Ans 1. To vindicate the glory of God which would be very much obscured and wronged in the sight of the Nations if the punishment were not as publick as the sin which was observed by them And to vindicate true Religion from the imputation of allowing perjury hateful to all Nations 2. To proportion the punishment with the sin in Justice Jer 5 19 Ezek 16 59 the despising the Oath of God and breaking His Covenant was publict and National and therefore must be punished with Judgements that are publick and National 3. To remove the stumbling block from the Nations about and Posterity that this impunity would lay before them if such a sin might pass without signal and stupendious strokes And to set up a Beacon to warn all of the hazard of splitting upon this Rock And as the warning of it is a witness against them that will do the like Deut 31 21 So much more the accomplishment will be All Nations have observed and admired Scotland Eminency when owning Gods Covenant All Nations have again despised derided and hissed at our unparalleled perjury that the very Turks blush to hear of It may be if Repentance prevent it not as we have been a hissing and a taunting proverb for the guilt of it so we may be a curse and execration for the punishment of it 2. The thing they shall observe or the occasion of their observing is 1 When they see the plagues of the Land and the sicknesses which the Lord hath laid upon it ver 22 Land plagues are here threatned for this Land-sin of breach of Covenant And Land-sicknesses of all sorts Moral and Physical even all mentioned Lev. 26. and Deut. 28. the plague of the Sword of Tyrannizing Rulers or inwading Enemies or oppressing Robbers or Rebells the plague of Famine Dearth or Poverty the plague of Pestilence or infecting contagious Diseasses and Sicknesses on Peoples Carcases or Spirits or on the managements and Administrations of publick Interests making a Sick and Disturbed Church and State. Whence come all these Distempers Whence have flowed all these Grievances under which Scotland hath groaned these 40 years The best grounded Answer is only this Because we have foresaken the Covenant of the Lord God of our fathers We have seen many of these plagues and sicknesses already we may see yet more if we live 2. And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt and burning and that it is not sown nor beareth nor any grass groweth therein like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrhah Admah and Zeboim which the Lord overthrew in his anger and in His wrath ver 23 Verse 23. Here is threatned thô not peremptorly predicted as the rest is the total and final desolation of the Land of Israel if they should forsake the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which is compared ad terrorem or ad equivalentiam to the overthrow of the Cities of the plain The Lord doth not alwayes ad literam fulfill this threatning but here shews what every Land avowing and persisting in breach of Covenant may fear and in Justice expect Justice requires that and land guilty of Sodoms sins should be lyable to its Judgements If we compare Scotlands sins and breaches of Covenant with the sins of these Cities we shal find none of these abominations here wanting which brought down just vengeance on the Cities of the plain In Gen 19 chap We find their sins were chiefly the breaches of the seventh Command And in Ezek. 16.49 these were their Iniquities Pride fulness of Bread abundance of Idleness neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy and they were haughty and committed abomination therefore the Lord took them away as He saw good In no Nation under Heaven these sins have a louder Cry for Vengeance than in Scotland which declares these sins and many more that Sodom was never in capacity to commit without shame or fear as Sodom and hides them not Isa 3.9 Whose Rulers of a long time have been Rulers of Sodom and whose people have been People of Gomorrah Isa 1.10 Yea we are lyable to the Lords Upbraidings more than Sodom Math. 11.23.24 For if the mighty works which have been done in Scotland had been done in Sodom it would have remained untill this day therefore it may be feared it shall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement then for Scotland And from what of this threatned curse of the Covenant we have seen accomplished in any measure we may have ground to fear what further shall be seen in future fulfilments of it if repentance do not prevent it We have seen parts of the Land sometime fruitful and well inhabited and many Families formerly well provided in our day laid desolate neither sown nor reaped We have seen some Cities almost burnt to ashes we have seen great Poverty and Sterility in the Land. What is the Cause Even this because we have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord God of our fathers Isa 24.5 6. The earth hath been defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinance broken the everlasting Covenant therefore hath the Curse devoured the earth Quest 18 From all this here threatned as the consequent punishment of National breach of Covenant we may further inquire What may this Nation or any other guilty of the like Perjury fear or expect in justice in the day He visits us Besides the Text we may gather in cumulo these Curses of the Covenant 1 Terrors and tormenting panick distracting Fears the hag of guilty Consciences Lev 26.16 Causing to flee when none pursues v. 17.36 Deut. 28.67 Felt in part already in many shameful yeeldings flights and discomfiturs 2 Mortal contagious distempers of body consumptions burning agues Levit. 