell that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ into our hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of out sinnes and transgressions so much abounding among us and our true and unfained purpose desire and endevours for our selves and others under our power and charge both in publike and in prevate in al duties we owe to God and man is to amend our lives and each one to goe one before another in this example of a reall reformation that the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches 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 performe the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successes as may be deliverance and safety to his people and incouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the Yoak of antichristian tyranny to joyne in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the inlargement of the kingdome of Iesus Christ and the peace and tranquility of Christian kingdomes and common wealthes c. What can be more said or what words can more fully containe to discover a people cordially and really sensible of the crying sins of persecuting and destroying good people under bad names exalting the forme of Godlinesse against the power thereof of opposing the Letter of the Gospell against the Spirit of it Let the Consciences of all Covenanters judge acknowledging the cause of the Kingdoms present distresses and dangers to flow from their many sins and provocations committed against God and his Son Jesus Christ especially the not valuing the mosteemable benefit of the Gospel but rather sliting deriding persecuting the most precious part thereof vid. The spirit and power of it not labouring for the purity power thereof but rather imprisoning it by the tradition and forme of it not indeavouring to receive Christ in hearts drawing neere to him with our mouths but having our hearts farre from him not walking worthy of him in our lives vid. Not living at all to him but to our selves promising ●eall not formall Reformation desiring to be strengthned by his holy Spirit whose teachings enlightnings and strengthnings are now become a by-word to many Covenanters ayming at the incoridgment of other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the same yoak of Antichristian tyranny and now make it the very worke of the Covenant to put the same yoake upon the neeks of our dissenting brethren which our own selves then groaned under like those Scribes and Pharisees Christ admonisheth the people against for they binde heavy ●●●thens and grievous to be borne and lay them on other mens shoulders Mat. 23.4 but themselves will not move them with one of their fingers For now the whole League and Covenant which containes thus many good Christan Engagements is all contracted or rather detracted into these three things viz. the Establishing and Setling Church Government according to that of Scotland the suppressing and punishing of Hereticks and Schismaticks c. The defending of or restoto his Majesty his Power and Greatnesse Now let us review the Covenant upon these particulars and see what we are engaged to in relation to these things and let the Covenant continue a rule and not be a snare to any much lesse to its true friends The preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Disciplune and Government against our common Enemies What is this to the setting of it up in England against the judgements of our best friends or if our brethren of Scotland should finde cause to make a more through Reformation in that Kingdome are we bound by this Covenant to hinder them our covenant to preserve the present Reformation in either Kingdome is no engagement to hinder reformation in both Kingdoms if those in whom the power of Reforming is find cause therefore what we are by this Covenant engaged to in relation to Scotland is to assist them against any that shall endeavour to drive the Reformation back again toward the Idolatrous superstitions of Rome not those which endeavour the pressing of it forward toward the pure rule of the Word The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdome of England and Iroland in Doctrine worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God and the example of the be best referned Churches It doth not say according to the length and breadth in every thing to a tittle of that in Scotland neither doth it name this or that form of Government or particular Church or churches but only saith the word of God and best reformed churches which is wholly in the breast of the Reformers which
men how pleasing so ever their opinions may be there is little ground to judge they either know or love sound doctrine Least we partake of other mens sins c. Among which the sins of persecution and in destroying good people under bad names the exalting the forme of godlinesse against the power thereof was not the least And thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues c. As it is two evident we have committed the same sins so have we much cause feare the same punishments which God laid upon them by our hands is at our dores the Lord helpe us to be sensible of the one in time that we may prevent the other And that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes c. It is a desireable end the Lord direct us in the meanes A third head of the Covenant We shall with the same sincerity reallity and constancy in our severall vocations indevour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Liberties of the Parliament and the liberties of the Kingdome c. Of both which the Parliament themselves are the most equallest Judges they having no priviledges but what is in order to the better preservation of the peoples liberties the Parliaments just priviledges being the principle Bull warke to our Lawes and Liberties And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true religion and liberties c. Not otherwise wayes we being at the same time in actuall warre against his Majesties person and prerogative power in the defence of our religion and liberties That the world may beare witnesse with our Consciences of our loyalty that have we no thoughts nor intentions to diminish his Majestis just power and greatnesse c. And likewise of our forwardnesse to hazard the losse of our lives and all things else deere to us in the vindication and protection of our just freedome and liberties against his Arbitrary unjust power and greatnesse We shall also withall faithfulnesse indeavour the discovery of all such as have beene or shall be incendiaries Malignants or evill instruments by hindering the reformation of religion c. Which principally and chiefely those are which hinder the free progresse of the Gospell in the Common dispensation of the preaching the word which are angry because it is the good pleasure of the father to hide the mysteries of Christs kingdome from the wise and prudent and reveale them unto Babes Matth. 11.25 1 Cor. 11.27.28 2 Per. 2.16 Matth. 21.16 Because God hath chosen the foollish weak bases despised things of the world and things that are not to bring to naught the wise and mighty things that are because God sometimes opens the mouth of the dumb asse to reprove the madnesse of the Prophet and by the mouthes of Babes and Sucklings perfects his own praise the despising of the day of these small things being the Grand hinderance of a true reformation Dividing the King from his people c. The King hath ever beene so farre divided from his people in Covenant that he hath saved all evill instruments a labour in that worke Or one of the Kingdoms from another c. Who soever it is that endeavours to involve or intermix the distinct interest of each Kingdome hazards much the making a greater division Abraham and his brother Lot agreed best after they had divided their substance and became two distinct families or little common-wealthes there was strife between their heads-men before Gen. 13 7. and the keeping two distinct interests or property to each others substance did not breake the bond of brother-hood nor hinder their mutuall assistance of each other against their common enemy Abraham was ready to relieve his Brother Lot from under the Captivity of Chedorleromor Or making any faction or parties among the people contrary to this League and Covenant Gen. 14.15 c. Which those men are chiefely guilty of next to the common enemy which would turne the sharpest edge of the Covenant against their differing brethren who hath testified in the worst of times their affections and faithfulnesse to the Covenant and cause as fully as themselves who would put such a sence upon some branches or expressions in the Covenant as no rationall man can make it beare nor impartiall can judge it meanes and stirre up one party of the Covenanters to force a disputable fence upon the other which hath been the principall cause of those factions and divisions among the Covenanters if any there be that hath been made That they may be brought to publike triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreme judicatures of both kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient c. If onely the supreme judicatures of both kingdomes or others impowered by them ought to judge in this case then sure it doth not become particular men one to judge or accuse each other much lesse to judge their judges The fifth head And whereas the happinesse of a blessed peace betweene these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath beene lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity and that justice may be done on the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the present Articles c. In pursuance of which the onely meanes that can be used in a Christian brotherly forbearance of each other in things wherein we differ a friendly faire disputeing of accidentall controversies out of an earnest desire to give one another satisfaction wholy to leave all grand controversies between the two Nations to be judged and determined by the Parliaments of each Kingdome who alone are capeable of giving the Kingdoms sence or resolution in things dispureable and for all particular persons to forbear their crying out against Covenan● 〈◊〉 and Covenant breakers in their Pulpits and Communications it being no lesse then scandalous rayling and reviling whether true or false which is very ill becoming leading Christians whethers Ministers or others and especially in a time of reformation and let them rather particularize Covenant breakers and what of the Covenant it is they have broken and deale with them either as Christians according to the rule Matthew 18.15 Or as men by complaining of them to those who have power to judge and determine things in such cases there being no such prejudice to the union and peace betweene the Covenanters in the two kingdomes as such kinde of exasperating the spirits of any people interested in the Covenant whether pro or con The sixth head We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and the peace