Christian Doctrine and practical use of Saving Knowledge Directory for publick Worship Propositions concerning Church Government and Ordination of Ministers c. And other Writings clearing and confirming these Truths approven by this Church and agreeable with the Word of GOD. The advancing and promoving the power of this True Reformed Religion in our selves and others against all Ungodliness and Profanity And the securing and preserving the purity thereof against all Error Heresie and Schisme and namely Independency Anabaptisme Antinomianisme Arminianisme Socinianisme Familisme Libertinisme Scepticisme Quakerisme and Erastianisme shall be more studied and endeavoured by us And as we declare we willingly agree in our Consciences with this Doctrine of the Church of Scotland in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity grounded only upon His written Word So we resolve constantly to adhere unto and maintain and defend and profess and confess and when called of GOD to be willing to suffer for every point of the said Doctrine as we shal desire to be approven and confessed by Christ Jesus before God and His Holy Angels 2. We shall also study more sincerity uprightness and heart integrity in the Worship of God and not satisfy our selves with the forme of it without the Spirituality that the Object of it requires And shal endeavour to Recover and Preserve the Liberty and Purity thereof from all Corruptions Novations or Inventions of Men Popish Prelatical Erastian or any other And if we cannot get these Corruptions Reformed and removed we shal study to keep our selves free of Communion and Participation with the same 3. We shall likewise by all Lawful means endeavour the Recovery and Re-establishment of Presbyterial Government which is the only order of Christs House of Divine Institution and seek to have it Redintegrated in all its parts Priviledges and Courts of Kirk Sessions Presbytries Synods and General Assemblies And that the true Discipline of the same Church may be impartially Exercised Both which we shall endeavour to Preserve aginst all that seek to Subvert and Pervert the same And when Restored and Recovered in its freedom and integrity shall Cordially submit unto the same as becomes the Flock of Christ 4. In like manner the carrying on the Work of Uniformity in the three Kingdoms shall be desired designed prayed for studied and endeavoured by us by Remonstrances Supplications Admonitions Testimonies and all other means possible lawful expedient and competent unto us in our capacities and that before all Worldly Interests whether concerning the Magistrate or our selves or any other whatsomever According to the Second Article 1. We shall do our outmost endeavours to have the Land purged of Popish Idolatry the Monuments thereof destroyed and so far as lies in our power shall never suffer the same to be reintroduced or errected again But shall endeavour to have the Penal Statutes against Papists of late stopped and suspended by the Tolleration revived left in full force and duely put in execution against those Enemies of Religion and all good Government 2. We shal Endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy by all approven means according to our Capacities and Vocations And in order thereto we shall never submit to that Prelatical Hierarchy of Arch-bishops Bishops c. having power of Order or Jurisdiction over preaching Presbyters whether Erastian or only Diocesan in any form or degree howsoever Reformed accommodated restricted or limited by Cautions or provisions of Men Since frequent and fatal experience hath taught this Church that they cannot be kept long within banks or bounds And the Word of GOD hath condemned that Office and Subordination it self in any degree We shall also by all lawful and legal means seek the removing of their substitute Curats depending on them from the Parish-Churches on which they have intruded And shall never submit to the Ministry of hear or receive Ordinances from nor pay any Stipends unto any Man that enters into the Cure of any Perish at the door of the Bishops Collation or Patrons Presentation 3. Because many have of late laboured to supplant the Liberties of the Kirk and have in a great measure obtained their design by the late Indulgences and Toleration We shall refuse withstand and witness against all such Encroachments on the Liberties of this Church in all times coming And shal withdraw our selves from CoÌ„munion with any such Meetings or Congregations that hold their freedom from and are modified by such Usurpations Purposing and promising to use all endeavours to have a settled Ministry according to Christs Institution without any dependence on subordination unto or homologation of an Ecclesiastick Erastian usurped supremacy in the Civil Magistrate Furthermore we shal strive to recover when recovered Maintain and Defend the Kirk of Scotland in all her Liberties and Priviledges according to our power against all who shall oppose or undermine the same or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsomever 4. And as on the one hand we here enter into Vowes to detest and abhor all Superstition Heresie and Profaneness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to found Doctrine and the power of Godliness and