26.16 Pestilence v. 25 Inflammations Deut. 28.21 22. Plagues v. 27 35 59 61. The great mortality now very ordinary in the Land is the fruit of breach of Covenant 3 Enemies Depradations Depopulations and Devastations eating up the seed Lev. 26.16 Slaying and chasing v. 17. A Sword to avenge the quarrel of the Covenant v. 25. Deut. 28.25 34 49 52. Josh 7.12 15. Jer. 15.2 Jer. 34.18 20. Who can tell but the Sword now drawn in Brittain and Ireland may avenge the quarrel of His broken Covenant 4 Tyrants domination Levit. 26.17 Deut. 28.43 48. Our long oppression under the two preceeding Tyrants hath been the deserved punishment of our breach of Covenant 5 Barrenness and unfruitfulness of the ground Levit 26.19 20. Deut. 28.23 24. Isa 24. 6 Wild beasts devouring Lev. 26.22 Ier. 15.3 The Lord can send these also or men as bad as beasts 7 Famine Levit. 26 26 29. Deut. 28.53 57. Ier. 15.2 Many poor people have felt somewhat of this it is easy with the Lord to reach the rich also when he will. 8 Desolation of Cities and Sanctuaries Lev. 26.31 32 34. 2. King. 17.15.18 Isa 24.6 We have long languished
perform Family Duties themselves in their own Persons which made so necessary and useful a duty to be misregarded by others of inferiour Rank And we may add in our degenerate times not only the Great Ones generally profess the neglect and contempt of so necessary and useful a duty both in their own Persons and in the use of Chaplains except such who are as Prophane as themselves But the greatest part of the Commons are altogether Strangers to it many performing no part of Family-worship Others only singing a Psalm and Reading a Chapter without Praying And others making a fashion of performing all but very perfunctoriously formally and indifferently and scarce once in a day And making litle Conscience in Catechising and Instructing their Children and Servants The Nobility Gentry and Burrows who should be examples of Godliness and Sober walking unto others are very generally Ring-leaders of excess and Rioting Whereby it is Impossible to reckon up all the Abominations that are in the Land But the Blaspheming of the Name of God swearing by the Creatures Profanation of the Lords day Uncleanness Drunkenness Excess and Rioting Vanity of Apparrel Lying and Deceit Railing and Cursing Arbitrary and uncontrolled Oppression and grinding of the faces of the Poor by Land lords and others in Place and Power are become ordinary and common Sins We have been far from amending our Lives and promoting a personal Reformation and going before one another in the example of a real Reformation when we have been bad examples of Deformation in our personal Practises and publick Transactions and being too familiar and too far unite with the Patrons and Patterns of all the Lands Deformations Our Fathers also acknowledged Albeit they were the Lords People engaged unto Him into 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 Conversation and of known Integrity and approven fidelity affection and zeal unto the cause of God And not only those 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 their 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 we their far more degenerate Children have seen and owned Judicatories consisting of and filled with perjured Traitors to God and their Countrey And Armies made up of these Plagues Maâ—shalled under a displayed Banner against the Cause of God Not only to the Scandal but for the Suppression of the Gospel and forcing people to prosanity throughout the Land Yet we have not sighed nor cryed for these Abominations nor have we been concerned as we ought with the abounding of them through the Land Nor hath our Zeal which in any measure we professed exâ—ended it self far beyond the places where we sojourned not regarding the Ignorance and Profanity of the many dark places in the Land both in the Borders Highlands and Northern Isles and other parts nor being careful of propagating the knowledge of God and Religion among them As likewise wiâ—h blushing we must confess our Pride and presumptuous boasting of the External Priviledges we had and others wanted of the Gospel and outward Reformation and Testimony which we bragged off as if that had made us better than others while we made not Conscience of improving these Priviledges nor of bringing forth suitable Fruits in a personal Reformation And in like manner the conceitedness of some in Suffering and Non Complyance and Contending for Truth rather for keeping 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 Lords Patience to His Glory as our Crown And many other evidences of pride hateful to God in boasting of the use of Armies in an ostentive way and being too much taken up with them 〈◊〉 thô necessary for the defence of our Lives in a revengeful resenting of affronts in a passionate and disdainful refusing to take reproof for excesses in the manner of any duty when we thought the matter was right And in our lightness of Carriage forgetting our Sufferings since they began to abate Yea both in time of our greatest Sufferings and since we got this Liberty of date we must acknowledge with regrate that Idleness of both kinds hath too much abounded among 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 opportunity of the Cross to promote acquaintance and communion