by an Act of Assembly July 20. Sess 19. anno 1649. Debarring gross Complyers from the Covenant and Ordaining that none of those who were debarred should be admitted but such as after exact trial should be found for some Competent time before or after the offer of their Repentance to have in their ordinary Conversations given Testimony of their dislike of these Complyances And it is not to be forgotten when the Minister was enlarging on the sins of such as had voluntarly given in the same to him with their names in Write beforehand viz. some that had gone a great length in Sinful and Scandalous excesses with that Impostor John Gibb and many others who had been involved in several sad defections in the late defiling times as Hearing the Curats paying the Cess taking the Oath of Abjuration c. Offering and desiring to make publick Acknowledgment before the Congregation then in the Fields of these their publick sin Not only several others who had not given up their names rose up and openly declared that they were guilty of several steps of defection but also some declared their guilt of personal Scandals till at length the Minister was necessitate several times to crave forbearance the day being so far spent that after the Covenants were sworn the subscribing of them was hereby happily prevented untill night which was done in the Church The great out cry is against the Alterations and additions in this Renovation of the Covenants But as this objection is taken off by what is said above on Quest 4. from verse 1. So that Renovation of the National Covenant in the year 1638 With very large additions accommodate to the time is a precedent justifying any Alterations or Additions in the Covenant Renewed at Lesmabego which are only in these words of the Covenants that cannot suit the present times as is obvious from every Alteration marked only in the Margent without expunging the old words There are indeed many Additions in the Acknowledgment of sins and Engagement to duties which also were then Solemnly Renewed because these Late unhappy times of defection have produced many other sins than could be Confessed in that Acknowledgment Anno 1649. But the whole of the former is retained in a Large Character And the Additions subjoyned in a Lesser Character for distinction The same is done upon the same grounds in the Engagement to duties annexed In the former the sins of the time are acknowledged impartially without concealing any of their own so far as they had light no more than the sins of any other party In the Latter the duties of the Covenant are particularly and plainly engaged into according to their Conscience of them even those that are or have been Controverted That if others may not hereby be excited to consider them Yet themselves might come to and intertain a determined sense of them and not halt between two opinions And to the end the Material and Moral obligation of the Covenants may be considered and discovered to wit that the duties thereof are antecedently Commanded and the sins thereof antecedently forbidden thô there had been no superadded Covenant Therefore in the Acknowledgment of sins according to the Order of the Articles of the Covenant which are there repeated the Scriptures confirming every Article and Clause thereof are annexed Finally The Objection which is most commonly insisted on and seems to have most weight is That thô it were tolerable to Renew the National Covenant Yet for a party in Scotland to renew the Solemn League and Covenant with England is folly and presumption without their concurrence and consent a League without Colleagues being absurd and ridiculous Ans This indeed were a very thorny point if it were pleaded or pretended that the Solemn League and Covenant was or is to be Renewed either by a party or the whole body of Scotland in the present circumstances under the same and adequate formality consideration and extent of Association and Confederation with England or Ireland as it was at its first framing that is as a League Offensive and Defensive with the Collective body of these Kingdoms and the Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in Scotland England and Ireland For that would involve in an Association with the Prelatical and Malignant party In regard of which as the case now stands it were very hard to Renew that League for Religion between these Nations albeit their concurrence and consent were obtained for fear of a sinful Association so much