to keep our selves so far as we can from all partaking in other Mens sins by consent unto assâ—ciation incorporation combination communion complyance with or conniving at their siâ—s So We resolve in the Lords strengâ—h to guard against all Schisme and sinful Separation or unjust rash and disorderly withdrawing from Congregations Societies or Families or any part of the Communion of the true Reformed Covenanted Church of Scotland holding purely and intirely the Doctrine Worship Dâ—scipline and Government of the same in Principle and Exercise according to the Rules of Christ and standing Acts and Constitutions of this Church And that we shall neither gather nor set up formed separate Churches or Societies under other Ordinances Government or Ministry distinct from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Nor withdraw from Minister or Member of that Body for any offence in any case where either the offence may be legally removed without our withdrawing Or cannot be instructed to be condemned by the Word of God or the Constitutions of this Church Or is in it self an insufficient ground of withdrawing Or a thing to be condescended upon forborn or forgiven But shall study to maintain Union and Communion in Truth and Duty with all the Ministers and Members of the said Church that do and in so far as they do follow the Institutions of Christ According to the Third Article 1. We shall endeavour with all sincerity reality and constancy according to our Vocations and Capacities by all possible lawful means to seek the removal of those things that corrupt prelimite or preclude the right constitution of Parliaments and other Judicatories The rescinding and taking away of these wicked Acts and Oaths that give entrance unto the Enemies of the Reformation to sit there as Members and exclude those that are honest and well affected to the Covenant and Cause of GOD. And
Form so far as it could serve the time and the Engagements thereof quadrate with their capacities are not to be rashly condemned for their Renewing old Vows which were and in so far only as they were before and then and are alwayes binding Yea rather it were suitable and seasonable for the Representatives who can easily mend what was not within their sphere to do in stead of despising the meanness of that party and carping at the imperfections of that action to imitate their Zeal in Renewing these National Engagements with solemn Acknowledgements of the Breaches thereof in a Form that will better please them This would be a notable mean of turning away the Lords fierce Wrath from the Nation 2 Chron. 29.10 Hereby Reformation in Church and State might be promoted and preserved Order and Union in the Church which hath been long wanting might be settled and established Former Defections might be honestly and honourably removed and remedied Future Innovations and Corruptions Schismes and Dâ—sorders might be prevented and precluded And all Malignant Enemies of Reformation might be by this Test discovered and excluded from all Trust in Church or State and capacity to do either hurt Yet without any constraint or restraint upon any Mans true liberty How pleasant and acceptable both to God and Man would it be as it may be hoped it will be when the Lords people in these Lands now sore and long scattered and divided shall return going and weeping seeking the Lord their God and asking the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward That at least the Owners Lovers of Reformation were saying Come and let us joyn our selves unto the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten THE NATIONAL COVENANT OR The Confession of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and his Houshold in the year 1580. Thereafter by Persons of all ranks in the year 1581. By Ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Council and Acts of the General Assembly Subssribed again by all sorts of Persons in the year 1590. By a new Ordinance of Council at the desire of the General Assembly With a general Band for maintainance of the true Religion and the Kings Person And subscribed in the year 1638. By the Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons then undersubscribing Together with their resolution and promises for the causes after specified To maintain the said true Religion and the Kings Majesty according to the Confession foresaid and Act of Parliament And thereafter upon the Supplication of the General Assembly to His Majesties high Commissioner and the Lords of his Majesties Honourable Privy Council subscribed again in the Year 1639. by Ordinance of Council and Act of General Assembly And now again by Vs this present Year 1689. Acknowledging the publick breaches thereof and engaging to the Duties contained therein with Accommodation to our Case and Time. WE All and every one of Us underwritten Protest that after long and due Examination of our own Consciences in matters of true and false Religion We are now throughly resolved of the Truth by the Word and Spirit of God and therefore we believe with our hearts confess with our mouths subscribe with our hands and constantly affirm bef re God aâ—d the whole World that this only is the true Christian Faith anâ— Relâ—gion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to