with God being slothful in Prayer Reading and other Duties And some again even since they might have had access to go to Service or other lawful Employments have continued idle and out of work to the opening of the mouths of many against the Cause albeit they were not called to or employed in any publick business for the same And besides all these things there be many other transgressions whereof the Land wherein we live are guilty which we have not been humbled for to this day But in stead of mourning for them confessing and forsaking them we have been rather defending or daubing covering or colouring excusing or extenuating them All which we now desire to acknowledge and be humble for that the World may bear witness with us that Righteousness belongeth unto God and shame and confusion of face unto us as appears this day BUT because it is needful for these who find Mercy not only to confess but also to forsake their sin Therefore that the reality and sincerity of our Repentance may appear WE do Resolve and Solemnly Engage our selves before the Lord carefully to avoid for the time to come all these Offences whereof we have now made solemn publick acknowledgement and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto And to testifie the integrity of our Resolution herein and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords strength to perform the same we do again Renew our Solemn League and Covenant promising hereafter to make Conscience of all the Duties whereunto we are obliged in all the Heads and Articles thereof particularly of these which follow Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and precious and the knowledge of the Great Truths of the Gospel so generally decreased in this Land is so absolutely necessary Therefore we shall endeavour to be better acquainted with the written Word of God the only infallible Rule of Faith and Manners And shall study more than formerly the Doctrine of this True Reformed Church summarly contained in our Confession of Faith Catechisms larger and shorter Sum of
under Sanctuary desolations the other may follow 9 Exile and slavery Lev 26 33 38 Deut 28 25 36 37 64 68. This hath been in part literally accomplished in the deportation of many to America more may be coming 10 A curse and vexation in and upon all enjoyments and employments Deut 28 15 20 2 Chron 24 20 Since ever we forsook the Lord nothing hath prospered with us 11 Infatuation Deut 28 28 Quos Deos vult perdere dementat hath been written on all our projects for which we are a scorn and derision to all Nations about us 12 Desertion from God and hiding of His face Deut 31 17 Jer 15 1 Visibly seen in Ordinances and Providences the fruit of our forsaking His Covenant In a word many troubles Deut 31 17 All evills even to utter destruction Josh 23 15 16. For all which our hearts may meditate Terror Vers 24. 3. Their Enquiry or Question upon their observation of the tremendous punishment of this sin is Quest 19 Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this Land What meaneth the heat of this great anger This is frequently predicted to be the Question of spectators that shall observe the National Punishment of National Crying sins As in the case of the Temples desolation for Temple polluting sins 1 Kings 9.8 9. 2 Chron. 7.21 22. The like also Jer. 22.8 9. When this shall be the question of the Nations it will be easie to answer it It is not so at the beginning of the Lords contendings when it is only the question of the Apostatizing Generation it self Then only the faithful Watch-men instructed of God will answer it suitably Jer. 5.19 Jer. 16.10 It is not easie to find the wise man that may understand this and to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that he may declare it for what the Land perisheth Jer. 9.12 13. The most guilty may alleage the more innocent to be the causes of the Lands trouble as Ahab said to Elijah 1 King. 18.17 18. And even the Prophets not discovering the Lands iniquity may see false burdens and causes of banishment Lam. 2.14 However it will be no mistake to pitch upon several causes of wrath against Scotland even any or all that ever brought down Vengeance upon any Generation of wrath recorded in the Scripturs or in any History such as Profanity of all sorts Hypocrisie Idolatry Adultery Treachery Pride Blood and Oppression Contempt of the Gospel c. and these attended with the greatest aggravations With these indeed the Land hath been troubled polluted and for the same is yet perishing But chiefly that which hath incensed the anger of the Lord to all this heat hath been and remains to be Breach of Covenant And all these abominations not simply because Breaches of the Law of God but as under this special aggravation that they have been and are Breaches of Covenant As is evident from 4. The ready Answer here given Because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the Land of Egypt ver 25. Vers 25. This Answer shall be extorted from Men all Men that are Men of any consideration Prophets Jer. 5.19 Jer. 9.13 Jer. 16.10 Covenant-breakers themselves Deut. 31.17 Strangers 2 Chron. 7.21 22. Jer. 22.8 9. Let it be enquired then wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto Scotland What meaneth the heat of all this great anger in which it hath been consuming now these 40 years and yet not consumed The Answer must be We have forsaken the Covenant c. It appears hence that breach of Covenant is a great sin and cause of wrath And is further confirmed from many Threatnings of wrath for it Levit. 