A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE DECLARING The impiety and unlawfulnesse of the new COVENANT with the SCOTS Together with the Covenant it selfe Printed Anno Dom. 1643. The new League and Covenant with the SCOTS WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our Eyes the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour and Happinesse of the Kings Majesty and His Posteritie and the true publike Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdomes wherein every ones private Condition is included And calling to minde the Treacherous and Bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and Practises of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdomes ever since the Reformation of Religion And how much their Rage Power and Presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable Estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed Estate of the Church and Kingdome of England and the dangerous Estate of the Church and Kingdome of Scotland are present and publike Testimonies We have now at last after other meanes of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the Preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practise of these Kingdomes in former times and the example of Gods People in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne 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 indeavour in our severall Places and Callings The preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches And shall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the neerest Conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Forme of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechising That we and our posteritie after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of Persons indeavour the exterpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their Plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall Vocations indeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberries of the Kingdomes That the World may bear Witnesse with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no Thoughts or Intentions to diminish His Majesties just Power and Greatnesse IV. We shall also with all faithfulnesse indeavour the discovery of all such as have beene or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or 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 publike Tryall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreame Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happynesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our Progenitours is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath beene lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our Place and Interest indeavour That they may remaine conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all Posteritie and that Justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article VI. We shall also according to our Places and Callings in this common Cause of Religion Libertie and Peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswation or terrour to be devided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction Whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutralitie in this Cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdoms 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 against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale 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 Kingdomes are guilty of many sinnes and provocations against God and His Son lesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before God and the World our unfained desire to be humbled for our owne sinnes and for the sinnes 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 and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our Hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sinnes and Transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our Power and Charge both in publike and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a reall Reformation That the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdomes in Truth and Peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almightie God the searcher of all Hearts with a true intention to performe the same as we shall answer
will be able to discover more in it of themselves my ayme is to shew the impiety of this Oath which doth appeare unto us in these severall heads First it is unlawfull in the manner of it Secondly in the matter of it Thirdly in the end of it First in the manner of undertaking it as it is against the Authority of the King And as it is an entrance into a new League with a forreine Nation without His Majesties consent First it is against the Authority of the King which we are all bound to maintaine in that it is undertaken without His Authority for whatsoever is undertaken without that power which is requisite thereunto is against that Authority for as that which cannot derive it selfe from God who hath supreame authority in the ordering of Religion as in all other things is against the supreame and absolute authority of God So that which cannot derive it selfe from the King in matter of Government when He is supreame under God is against the authority of the King and so an irregular and disorderly enterprise For as no animal motion in the body but hath its force and power from the head in the body so there can be no orderly publike motion in the State that hath not its force and influence from the King who is supreame Head under God of the body Politique And herein it is against the Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy which bindeth men to the observance and preservation of the Kings authority as supreame Secondly it is sinfull in the manner of it as it is an entrance into a new League with a forreine Nation without the consent of the King who by the Law and constitution of the Kingdome is of absolute and supreame power in such matters at least so farre that it cannot or at least ought not to be done without him Thirdly in the manner of taking it if it be not lawfull yet it is uncouth and strange performed by a ceremony of lifting up their hands unto God as they call it But we may justly say by lifting up their hands against God since their hands are truly lift up against Gods substitute and against that authority that God hath placed in him But indeed this Ceremony was most fit for their purpose most correspondent unto their drift and purpose and doth excellently decypher that businesse they have in hand and which they meant to strengthen corroborate by this Covenant even the lifting up of their hands against