Condemned in Scripture except they were more Reformed and better disposed for Reformation and except the things to be Reformed in both were more particularly expressed with accommodation to the several câ—rruptions of these times that were not known and could not be foreseen at the first making of the Solemn League and Covenant But it is not absuâ—d that the whole Nation or even a party in it renew That Holy Engagement as it is a Covenant with God wherein He is respected not only as witness but Party Contracting or with whom they Contract and to whom they vow obedienee Wherein also they oblige themselves to nothing either with reference to God or Man or those that sometimes were Colleagues now broken off from the League but what they are bound to antecedently if there had never been any such Covenant or League or Colleagues And if it be Considered as a League or Association It is Renewed not in the same extent as formerly but only with those that did then renew it or with all that owne it in Scotland England or Ireland Upon this Consideration these words in the begining of the Solemn League and Covenant expressing the several ranks and the extent of the Covenanters were not read at the Renewing of it at Lesmabego Because they owned themselves to be under a League with none but such as owned the Covenanted Reformation Nor is it altogether unprecedented that a Nation Renewing the Covenant from which their Colleagues have receded The Renovation of it in Scotland anno 1649. was after the prevailing power of England did resile from their Engagements thô some did then as to this day a few do adhere to them All the Tribes of Israel were once in Covenant together The revolt of the Ten Tribes did not hinder the Godly in Judah to renew it in the dayes of Asa Hezekiah Josiah nor did it preclude a smal party of Ephraim Manasseh c. to take part in it 2 Chron. 15.9 12. But thô there might be some informality or inconveniency in keeping the old Form of the Solemn League with such alterations only annoted on the Margent as might make it accommodable to the present time And perhaps it had been more suitable to frame it altogether in a New Form if the Representatives of Church and State had concurred Yet that party at Lesmahego not daring to take so much upon them and therefore adhering to both Matter and
how early Hâ— planted a Church in this Land how purely He purged it with whaâ— purity of Râ—formation and unity of Profession He beautified it witâ— what excelleâ—t Priviledges He honoured it especially in bringing it under the Bond of Solemn Covenants whereby its Name became Beulaâ— and Hephzihah and what excellent Testimonies for CHRIST's Prerogatives as King and His Kingdoms Libâ—rties He did concredit to it to contend for Our eyes also and our Fathers have seen great Temptations in Providences whence we might have learned great experiencâ— of the Lords Wisdom and our folly Alwayes when we were at the lowest extremity disspairing in our selves then He appeared in Mercy Aâ—wayes when we thought our selves strongeâ—t and were most consider in our selves then we were confounded The Lords Temptations tâ— try us have been manifold and our Tentations to provoke Him havâ— been as multifarious The Signs and Miracles in the conduct of His Providencâ—s in this day of Tentation have been observable As Israel in the Wilderness so we have had our Mara's and our Massa's and Meriba's Taberahs a d Kâ—broth Hattaavahs at Pentland hills Bothwell bridge Airds-moss c. But above all the passages of Providence since the late Popish King mounted the Throne raiâ—ed up wonderfully for our scourge have beâ—n wonderful both for the manner of his Advancement and subsequent Emergencies After all â—he â—oâ—mer breakings two Parties in both Kingdoms appearing against him very seasonaâ—ly when it would have bâ—en thought all would have concurred and concerted the same Cause against Popery and Tyranny yet were broken And nothing was like to withstand his dâ—signs of introducing the blackest of Popery basest of Slavery at the opâ—ned Gap of the Tolleration had not a Forreign Prince in Zeal for Religion Pity to these Lands and in pursuit of his own Right interposed for â—ur rescue by a very prâ—pitious prâ—vidence which in a way as of Signs and Miracles hath given us this enlargement and reviving in ouâ— Boâ—dage Shall not therefore the Godly from these considerations be â—tâ—â—ted up both to Acknowledgements of Sins and new Engagements 2. The consideration