26.25 Deut. 31.16 17. Josh 23.15 16. 2 Chron. 7.21 22. Jer. 22.8 9. From sad and stupendous executions of these Threatnings Josh 7.11 15. 2 Kings 17.15 c. Isa 24.5 6 And from the confessions and complaints of it 1 King 19 10 Neh 9 Dan 9 It may be also observed from hence that no sin is more aggravated than breach of Covenant as appears from these words to ver last wherein this Answer of the Nations 1. Aggravates this sin in general v. 25. 2. Specifies the particular kind of it v 26. 3. Justifies the punishment of it v. 27 28. 1 Here is aggravated the heinousness of breach of Covenant in a contexture of words that shews forth its hatefulness There are several degrees of this sin but this is the worst Quest 20 Quer How may a Nation be guilty of breach of Covenant Ans Not only 1 by transgressing any of the Articles of it as here by serving other gods ver 26 putting forth the hand to any accursed thing which thô it was the personal sin of Achan only yet the whole Congregation was involved in it Josh 7 11 15. especially when it is discovered and yet connived at not witnessed against nor mourned over But 2 by rashness or falshood in making it Hos 10 4 swearing falsly in making a Covenant when it is not taken in truth righteousness and judgement when only in Hypocritical flatterie without right and stedfast hearts it is engaged into Psal 78.36 37. 3 By forgetfulness Deut. 4 23 Take heed unto your selves lest â—e forget the Covenant of the Lord your God Forgetting is a step towards forsaking Psal 44 17 The perpetual Covenant should not be forgotten Jer 50 5. 4 By seeking shifts to elude it and Arguments to defend the breach of it Prov 20 25 5 By despising and undervaluing the Bond of it Ezek 16 59 Ezek 17 16 19. 6 By defection to the iniquities abjured in it Jerem 11 10. 7 By changing the institutions sworn to be maintained Isaiah 24 5 Either the State Government without consulting Divine directions and boundaries Hos 8 1 4. Or the Church Government without respect to the Pattern of the revealed will of Christ 2 Chron. 13.9 10 11. 8 By disowning it and downright denying the obligation of it Dan 11 30. 9 By stating an opposition to it and persecuting them that adhere to it 1 Kin 19.10 Dan. 11.30 The two last are properly forsaking the Covenant which is more then breaking it here may be gathered the answer to this Quest Quest 21 What are the Aggravations of this sin This Forsaking implying willing and wilful deliberation resolution and presumption in avowing the breach of it This is a great length in perjury yet short of the amount of Scotlands unparalleled Effrontery in enacting the breach of it making the renunciation of it a qualification of persons capable of publict Trust burning it by the hand of the Hangman and making the owning of it Criminal Again here is a forsaking of the Covenant which as it includes a forsaking of the Commandments of God which hath a brand of a hateful heinousness 1 Kin 18 18 2 Chron 12 1 5 Ezra 9 10 Jer 9 13. So it imports and inferrs a greater
mutual bearing of one anothers burdens as became Covenanted Brethren On the other hand in stead of Union in Truth and Duty according to the Bond of the Covenant a Confederacy hath been studied in defection from the Covenant And an Union and Peace which wanted the foundation laid down in the foregoing Articles of the Covenant to wit Uniformity in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against Popery Prelacy Schism or Sectarianism for our Religion Laws and Liberties and the discovering suppressing and punishing the enemies of these Interests Such an Union hath not been studied or sought but on the contrare an Union against the Reformation and Uniformity for Prelacy or Sectarian Multiformity by maintaining Tyranny and strengthening Malignancy In the 6th 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 Power against all sorts of persons what soever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that Cause should be taken as done to us all in general and to every one of us in particular A duty very clear in the Scriptures Judg. 5.23 1 Chron. 12.1 18. Nehem. 4.14 Prov. 24.11.12 But alas Little Conscience hath been made of this Duty We have suffered many of out Brethren in several parts of the Land to be oppressed of the common Enemy without compassion or relief There hath been great murmuring and repining because of expence of means and pains in doing of our duty And not only so but many have Sworn and Subscribed Oaths and Bonds engaging against such assistances very directly and to condemn all such endeavours to assist defend or rescue them as Sedition and Rebellion And obliging them to assist their murdering Malignant Enemies by such concurrences as they required Yea many instead of coming out to the help of the Lord against the Mighty and defending their Brethren have come out to the help of the Mighty against the Lord His Cause Covenant and oppressed People concurring in Armes against them at all the Appearances that have been astayed for the cause of Christ Appearing at Courts held for informing against and Condemning their Brethren that were Present at or concerned in such Appearances for the Covenanted Cause And coming in as Witnesses against them Sitting in Assyses for Condemning them And guarding them to their Executions when Martyred for their Duty and the Interest of Truth Many again