the Lords annointed which they did well not to sweare to upon the Bible or Evangelists since it is a designe directly contrary to the whole drift of that holy Doctrine But in the second place it is not onely peccant in the manner either of taking or undertaking but much more in the importance of it I might say something of the strange inverted method whereby they shew us how they meane to turne things upside downe Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of Subjects being put before the Authority and Person of the King but we could pardon such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as these were it not committed more in their actions than in their expressions But not to insist upon this It is peccant in the matter in three maine and principall respects 1. As it is against reason 2. As against Scripture 3. As it is against their owne consciences 1. It is against reason that they sweare to maintaine the Discipline and Government of Scotland in that Church and this is against reason in two respects First because thereby they intrude into those things that belong not unto them and are in alienâ rep curiosi since they have no more power to order and dispose of matters in the Scotch Nation then the Scots have to order and dispose the affaires of this But hereby indeed the Scots and they have set up a pretry trade and traffique of invasion since as the Scots by their incitement have most unjustly and unreasonably taken upon to order matters in this Kingdome which hath no dependance upon them nor is any way under their Government so they have hereby made themselves in the tenour of the Covenant a kinde of Moderatours and Governours of Scotland Which notwithstanding we verily beleeve that Nation will hardly admit of Secondly it is against reason that they should undertake to keepe that Discipline or Government unalterable in another Nation which all sound Christians hold at least in many things to be alterable and which they themselves as it seemes by the forme of the Oath durst not undertake to ty themselves unto certainly herein they are runne into the selfe same errour of which they themselves if I mistake not taxed the late Oath of the Synod and have tyed themselves unalterably to maintaine that which may and ought to be altered upon the exigency of the Church And so they have bound themselves by a sacred vow not onely to a thing unnecessary and no way acceptable to God in that singularity in which they are bound to it but also to withstand the lawfull supply of the possible and probable necessities of the Church Besides this they had best be well assured that all that they have sworne to maintaine in that Discipline and Government be agreeable to Gods Word 2. It is against Scripture that men should binde themselves to that which is uncertaine or joyne in a Covenant the sense whereof is dubious and wherein they doe by no meanes agree and that in the conscience of their knowne and palpable disagreement This is not to sweare according to Gods rule in justice judgement and truth nor answerable to that sincere dealing which God looketh for in the taking of an Oath They that agree upon the words but differ about the meaning may be so farre from being said to joyne in a Covenant that they may perhaps sweare one against another in their severall and contrary expositions and acceptions Now such is this Oath that it is neither certaine nor cleare it being in a part thereof set down in those stale termes which are capable of a million of interpretations as when they swear to promote the reformation of the Church of England according to the Word of God and the best Reformed Churches What certainty I beseech you is there in this Oath or at least what unity is in it were they or are they yet all agreed that have taken it what that reformation is or what Churches they are that are best reformed Doth not the Independent meane one thing and the Presbyterian another Are the Anabaptists and Brownists agreed upon this point Nay surely we may safely say they have sworn contrary one to another in their severall senses howsoever one hath said very well of them or at least of some of them that they agree very well in their latitude that is in such termes that will serve all their turnes The very studied tricke of the holy Tridentine Counsell But is not this arch collusion with God and with
one another Oh my brethren I beseech you remember God is not mocked you may muffle your selves and others but you cannot blind the Lord. Thirdly and lastly it is against conscience since if the one halfe of those that joyne in other things no more warrantable shall or have joyned in the taking of this Covenant it is not probable that they have or can do it as they are disposed with the consent or to the satisfaction of their consciences Or I would gladly know of those various Sectaries as opposite unto one another as they are both unto the truth Whether they all like the Scotch Discipline and Government which they sweare to maintaine in that Nation or no let them now lay their hands upon their hearts and feele how it beates if they do like it why durst they not sweare to introduce it here as well as to defend it there but that they must be pleased and deceaved at once with these Generall Termes according to the best reformed Churches And with that limitation as neere as may be unto the Discipline and Government of Scotland Oh fy upon this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this fond Glozing and humouring of men in things of so sacred a nature But if it be so that they do not approve of it as it is well knowne they do not many of them with what conscience can they sweare to maintaine that in another Nation which they themselves in in their judgements disapprove and condemne as unlawfull and disagreable to the word of God Let our independent Brethren and others answere me this question If any say that the Discipline and Government of Scotland may be best for that Nation and yet not so convenient for ours I confesse it might so be that one kind of Discipline in some things or circumstances might fit one Nation and yet be inconvenient for another But away with these refuges Speake your consciences speake plainely and do not complement in Covenants Do you beleeve I meane all you independents Anabaptists c that have or shall be called to take this holy bond Do you all beleeve that the Scotch Discipline and Government is the best for that action or do you not beleeve it is in it selfe defective if not contrary to the word of God in your sense I am confident you cannot deny but you do With what conscience then could you if you have or can you