the tracherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and excercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the * Distressed dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies we have now at last †After all the Supplications Remonstrances Protestations Sufferings of our Fathers and our own Grievous Sufferings and Contendings after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestation Suffering for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods People in other Nations ‡ After all the maturity of deliberation that our circumstances could allow after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a muâ—ual and Solemn 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 1. That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our several 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 in the 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 endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-goverment by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanness and whatsoever shall be found to be contraâ—y to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness 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 3. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdom And to preserve and defend * The Civil Magistrates Person and Authority the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdoms That the World may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intention to diminish his just power and greatness 4. We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing †Between the Magistrate and Subjects 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 publick trial and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And wherâ—as the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Pregenitors is by the good Providence of God granted unto and ‡ Was in the dayes of our Fathers concluded hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliamen's We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain ‡ As they were then conjoyned in a firm Peace Union to all Posterity and that Justice may be done upon the wilful Opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article 6. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms 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 Perswasion or Terrour to be divided 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 neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the Glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and honour †Of the Government 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 our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal 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 Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Jesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distress and dangers the fruits thereof We profess and declare before God and the World our unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel 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 walk worthy of him in our Lives which are the causes of other sins 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 charge both in publick and in private in all duties we ow 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 may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms 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 perform 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 bless our desires and proceedings with such success as may be a deliverance and safety to his People and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or
People at Lauerk before their discomfiture at Peniland-hills And perceiving that this Duty when gone about out of Conscience hath very often been attended with a reviving out of troubles and with a Blessing and Success from Heaven We do humbly and sincerely as in His sight who is the searcher of hearts Acknowledge the many sins and great transgressions of the Land We have done wickedly our Kings our Princes our Nobles our Judges our Officers our Teachers and our People Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly spoken unto us we have not hearkned unto His voice Albeit He hath followed us with tender mercies we have not been allured to wait upon Him and walk in His way And thô He hath stricken us yet we have not grieved Nay thô He hath consumed us we have refused to receive correction We have not remembred to render unto the Lord according to His goodness and according to our Vows and Promises But have gone away backward by a continued course of backsliding And have most sinfully and shamefully broken the National Covenant and all the Articles of the Solemn League and Covenant which our Fathers swore before God Angels and Men. Albeit there be in the Land some of all ranks who be for a Testimony to the Truth and for a name of Joy and Praise unto the Lord by living Godly studying to keep their Garments pure and being stedfast in the Covenant and Cause of God Yet we have reason to acknowledge that most of us have not endeavoured with that reality sincerity and constancy that did become us to preserve the work of Reformation in the Kirk of Scotland As we are obliged by the 1. Article of the Solemn League and Covenant and by the National Covenant wherein we Promise and Swear by the Great Name of the Lord our God that we shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our Vocation and Power all the dayes of our Lives under the pains contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of Gods fearful Judgement And resist all contrary Errors and Corruptions according to our Vocations and the uttermost of that power GOD hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life According to these Scriptures Ezra 9.10 Isa 24.5 Jer. 9.13 Dan. 7 25. Gal. 5.1 1 Tim. 4.16 2 Tim. 1 13. Rev. 3.10 11. But we have been so far from such endeavours that we have stupidly submmitted to our Rulers and great Ones breaking down and overturning the whole Work of Reformation razâ—ng the Bulwarks thereof rescinding the Laws in favours of the same and not only breaking but burning the Covenants for preserving it enacting the Breaches thereof and declaring the Obligation thereof void and criminal to be owned And upon the