of their Obduration Vers 4. Occecation and Obstinacy supine Stupidity and unanswerableness to these great Mâ—racles and Mercies foremâ—ntioned which they had neither gotten Heaâ—ts to perceive nor Eyes to observe verse 4. is both a Motive to their acknowledgement of Sins and to their engagement to covenanted Du ies As this is a sad truâ—h as suitably applicable to Scotland as to Israel so the coâ—sideration thereof should hâ—ve moved the Godly to renew their Acknowledgements and Covenâ—nts if yet they had gotten Hearts to perceive and Eyes to see c. Alas all the pains the Lord hath takâ—n on us to â—â—claim and reforme us have not profited us Priviledgâ—s have not prevailed with us Prosperity hath not allured us Adversity hath not awakeneâ— us to our duty and all the fruit and effect of the Word and Works of Gâ—d seems to have produced nothing but the judicial Plague of hearing indeâ—d but nâ—t understanding seeing indeed but not perceiving and making our heart fat c. Isa 6.9.10 Is it not time then we wâ—râ— considâ—ring our wayes and turning to the Lord and Covenanting with Him. 3. Vers 5.6 The consideration of the Lords gracious Conduct of â—hem in the Wilderness fourâ—y Years providing them with all necessaries for Food Cloathing thô in an extraordinary way wherein they might know the care and kindness of and their relation to thâ— Lord their God vers 5.6 is made use of as a Motive to induce them to Acknowledgement of their Sins and a new Engagement to the dutie of their Covenant Since our Covenants were renewed in Scotland witâ— a Solemn Acknowledgement of the Sins and Engagements to the dutie thereof the Lord hath led us full 40 Years through the wilderness oâ— the Sectarian Invasions and the Prelatick Erastian and Antichristian Usurpations Wherein thô we did not meet with Miracles yet truly wâ— have experienced Wonders of the Lords care and kindness and for alâ— the Harassings and Huntings Spoilings and Depredations of Persecuterâ— the poor Wilderness wanderers have looked as Meat-like and Cloath like as we use to say as others that sat at ease in their houses and dranâ— their Wine and their strong drink 4. The consideration of the glorious Victory obtained iâ— thâ—s place in the Land of Moab over the King of Heshboâ—â— and the King of Bashan who withstood their progress unto the Rest theâ— were seeking whose Lands fell unto the two Tribes and the half for aâ— Inheritance vers 7.8 Vers 7.8 is likewise adduced as an Argument to exciâ—â— them to this duty So in our day the Trophees of Triumph that thâ— late revolutions of Providence have erected to the Honour of our God and the advantage of the Covenanted Reformation in removing out oâ— the way two Kings that were withstanding its propagation and seekinâ— its destruction and in abolishing two wicked Establishments set up oâ— the ruines thereof viz. Tyranny in the State and Prelacy in the Church maâ— stir up all Lovers of Reformation to the same duty of Covenanting for its Restauration and Preservation 5. Finally he moves them to it vers 9. Vers 9. by a promise oâ— prosperity to ensue upon their keeping and doing this Covenant which now they were about to Renew Which he presses as nâ—cessary duty from all these Considerations Quest 6 It may be Questioned here What is it to keep the words of thâ— Covenant and do them Is any Man able to keep the Covenanâ— more than the Command And if not why is this further burden imposed are not the Commands themselves Bonds strict enough An. The Covenant is kepâ— and done 1. By a constant and suitable Profession of the duties thereoâ— keeping the way of the Lord. 2. By a tenacious Confession of the Testâ—monies thereof against all opposition never denying or forbearing thâ— asserting the obligation thereof nor turning aside therefrom to thâ— right hand or to the left Josh 23.6 keeping it without spot unrebukâ—able 1 Tim. 6.14 especially when it becomes the word of His Patience Rev. 3.10 3. By a mindful careful entertainment of it in the mind and memory never forgetting what we are bound to thereby 4. By a strict observance thereof in the practise in all manner of conversation Which is to be understood in the Gospel sense not absolutely but respectively with respect to our Nature now corrupt weak and perverse For though we be bound by the Law of God to be perfectly Holy yet our Covenants do not tye us to this perfection and this obligation is not from our Covenant but from the Law for our Covenants do not oblige to the victory over all sin but to wrestle for it not to the event but to the means which are in our power and therefore the People of God plead they had not broken Covenant Psal 44.17 thô they had sins and not to the