Man which now is by the Mercy of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the Blessed Evangel and received believed and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realms but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland * and sometimes by the Kings Majesty and Three Estates of this Realme as Gods eternal Truth and only ground of our Salvation As more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our Faith stablished and publickly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament and now of a long time hath been openly professed by the Kings Majesty and whole body of this Realm both in Burgh and Land. To the which Confession and Form of Religion We willingly agree in our Consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth anâ— Verity grounded only upon his written Word And therefore we abhore and detest all contrary Religion and Doctrine But chieflly all kind of Papistry in general and particular heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland But in special We detest and refuse the usurped Authority of that Roman Anti-câ—rist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk the Civil Magistrate and Conscience of Men all his Tyrannous Laws made upon indifferent things against our Christian Liberty his erroneous Doctrine against the sufficiency of the written Word the perfection of the Law the Offices of Christ and His blessed Evangel His corrupted Doctrine concerning Original Sin our natural Inability and Rebellion to Gods Law our Justification by Faith only our imperfect Sanctification and Obedience to the Law the Nature Number and Use of the Holy Sacraments His five bastard Sacraments with all his Riâ—es Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God. His cruel judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament His absolute necessity of Baptism his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or Real presence of Christ's Body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or Bodies of Men. His Dispensations with solemn Oaths Perjuries and degrees of Marriage forbidden in the Word his cruelty against the Innocent divorced his devillish Mass his blasphemous Priest-hood profane Sacrifice for the Sin of the Dead and the Quick his Canonization of Men calling upon Angels or Saints departed worshipping of Imagery Relicks and Crosses dedicating of Kirks Altars Dayes Vowes to Creatures his Purgatory Prayers for the Dead praying or speaking in a strange Language with his Processions and blasphemous Litany and multitude of Advocates or Mediators his manifold Orders auricular Confession his desperate and uncertain Repentance his general and doubtsome Faith his satisfactions of Men for their sins his Justification by Works opus operatum Works of Supererogation Merits Pardons Peregrinations and Stations his Holy Water baptising of Bells conjuring of Spirits Crossing Saning Anointing Conjuring hallawing of Gods good Creatures with the superstitious opinion joyned therewith his worldly Monarchy and wicked Hierarchy his three solemn Vowes with all his Shavellings of sundry sorts his Erroneous Bloody Decrees made at Trent with all the Subscribers and Approvers of that cruel bloody Band conjured against the Kirk of God And Finally we detest all his vain Allegories Rites Signes and Traditions brought into the Kirk without or against the Word of God and Doctrine of this true reformed Kirk to the which we joyn our selves willingly in Doctrine Faith Religion Discipline and use of the Holy Sacraments as lively Members of the same in Christ our Head Promising and Swearing by the Great Name of the Lord our God that we
one hand as well as Defection on the other The Scripâ—ure makes this a great sin Rom. 16.17 1 Cor. 11.18 1 Cor. 12.25 Heb. 12.25 Jud. v. 19. Yet as many by defection both in complyance with Prelacy and Erastianism have broken the Churches Beauty and Bands Order and Union in making a Faction repugnant to her established Order and Censurable by all her standing Acts in bringing in Novations in the Government and making a rent in the Bowels of the Church by causing Divisions and Offences contrare to the Doctrine of the Church have made themselves guilty of Schism So others on the other hand have upon slender and insufficient grounds separate both from * Meaning such Ministers as were most faithful and zealous preached in the Fields and were not chargeable with Defection and Complyance with Enemies From whom some separate as John Gibb and others Ministers from Christian Societies and Families because of differences in judgement in incident debates not necessary nor material nor wherein the Testimony of Christ was much concerned or because of personal Offences easily removed Not observing the Rules of Christ for removing them nor having respect to His great Commands of Charity Forbearance Forgiving one another or Condescendency And between divided parties which in our day have long been byting and devouring one another there hath been too much both of sinful Union and Consederacy in termes ptejudicial to Truth and Duty on the one hand and of sinful heats Animosities Jealousies Pride Passion and Prejudices on the other hand grieving the Spirit of GOD and eating up the Power and much hindering the holy