ruines thereof settieg up abjured Diocesan Errastian Prelacy with its concomitant bondage of Patronages a Blasphemous Sacrilegious Supremacy and Arbitrary Power in the Magistrate over Church and State. We made little conscience of constant endeavours to preserve the Reformation when we did not in season testifie against those audacious and Heaven-daring Attempts When our Ministers were by a wicked Edict ejected from their Charges both they and the people too easily complyed with it And albeit in the National Covenant we are obliged to defend this Reformation and to labour by all means lawful to recover the Purity and Liberty of the Gospel by forbearing the practises of all Novations introduced in the Worship of GOD or approbation of the Corruptions of the Publick Government of the Kirk Yet we gave all the approbation required by Law of the Novation and corruption of Prelacy by hearing the Prelatick Curates We and our Teachers in a great measure complyed with submitted unto and connived at the encroachments of the Supremacy and Absolute Power both in Accepting and Countenancing the former Indulgences and the late Tolleration We have taken and subscribed Oaths and Bonds all which have been imposed these Twenty Eight years for pressing Conformity with the present Establishments of Church and State have been contrary unto the Reformation we swore to preserve Some of them restraining us from all endeavours to preserve it as those that renounced the Priviledge of Defensive Arms Some of them Abjuring the Covenants expresly and condemning the prosecution of the ends of them as Rebellion viz. The Declaration and Test We have Issachar-like couched under all burdens in maintaining and defending an Arbitrary Power and Absolute Tyranny wholly imployed and applied for the destruction of the Reformation and paying such Subsidies and Supplies as were declaredly imposed for upholding of Tyrants Usurpations and suppressing all endeavours to preserve the Reformation We have not constantly endeavoured to maintain the Doctrine of this Reformed Church Many of our Ministers have in sinful silence succeased from bearing witness to some persecuted Truths and from applying their Doctrine to the sins and corruptions of the Times Whereby many of the People have been overcome with snares and left to seek and maintain other Principles to justifie their practices of complyance or extravagance on the right and left hand not consistent with the Doctrines and Rules of the Church of Scotland Others of us have been ignorant of the Doctrines not constant in confessing them before men when called to suffer for and avouch them Hypocritical in professing them without a suitable practice and conversation becoming the Gospel Cause and Cross of Christ And studying more the Controverted than the Fundamental and Practical Truths of Christianity We have come short in Real Sincere and constant endeavours to preserve the Worship of GOD Publick and Private Many of our Ministers have left off Preaching and the People hearing in times of hazard We have been negligent and remiss in Family-Worship And in stead of preserving it many of us have done much to discourage and hinder it in some Families And in secret Worship we have been Formal and careless Many have satisfyed themselves with the Purity of the Ordinances neglecting the Power thereof yea some have turned aside to crooked wayes destructive to both We have not been careful to preserve the Discipline and Government Church Censures being laid aside and not impartially exercised against Scandals Personal and publick Scandalous persons heing admitted to hold up their Children to Baptism and to the Communion of the LORDS Table and other priviledges of the Church without respect to the Rules of Christ or constitution of this Church And many of us have been untender in giving in taking and removing Offences without observing the Rules and Order of Christ And some inclining sometimes to wayes tending either to the dissolution of all Discipline or Usurpation of an Independent or Popular way of exercising it And whereas in the same first Article of the Solemn League we are bound to endeavour the promoting and propagating of the Reformation and Vniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church
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
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
turning awaâ— from the Lord serving the gods of the Nations having among them Root bearing Gall and Worm wood who might bless themselves iâ— their presumption of Impunity notwithstanding the threatned curse Buâ— much more in after Generations they that never dwelt in thâ— Land of Egypt and never saw the plagues punishing that Lands wickedness but afterward might see the abominations and the Dungy gods as iâ— is in the Hebrew of other Nations were in hazard of that defection anâ— presumption when the Covenant might be worn antiquated out of daâ— and mind which might encourage them much more than at that timâ— when it was in every Bodies mouth and memory to say I shall have peaâ— thô I walk in the imagination of mine heart 2. The threatned punishmenâ— of the breach of this Covenant was perpetual The Lords anger and jealousie shall smok against Covenant-breakers all the Curses written shall lyâ— upon them their names shall be blotted out from under Heaven verâ— 20. He shall separate them unto evil vers 21. Not only in that agâ— wherein the Covenant was Renewed but the Generation to come oâ— their Children that should rise up after them shall observe the punishment of the Posterity when they shall have forsaken the Covenant oâ— the Lord God of their Fathers and the Lord shall have rooted theâ— out of their Land for the same vers 22. to 28. which was not accomplished till many Centuries afterwards Quest 14 Quer. If the Obligation of National Covenants where the matter iâ— lawful he perpetual and binding upon Posterity Answ If any Engagements can be supposed binding to Posterity certainly Nationaâ— Covenants to keep the Commandments of God and to adhere to his institutions must be of that nature It cannot be denyed that several Obligations do bind Posterity Publick Promises with annexation of curseâ— to the breakers make the Posterity obnoxious as well as