if you have not enter into an oath to maintaine that Discipline and Government any where which your consciences perswade you is not the best not good not agreeable to the word and the will of God Is not this to pertake with other mens sinnes and to joyne with others against that which you call the Kingdome of Christ But here you may see the crafty dealing of these men that had the framing and contriving of this covenant They knew well enough with whom they had to do And whom they are to depend on for the pursuance of their designes The Scots on the one side much woed and Courted by them The various sectaries and disagreeing humorists on the other side These both must be pleased Though God be never so much displeased And therefore to satisfy the Scots and to draw them into this Covenant the Scottish discipline and government must be maintained in Scotland and all must sweare to that there though conscience deny it alas it is but to comply with their loving brethren and yet to leave roome for the fond and enterteining hopes of their severall Chimera's which the Sectaries here have dream't of They must be satisfied with more Generall termes here There shall be no particular Government or discipline set downe but according to the best Reformed Churches which the Anabaptist may still conceive to be for him the Brownist for him the Lutherane for him The Scottish for him yea and the Papist for him too were it not that they have dasht his hopes in another clause onely indeed to please the Scotts a little more as those from whom they looke for much benefit This reformation of England according to the best Reformed Churches must be framed as nere as may be to the Scots were it not so sad a businesse as it is sure a man would even laugh to see what is behind the Curtaine And yet this is the holy Covenant The last of all good covenants is the glory of God This you see palpably is to please and engage men The intermediate aime of a good Covenant should be the peace of Gods people This is like to breede no peace amongst them that take it since in that latitude which is allowed them they are like to finde roome enough when they have done slaughtering others to draw their swords upon one another in the asserting of their severall best reformations against one another And God helpe the poore Church of England if it must never have peace till they shall be agreed And indeed God helpe it howsoever But alas this is not all it is most cleare that the end of this covenant is so farre from peace that it is purposely undertaken for the maintenance of a most horrid civill warre and rebellion and for the engageing of a forraigne nation to helpe to butcher the poore people of this land So grosse and palpable an impiety and deceiving of the trust that the King and people placed in those that have the maine sway of the businesses That I wonder they should any longer doate upon so open and profeined a designe for their ruine an enterprise that if it should proceed would make the Authors and Contrivers of it infamous amongst the most barbarous Cannibals for exposing their owne Prince and people to be a prey to be devoured by an externall fire rather then they should any of them survive to see the defeate of their ambitious purposes Surely I can thinke upon no better a Motto for this bloudy Covenant and the designe that hangs upon it Then that verse of the Poet. Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo And yet they sweare too to discover all those that shall divide betweene the Prince and the people But does any man beleeve that they meane to accuse their owne fellow or to arrayne themselves at the barre of Justice I had like to have overseene one feature of this beutifull Covenant And that is one excellent and necessary limitation that they have annexed unto that part of the oath wherein they ty themselves to defend the person and authority of the King A man would thinke and reade no farther that some strange fit were come on them of being good Subjects to their Prince But they 'll be sure of a Gap to get out at there The Liberties of Subjects and Priviledges of Parliament must be absolutely and peremptorily maintained though with the Ruine of Religion and all not a syllable of limitation there But the Kings person and his authority must be maintained in preservation and defence of the true Religion and in the Liberties of the Kingdome not a word of the Law in the whole oath You may see by that how they meane to governe and what doe you thinke is the meaning of this Surely 't is no riddle that needs no O Edipus to interpret it 'T is too cleere the purpose is to leave the people at liberty to kill the Kings person and to trample on his authority whensoever they shall conceive that he opposeth that religion which they shall conceive to be true or that be intrencheth upon any the least liberty of the Subjects So that every errour in a Sectary may upon the point bring a Religious Kings life into question And every mistake in policy of the ignorant people or misinterpration of the Kings Actions by the malicious may for all this Covenant pull His Crowne off His head and let His royall bloud out of his heart too Oh what an excellent Provision is this and yet they will have the world to beare witnesse of their loyalty Here 's fuell for an eternall fire if it were possible of an everlasting succession of divisions and mischeifes betweene the King and the people Christianity teacheth us to submit unto Tyrants Yea unto heathens if in authority in respect of Gods ordinances but these men are wiser and holier then God they are not such fooles as the Apostles and Primitive Christistians to submit upon the meere command of Christ unto those that opprest them and sought their ruine But I pray God make us such fooles as they were The wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with God I had rather be a foole with Saint Paul then wise with the best of them I commend unto them the saying of Tertullian Sapiens Deo non eris nisi stultus saeculo fucris Much more might be said but I hope this may suffice And so these hasty observations I Commend unto the Reader for his caution and conversion upon these impressions that a single reading of this covenant left with mee with these two rules If thou art not snared keepe thy selfe free If thou hast taken an unlawfull Vow Thou hadst better breake it with David then keepe it with Herod Thy Corban will never salue thy disobedience to thy Common-father which is thy Prince and so I pray God direct all our hearts for the glory of his name and good of his Church and people And discover and defeate all contrary designes FINIS