Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A95881
|
A caveat for covenant-contemners and covenant-breakers.
|
Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652.
|
1647
(1647)
|
Wing V296; Thomason 669.f.11[97]; ESTC R210679
|
7,437
|
1
|
A Caveat for Covenant-Contemners and Covenant-Breakers The Sacred and Solemn League and Covenant mutually made and entred into by the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland for the Religious advancement of the glorious work of Reformation in the said three Kingdoms in Life Doctrine and Church-Government The Preface or Preamble to the Covenant WEE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdome 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 glorie of God and the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majesty and his posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdomes wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to mind 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 their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdome 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 means of supplication Remonstrance Protestations and sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruin 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 League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us with our hands lifted up to the most high God do swear The Covenant 1. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavor in our severall Places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrin Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes 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 endeavor to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest conjunction and uniformitie in Religion confession of Faith Form of Church Government Directorie 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 dwel in the midst of us 2 That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavor the Extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Profanness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrarie 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 in the three Kingdomes 3. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancie in our severall vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness 4. We shall also withall faithfulness endeavour the discoverie of all such as shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindring the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any faction or parties among the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publike tryall and receive condign punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreame judicatures of both kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes denyed in former times to our progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all posterity and that justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the present Articles 6. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty 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 perswasion or terrour to be divided or withdrawn from this blessed Union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or give our selves to a detestable indifferencie or Neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes 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 our selves to suppresse 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 7. And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Jesus 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 own sins and for the sins of this Kingdome 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 endeauoured to receive Christ into our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives and each one to go before another in the Example of a reall Reformation That the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavie indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdomes 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 blesse our desires and proceedings