those who personally came under the Engagement Neb 5 12 13 That promise of the Jewish Nobles and Rulers would have brought their Posterity under the Curse if they had exacted usury of their Bretheren as Joshua's Adjuration did oblige all posterity never to build Jericho Josh 6.26 and the breach of it did bring the Curse upon Hiel the Bethelite in the dayes of Ahab Publick Vowes do bind Posterity Jacobs Vow Gen. 28.21 did oblige all his posterity virtually comprehended in him Hos 12.4 The Rechabites found themselves obliged to observe the Vow of their Fore-father Jonadab Jer. 35.6.14 Publick Oaths do oblige posterity Joseph took an Oath of the Children of Israel to carry up his Bones to Canaan Gen. 50.25 which did oblige the posterity some hundreds of years after Exod. 13.19 Josh 24.32 National Covenants with Men before God do oblige posterity as Israels Covenant with the Gibeonites Josh 9.15.19 for the breach whereof many Ages after the posterity was plagued 2 Sam. 21.1 So Zedekiah's Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. 17.18 19. Especially National Covenants with God before Men about things Moral Objectively obliging are Perpetual Jer. 50.5 And yet more especially as Grotius observes when they are of an Hereditary nature that is when the subjeâ—t is permanent the matter Moral the end Good and in the form of them there is a Clause expressing their perpetuity All which Ingredients of perpetual Obligations are clear in Scotlands Covenants Which are National Promises adjuring all the Members of the Scottish Church under a Curse to preserve and promote Reformation according to the Word of God and to extirpate what is in Doctrine Worship Discipline or Government opposite thereto National Vowes devoting the then engaging and suceeding Generations to be the Lords people and to walk in His wayes National Oaths solemnly sworn by all Ranks with hands lifted up to the Most High GOD never to admit of Innovations or submit to Usurpations contradictory to the Word of God National Covenants wherein the King Parliament and People did Covenant with each other to perform their repective duties in their â—everal places and stations inviolably to preserve Religion and Liberty Yea National Lawes solemnly ratified by King and Parliament and made the foundation of the Peoples Compact with the King at his Inauguration And Finally they are National Covenants with God as party contracting to keep and do the Words of His Covenant The subject or parties contracting are permanent as long therefore as Scotland is Scotâ—and and God is Unchangeable who hath given His revealed Will for the Rule of Mans Obedience Scotlands Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government must be endeavoured to be preserved in a conformity to it The Matter of them is morall containing nothing but what is antecedently and eternally binding albeit there had neveâ— been a formal Covenant The Ends of them perpetually good to wit For defence of the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in thâ— Confession of Faith and which had been for many years with a blessing from Heaven preached and professed in this Kirk and Kingdom as Gods undoubted Truth grounded only upon His written Word And for maintaining the Kings Majestie his Person and Estate c. Having before our eyes the Glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of thâ— Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peacâ— of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included And in thâ— very Forme of them there are Clauses expressing their perpetuity Aâ— in that Article of the National Covenant subscribed anno 1638 there aâ— these words Being convinced in our minds and confessing with our mouths thâ— the present and succeeding Generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaâ— National Oath and Subscription inviolable In the Solemn League these Art. 〈◊〉 That we and our posterity after us may as bretheren live in Faith and Love and tâ— Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us Art. 5. We shall endeavour that thâ— may remain conjoined in a firm Peace and Vnion to all posterity IV. Next from vers 16. to 20. This faithful Watch-maâ— warns Vers 16.17 that and all Generations of the danger of breach 〈◊〉 Covenant Shewing First The Inductives to this sin exposing peopâ—â— to the danger of it and involving them in the guilt of it before he laâ— before them what shall be the punishment of it Quest 15 If it be enquired then What are the chief Temptatioâ— inducing to this sin of Covenant-breaking Here it is Answered Dwelling among and converse with a People of a false Religion 〈◊〉 ye know how ye have dwelt in the Land of Egypt and ye have seen their aboâ— nations c. as it is noted in a Parenthesis v. 16 17. This induces boâ— Persons Families and Tribes vers 18. and in this order first Person then Families then Tribes to symbolize with them in perjury Peopâ—â— are more readily seduced to sin by the perverse example of these thâ— live among
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
shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our Vocation and Power all the dayes of our lives under the pains contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of Gods fearful Judgement And seing that many are stirred up by Satan and that Roman Antichrist to promise swear subscribe and for a time use the Holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully against their own Consciences minding thereby first under the external Cloak of Religion to corrupt and subvert secretly Gods true Religion within the Kirk and afterward when time may serve to become open Enemies and Persecutors of the same under vain hope of the Popes Dispensation devised against the Word of God to his greater confusion and their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus We therefore willing to take away all suspicion of Hypocrisie and of such double dealing with God and His Kirk Protest and call The Searcher of all hearts for witness that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this Our Confession Promise Oath and Subscription so that We are not moved for any worldly respect but are perswaded only in Our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion printed in