have denied to Reset Harbour and Entertain their Brethren Persecuted for maintaining the Covenanted Reformation And some have raised the Hue and Cry after them thereby occasioning and assisting in the cruel Murder of several faithful Brethren The most part have 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 Mandats with their Purses and Estates in paying the Supplies professedly demanded and declaredly imposed for enabling them to accomplish these Mischiefs Yea many of our Brethren have been so far from assisting that they have added afflâ—ctions to their afflicted Brethren by their Reproaches and persecuting by the Tongue whom the Lord had smitten and talking to the grief of those whom He had wounded And as all sorts of us have been wanting in our Sympathie with and endeavouring succour to our suffering Brethren let be to deliver them from their Enemies hands according to capacity especially if they were such as differed from us in their Judgement So we cannot forbear with shame and sorrow to confess that many Ministers have all alongst discovered great unconcernedness with and contempt of poor despised and reproached Sufferers Condemning the Heads of their Sufferings Forgetting or refusing to pray for them publickly And declining yea disswading to contribute for the relief of the Banished of late Which hath been very discouraging to the afflâ—cted and stumbling to many In the same Article we are bound not to suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever Combination or Terror to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction Whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves unto a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this Cause And in the National Covenant That we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion allurement or terror from this Blessed and Loyal Conjunction According to Scripture warrands Gen. 13 8. Psal 133. throughout Zech. 8.19 Heb. 12 14. 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4 3. Phil. 1.27 and 2.1 2. Jer. 9.3 Ezek. 22.25 2 Tim. 4.10 Hag. 1.2 Phil 2.21 Rev. 3.15 16. But alas It is long since our Fathers had reason to complain and confess that many in their day by perswasion or terror suffered themselves to be divided and withdrawn to make defection to the contrary part Many had turned off to a detestable indefferency 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 It was not their care to countenance encourage intrust and employ such only as from their hearts did affect and mind Gods work But the hearts of such many times had been discouraged and their hands weakned their sufferings neglected and themselves slighted And many who had been once open Enemies and alwayes secret Underminers countenanced and employed Nay even those who had been looked upon as Incendiaries and upon whom the Lord had set Marks of desperate Malignancy Falshood and Deceit were brought in as fit to manage publick Affairs All which Sins and Breaches of Covenant have now encreassed to a greater height of heinousness For in our day these Incendiaries desperate and ingrained Malignants have only been imployed in and admitted to the management of Affairs in Church and State and none but they have been accounted Habile by Law And such divisions from this Covenanted Conjunction and defections to the contrary part have been enacted and established by Law. Yea all the unhappy divisions that have been in our day have been the woeful consequents and effects of Defections to the contrary part At the first erection of Prelacy many both Ministers and Professors partly by Terror and partly by Perswasion did withdraw from this Covenanted Conjunction and make defection unto Prelacy with which they combin'd in conforming with it and submitting unto the Ministry of the conforming Curats And afterwards by the terror of the fear of Men and the perswasions of their Counsels and Example many of us have been seduced into a Combination with Malignants in taking Oaths and Bonds contrary to the Covenants thereby
dividing our selves from the Recusants and making defection to the party imposing them and opposing the Covenants And by Combination of those that preferred Peace to Truth and Ease to Duty by the terror of threatned continuance of Persecution and the perswasion of a promised Relaxation and immunity from Troubles many Ministers have been divided from the Testimony 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 Priviledges of his Church by receiving Indulgences and Tolerations from them in their own nature destructive unto and given and received on terms inconsistent with the Duties of the Covenants which were contrived and conferred on purpose to divide them from this cause and from their Brethren that more tenaciously adhered to it and did effectuate that design in a great measure And others gave themselves to a detestable indifference in complying with conniving at and not witnessing against these defections but passing them over in a secure and submissive silence And yet many of us have not shewed our dislike of these backsliding courses by discountenancing withdrawing from and keeping our selves free of all participation with them And others have withdrawn that have not mourned for the sin of these things to the irritation and offence rather than conviction of these they withdrew from Moreover in the same Article we are sworn all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly to continue