Practice and Spiritual Exercise of Religion And too much also of sowing discords among Brethren and promoting our contentions by too credulous and sedulous taking up spreading reports and reproaches one of another What shall we say We have been so far from endeavouring the extirpation of Profanness another evil engaged against in the Covenant and condemned in the Word of God Deut. 29 19. Job 21.14 Jer 23 15 Ezek 22 26. Hos 4.1 2 3. Heb. 12.15.16 that Profanity hath been much winked at and profane persons much countenanced and many times employed until Iniquity Ungodliness hath gone over the face of the Land as a flood Nay sufficient care hath not been had to separate betwixt the precious and the vile by debarring from the Sacrament all ignorant and scandalous persons according to the Ordinances of this Kirk And hence it hath come to pass that Profanity beginning at the Court and corrupt Clergy and descending from them like a flood hath overspread the whole Land So that the greatest part by far may rather be called Children of Sodom then of a land solemnly in Covenant with GOD And so far have we been from rooting out whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness lest we partake of other mens sins and be in danger to receive of their plagues that we have maintained much unsound Doctrine in the Arguments which we used for defence of our courses of complyance with Prelacy and Erastianâ—sm and walking willingly after the Commandments of Men And those among others unsound Notions have been intertained among us That lesser and circumstantial Truths are not to be suffered for That confession of these Truths hath not been called for in our day That People are not in hazard of the sins of others especially Magistrates and Ministers if they do not directly Act the same sins themselves contrary to express and plain Scriptures 2 Sam. 21.1 2 Sam. 24.17 2 Kings 21.11 12. Lev. 10.6 Isai 43.27 28 Jer 14.15 16. Micah 3.11 12. Whence both Ministers and People have been involved in the sins of Prelacy Indulgence and Tolleration thinking these only the sins of Prelates and of Usurping Rulers while they yeelded all the Conformity with them submission to them and approbation of them that was required by wicked Laws On the other hand many of us have rested too much in Non-complyance with these and having a form of Godliness but neglecting the power thereof In the Third Article whereas we are bound in our several Vocations To endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Kingdoms meaning true real and righteous Priviledges and Liberties consonant to the Word of God Deut. 1.13 Deut. 16.16 Isa 1.26 Like as all Liedges are bound by the Laws of the Land insert in the National Covenant to maintain the Authority of Parliaments without which neither any Laws or lawful Judicatories can be established Yet as our Fathers sound reason to complain that neither had the Priviledges of the Parliaments and Liberties of the Subject been duely tendered but some amongst them had laboured to put into the hands of the King an Arbitrary and Unlimited Power destructive to both and many of them had been accessory to those means and wayes whereby the freedom and priviledges of Parliaments had been encroached upon and the Subjects oppressed in their Consciences Persons and Estates So in our day since this long tract of Tyranny began they have had rather the name and shew than the real Power and Priviledges of lawfull by constitute Parliaments since they advanced the Regal Prerogative to such a boundless pitch of Absoluteness Being so corrupted that faithful Men and honest and honourable Patriots have been excluded and those admitted for constituent Members that by the Law of GOD and Man should have been debarred And so prelimited that the Members behooved to take such Oaths for instance the Declaration and Test abjuring and condemning the Covenants as engaged them to be perjured and conjured Enemies both to our Religion and Liberty Which was sinfully complyed with both by the Electors of Parliament-Members and by the Elected Yet the body of the Land did not make conscience of endeavouring the recovery of these Rights and Priviledges so perverted and polluted Whence nothing could flow from these Fountains so poysoned but injustice and oppression And in stupid submission did own these for their Representatives who betrayed their Liberties and made Laws to enslave the Nation and entail Slaverie on the Posterity On the other hand we that disowned them did not mind the Duty of preserving these Rights and Priviledges of Supreme Judicatories when inadvertently and unadvisedly we put in such Expressions and Stiles in some of our Declarations that do not belong to private Persons but to such Judicatories Again the Subjects Liberties Civil and Religious both as Men and as Christians which the Scriptures allow we should preserve 1 Sam 14 45 Acts 22 25 Acts 25 11 16 27. Gal 5 1. have been miserably encroached on by Arbitrary Government whereby the Subjects have been oppressed in their Consciences Persons and Estates by all the Oaths and Bonds pressing Conformity wâ—th these Corâ—uptions Novations and Usurpations in the Government of Church and State And persecutions for Recusancy and by impositions on the Natural freedom of