Our Hearts by the Holy Spirit as we shall answer to Him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceive that the quietness and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of * The lawfully established Suprem Magistrat the Kings Majesty as upon a comfortable Instrument of Gods Mercy granted to this Country for the maintaining of this Kirk and ministration of Justice amongst us we protest and promise with our Hearts under the same Oath Hand-writ and Pains that we shall defend his Person and Authority with our goods bodies and lives in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Countrey ministration of Justice and punishment of Iniquity against all Enemies within this Realm or without as we desire our God to be a strong and merciful Defender to us in the day of our death and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory Eternally Like as many Acts of Parliament not only in general do abrogate annul and rescind all Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons civil or municipal with all other Ordinances and practick Penalties whatsoever made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professors thereof Or of the true Kirk discipline Jurisdiction and Freedom thereof Or in favours of Idolatry and Superstition Or of the Papistical Kirk As Act. 3. Act. 13. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12 of King James the sixth That Papistry and Superstition may be utterly suppressed according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament repeated in the 5. Act. Parl. 20. King James 6th And to that end they ordain all Priests to be punished by manifold Civil and Ecclesiastical pains as Adversaries to Gods true Religion preached and by Law established within this Realm Act 24. Parl. 11. King James 6th As common Enemies to all Christian Government Act 18. Parl. 16. King James 6th As Rebellers and Gain-standers of our Soveraign Lords Authority Act 47. Parl. 3. K. James 6. And as Idolaters Act 104. Parl. 7. King James 6. But also in particular by and attour the Confession of Faith do abolish and condemn the Popes Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land and orders the Maintainers thereof to be punished Act 2. Parl 1. Act 51. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act 114. Parl. 12. King James 6. Do condemn the Popes erroneous Doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian Religion publickly preached and by Law established in this Realm And ordains the spreaders and makers of Books or Libels or Letters or Writs of that nature to be punished Act 46. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. King James 6. Do condemn all Baptism conform to the Popes Kirk and the Idolatry of the Mass and ordains all Sayers wilful hearers and concealers of the Mass the mantainers and resetters of Priests Jesuits traffiquing Papists to be punished without any exception or restriction Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 120. Parl. 12. Act 164. Parl. 13. Act 193. Parl. 14. Act 1. Parl. 19. Act 5. Parl. 20. K. James 6. Do condemn all erroneous Books and Writes containing erroneous Doctrine against the Religion presently professed or maintaining superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papistical whereby the People are greatly abused and ordaines the home bringers of them to be punished Act 25 Parl 11 K. James 6 do condemn the monuments and dregs of by gone Idolatry as going to the Crâ—sses observing the Festival dayes of the Saints and such other superstitious and Papistical Rites to the dishonour of God contempt of true Religion and fostering of great errour among the People and ordains the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters Act 104 Parl 7 K James 6. Like as many Acts of Parliament are conceaved for maintenance of Gods true and Christian Religion and the purity thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God the liberty and freedom thereof in her National Synodal Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions Policy Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof as that purity of Religion and liberty of the Church was used professed exercised preached and confessed according to the Reformation of Religion in this Realm As for instance The 99 Act Parl 7 Act 23 Parl 11 Act 114 Parl 12 Act 160 Parl. 13. of King James 6. Ratified by the 4 Act of King Charles 1. So that the 6 Act Parl. 1. and 68 Act Parl. 6. of K. James 6. in the year of God 1579. Declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangel whom God of His Mercy had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and Administration of the Sacraments and the people that professed Christ as He was then offered in the Evangel and doth communicate with the Holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirks of this Realm they were publickly administrat according to the Confession of Faith to be the True and Holy Kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realm and decerns and declares all and sundry who either gain-sayes the Word of the Evangel received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith professed in Parliament in the year of God 1560. Specified also in the first Parliament of K. James 6. And ratified in this present Parliament more particularly do specifie or that refuses the administration of the Holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to be no Members of the said Kirk within this Realm and true Religion presently professed so long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christs Body And the subsequent Act 69. Parl. 6. of K. James 6. declares That