in this Cause against all Letts and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able our selves to suppress and overcome to reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed And in the National Covenant never to cast in any Lett 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 by all lawful means to labour to further and promove the same And if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by word 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 Scriptures Num 14 9 10 Neh 6 3 6 8 9 10 11 c. Psal 69 9 Isa 8 12 14 Acts 4 19 Acts 20 24 21 13 Gal 2 5 Phil 1 28. Nevertheless many have been the lets and impediments that have been cast in the way to retard and obstruct the Lords work by Prelacy Supremacy Indulgences Tolleratâ—on and absolute Tyrannie and complyances therewith enacted by Law and all the mischiefs establâ—shed by a Throne of iniquity these 28. years Yet few have ever zealously contented and fewer have constantly continued in contending against these obstructions so destructive to the cause Many have keeped Secret the first motions and appearances of these things while they might have been suppressed and overcome And the generality have passed them over in silence and made not known nor adverted unto the Evil of these things when declared by witnessing against these things when they could not be otherwise removed or overcome Yet many of us have our selves cast in Lets and Impediments obstructive to the Cause by our Defections Divisions and Disorders against Common Consent precipitencies without coÌ„mon consent even of our Brethren adhering to the Testimony Many a divisive Motion hath not been counted dangerous as those which tended to divide us from the Covenanted Cause And many a good and necessary Motion hath been counted Divisive namely such as proposed the necessity of confessing and forsaking sin Besides these and many other breaches of the Articles of the Covenant in the matter thereof which concerneth everyone of us to search out and acknowledge before the Lord as we would wish his wrath to be turned away from us So have many of us failed exceedingly in the manner of following and pursuing the duties contained therein not only seeking great things for our selves and mixing private interests and ends concerning our selves and friends and followers with these things that concern the publick good but many times preferring such to the honour of God and good of his Cause and retarding Gods work untill 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 many times hath made us meet with disappointment therein 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 hearkned 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 Ez k 7 16 for our own sins and b Ezek 9 4 for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not c Matth 22 5 valued as we ought the inestimable benefite of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the d Acts 2 42 1 Tim 6 13 14. Purity and e 2 Tim 3 5 Power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to f Ephes 3 17 Colloss 2 6 receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk g Colloss 1 10 worthy of Him in our lives h 2 Thes 2 11 12 which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding among us 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 our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in 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 might turn away His Wrath and heavy Indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace Yet we have refused to be Reformed and have walked proudly and obstinatly against the Lord not valuing His Gospel nor submitting our selves unto the obedience thereof nor seeking after Christ nor studying to honour Him in the excellency of His Person nor employ Him in the vertue of His Offices not making Conscience of Publick Ordinances nor Private nor Secret Duties nor studying to edifie one another in Love. The Ignorance of God and of His Son Jesus Christ prevails exceedingly in the Land. Even our Eathers in their purest times confessed in their Acknowledgement 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 preswaded yet few of the Nobles and Great Ones could be perswaded to
all other Acts and Laws that have been framed since Prelacy and Tyranny came in that have been opposite unto the said Covenant and work of Reformation The reviving and ratifying of all former Righteous Laws made in favours thereof And the restoring and recovering of all the due and true Rights and Priviledges of Parliaments And as we shall earnestly pray unto God that He would give us able men fearing God men of Truth and hating covetousness to judge and bear Charge among His people So we shall according to our Places Callings and Capacities endeavor that Judicatories and all places of Power and Trust both in Kirk and State may consist of and be filled with such men as are of known good Affection to the Cause of God and of a blameless and Christian conversation to whom we shall submit and obey and defend them and their Rights with our Estates and Lives 2. We shall also desire and do design to recover vindicate and maintain the Liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their Consciences Persons and Estates 3. Now after we have been long howling under a grievous Tyrannie making men like the fishes of the Sea that have no Ruler over them We shall desire and long for a good Government and seek to have it rightly setled upon such a foundation of Righteousness with such a subordination to GOD and in such hands as Religion and Liberty and we in maintaining the same may find protection and Patrociny And then in the terms of the Covenant we promise Subjection Allegiance and our best endeavours to preserve and defend the Person and Authority of our Lawfully invested Kings Princes or other Magistrates in the preservation and defence of the True Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom Ministration of Justice and punishing of iniquity Or so far as our owning and defending them may or can consist with the preservation and defence of Religion Liberty and Justice Giving unto GOD that which is GODS and to Caesar the things which are Caesars And upon other termes we purpose never to own Allegiance to mortall Man. According to the Fourth Article 1. Beinâ—â— now sensible of the sin of complyance with Mâ—l gnants we shall resolve through Grace to stand aloof and at a greater distance from every thing that may import complyance confederacy or unitive transaction with them while remaining such by Associating with them in Armes paying them Cesses and Contributions imposed for maintaining them in their Cause and course of opposition to the Cause of GOD Or by swearing subscribing or taking any of their Oaths Tests or Bonds Or any new Oaths or Bonds whatsoever which may any way condemn Limite or Restrain us in the Duâ—iâ—s whereunto we are obliged by the National or Solemn League and Covenant Yea 2. We shall be so far from conniving at complying with or countenancing of Malignancy Injustice Iniquity Profanity and Impiety that we shall not only avoid and discountenance these things and cherish and encourage these persons who are zealous for the Causâ— of GOD and walk according to the Gospel But also shall seek a more effectual course than heretofore in our respective places and Callings for punishing and suppressing these evils and faithfully endeavour that the best and fittest remedies may be applyed for taking away the causes thereof and advancing the knowledge of GOD and Holiness and Righteousness in the Land. And to this effect shall endeavour to Represent our Grievances unto competent Judicatories against those who have been open Persecuters that they may receive condign punishment as the degree of their Crimes and Offences shall require or deserve that so the Land may be purged from blood and the LORD may delight to dwell among us Ye câ—nsidering what rashness hath appeared in some in putting forth their hand to punish such Incendiaries by death and how people may be still in hazard of running upon Extravagances in this matter from the misunderstanding of this Article of the Covenant We shal therefore guard against all irregularities in seeking the punishment of Malignants Incendiaries or evil Instruments and endeavour the discoverie and bringing of them to Justice in a Right and Legal way According to the Fifth Article We shal according to our places power Interest endeavour to have the Vnion of the Kingdoms brought to it s Covenanted Basis and avoid every thing that may weaken the same or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those who have invaded or hereafter may invade the Kingdom of England to break this Covenanted Vnion And shall endeavour more correspondence and sympathie with all our Covenanted Brethren both in England and Ireland According to the Sixth Article Considering what Dangers We and all our Brethren under the Bond and owning the Obligation of these Covenants are in and may be exposed to from the Popish Prelatical and Malignant Faction still prevailing And what defects we are sensible have been among us in the duty of defending and assisting one anoâ—her in this cause We do here sâ—lâ—mnly enâ—er under a Bond of Association with all that do nâ—w renew these Covenants with the Acknowledgement of the publick Breaches and Engagement to the duties thereof and shall concert and assert the old Covenanted Cause and Quarrel as our Fathers stated and contended for it from the year 1638. to 1650. Which cause of the Covenanted Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and all Interests and Rights Religious or Civil contended for during that foresaid space of years conducing to promote the same we faithfully promise to prosecute and endeavour to propagate preserve and maintain with the hazard of our Lives and all that we have Not fearing or regarding the soul Aspersions of Rebellion Combination or what else our Adversaries from their Craft and Malice would put upon us Seing 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 of the Kingdom for the present Safety and future Felicity of our Selves and Posterity and encouragement of others groaning under oâ— in danger of the Yoke of Antichristian or Erastin Popish or Prelatical Tyranny to joyn in the same or l ke Association In maintaing which we shall faithfully and stedfastly according to our place and power sympathize bear all burdens and imbark our Interests with and assist and defend all these who enter into or joyn with this Association and Covenants And shall reckon whatsoever shal be 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 shal account it a breach of Covenant if seing our Brethren pursued for this Cause and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them any of us shall either make peace with the Persecuters bind up their hands by Oaths or Bonds from resisting them refuse to hide