Government which as it was primarly understood so still we owne to be only Presbyterial Directory for Worship and Catechising According to Scripture Isa 19.18 Jer. 32.39 Zech. 14.9 Act. 2.46 1 Cor. 7.17 Phil. 3.16 Gal. 6.16 Yet as our Fathers had reason to complain that The profane loose and insolent Carriage of many in their Armies who went to the assistance of our Brethren in England and the tamperings and unstraight dealings of some Commissioners and others of our Nation in London the Isle of Wight and other places of that Kingdom had proved great Lets to the Work of Reformation and setling of Kirk Government there whereby Error and Schism in that Land had been encreased and Sectaries hardened in their way So much more in our day we are obliged to confess the Offensive Carriage and Conversation of many that have gone to England who have proven very stumbling to the Sectarians there And also the tamperings of others in patching up an Union and Communion with them without a Testimony against their way And on the other hand we have had little Zeal in our endeavours after such an Uniformity Little praying for it And little mourning for the obstructions of it Yea of late many have embraced a Toleration introductive of a Sectarian multiformity of Religions without so much as a Testimony against the Toleration of Popery it self In the II. Article We are bound without respect of persons to endeavour the extirpation of Popery conform to the National Covenant where we are bound to abhor and detest 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 Likeas many Acts of Parliament not only in general do abrogate all Laws Statutes and Constitutions made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professors thereof or of the true Kirk Discipline Jurisdiction and Freedom thereof or in favours of the Popish Idolatry and Superstition But in special do constitute enact ratifie and aprove many Penal Statutes against Papists Which are founded upon Divine Precepts and other Scriptures Exod. 23.32 33. Exod. 34.12 13. Deut. 13. throughout Judg. 2.2 Zech. 13.2.3 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Thess 2.3.12 Rev. 17.5 16. Rov 18.4 5 6. Yet alas We have been so defective in this that upon the contrate the Land hath been polluted again with Idolatrous Masses Alters and other Monuments have been suffered to be again erected Penal Statutes have been so far from being executed against Papists that they have been by Arbitrary and Absolute Power stopped suspended and disabled by the Toleration in its own nature tending and in its design intended to introduce Popery and Slavery Yet this hath been accepted and addressed for by many Ministers and countenanced complyed and concurred with by many People without a Testimony or endeavour to withstand it Yea the Administration of the Government greatest Offices of Power and Trust hath been committed to permitted to abide in the hands of Papists And the Head of them great Pillar Promoter of Popery James the 7th hath been owned as King contrary to the Laws of God and Man which incapacitate him And Covenant obligations without respect of persons to extirpate Papists And all of us have had too little Zeal or Indignation against or fear of the manifest appearances of the coming in of Popery and intended Establishment of it in the Land And little serious Wrestling for the ruine and fall of Babylon and that the Lord would divide and overturn the Builders and Supporters thereof Many on the contrary have prayed for Blessings to the Person and Government of a Papist on the Throne the chiefest Supporter of it in these Lands In like manner We were bound To endeavour the Extirpation of Prelacy that is Church Government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans Chapters Arch deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy As in the National Couenant to abhor and detest the Antichristian wicked Hierarchie and to forbear the practice of all Novations and approbation of the Corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk as being contrary to the Article of the forsaid Confession to the intention meaning of the blessed Reformers of Religion in this Land and to Acts of Parliament insert there and sensibly tending to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny to the subversion and ruine of the true reformed Religion of our Liberties Laws Estates Which Article concerning Prelacy being referred to the General Assembly was determined and declared Unlawful as being clearly condemned in the Word of God. Math. 20.25.26 Luk. 22.25 26. Act. 20.17.28 1 Pet. 5.3 3 Joh. 9. Yet we have been so far from paying these our Vows that Prelacy hath been by wicked Law established and in stead of Extirpation hath been submitted unto and complied with by us And in evidence thereof as it was required by wicked and Arbitrary Laws we heard and received Ordinances dispensed by the intruding Curats and payed them Stipends and Emoluments exacted for upholding that which we were bound to extirpate And not only so but many did bind and oblige themselves by Subscription Promise or Oath to be ordinary Church-members of the Prelatical Church And all of us even thô we did stand at a distance from and witnessed against that Faction yet we became very remiss in our Zeal and flack in our Prayers against Prelacy Instead of endeavours to extirpate Superstition and Heresie as we are bound by the same Article of the Solemn League and by the National Covenant to detest all Superstitions and Heresies without or against the Word of God and Doctrine of this reformed Kirk According to the Scriptures Deut. 12.30 31 32. Act. 17.22 Gal. 4.10 Gal. 5.20 Col 2.20 21 23. Tit. 3.10 Yet in the darkness of these times many dregs of Popish Superstition have been observed many Omens and Freets too much looked to Popish Festival-dayes as Pasch Yule Fastens-even c. have been kept by many And Prelatical Anniversary-dayes and Festivities devised of their own heart appointed for Commemorating the Kings Birth-dayes as May 29. and October 14. c. who were born as a Scourge to this Realm have been complyed with by many Yes some have superstiâ—iously made use of the Scriptures as a Fortune-book looking to that which was first cast up to them or to Impressions born in upon their minds from such and such parts of Scripture as Divine Responses wâ—th out a due search of them as the Lord hath commanded And many wavering and unstable have been seduced into damnable and pernicious Heresies as Quakers and delirious delusions of such as followed John Gibb All which have been Breaches of Covenant as well as Divine Commands Yet Heresies of all kinds have been Tolerated yea encouraged in our day without a witness against them from many Moreover we are bound in our Covenant to oppose extirpate Schism on the
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