the Children of Israel in the Land of Moah beside the Covenant which he made with them in Horeb. Whence we may have ground for moving and solving several difficulties Quest 1 I. It may be doubted If Covenanting with GOD especially National be a necessary or expedient Duty approven in the Scriptures Ans The Lawfulness of Oaths Vows and Covenants to for or before GOD will be questioned by none but Quakers and other Enthusiasts or Fanaticks In the Old Test it is here evident the Lord Commanded to enter into this Covenant and Oath v. 1. and 12. And it is never Abrogate in the New Test except in ordinary Communications wherein it was condemned in the Old as well as in the New. And it is so far from being Abrogate that it is Confirmed by the Apostle saying A Mans Covenant once confirmed cannot be disanulled Gal. 3.15 And concerning even Promissory Oaths saying That an Oath for confirmation is an end of all strife Heb. 6.16 Nor can the expediency or the necessity of this Duty be doubted by any who considers the Commands enforcing it the usefulness that the Saints experienced in it for restraining from Sin for Aggravating it in their Humiliations from this consideration That they had Vowed and Covenanted to the contrary for stirting up to the Duties bound upon them by the Law and for encouraging themselves in the hâ—pe of Pardon for their Short-comings We must not think it is inconvenient to Vow or that it is indifferent to Vow or not Vow It is said indeed Eccles 5.5 Better it is that thou shouldest not Vow than that thou shouldest Vow and not pay But that does not make Vowing either Inconvenienâ— Inexpedient nor Indifferent or not good simply No more than the Apostles saying 2 Pet. 2.21 It had been better not to have known the way of Righteousness than after it is known to turn from it will make knowing the way of Righteousness to be either Inconvenient or Inexpâ—diâ—nt or not good simply For Vowing as well as Paying is expressly commanded Psal 76.11 And in some cases especially in necessary things Vowing and Breaking is better than not Vowing and yet Bâ—eaking the Law for the later is two Sins Omission in not Vowing and Commission in Breaking the former only the sin of Breaking the Vow as Mr Durham clears it at large on Command 3. Pag. 135.136 c. 2. As for National Vowing or Covenanting it is evidently approven in Scripture Precepts Promises and Practises Here is a Scripture Precept for it in the Old Test never Abrogated in the New. There are also Promises and these relating to the New Test times not only of Personal but of National Covenanting as Churches and Christian Societies Isa 19.18 21 23. to the end Jer. 50.4.5 Zech. 2.11 And as for Precedents we have very many of National Covenants made and renewed again and again for Preservation and Reformation of Religion Extirpation of false Worship maintaining their Laws Liberties and Government punishing and restraining the Wicked keeping the common Peace and mutual Defence against the common Enemies As here after that in Horeb Israels Covenant is solemnly Sworn under the Conduct of Moses And Renewed by Joshua Josh 24. By Asa 2 Chron. 15.13 14. Jehojadah 2 Kings 11.17 2 Chron. 23.16 Hezekiah 2 Chron. 29 10. Josiah 2 Kings 23.2 2 Chron. 34. Ezra chap. 10.3 Nehemiah chap 9. ult and 10.28 29. Yea alwayes in times of Humiliation and intended Reformation we find they fell about this Duty That the Lordâ— fierce Wrath might turn away 2 Chron. 29.10 To confirm Israels hope Ezrâ— 10.1 Nehem. 9. ult As also in the New Testament somewhat like this is hinted at 2 Cor. 8.5 Where the Churches of Macedonia gavâ— their own selves to the Lord and to the Apostles which at least implieâ— a Covenant Quest 2 II. It may be questioned What was the Nature of these Covenants at Horeb and of this in Moab and other National Covenantâ— in Scripture Was it a Covenant of Works or of Grace that was severaâ— times Renewed And do we stand bound to them as the Israelites them Ans These Covenants as to their Nature were neither the Covenanâ— of Works nor of Grace formally though matterially partaking oâ— both They have the same mutual contracting Parties GOD and Man thô here Man is to be considered not in his Abstract Singular Individual or personal Capacity But as a Member of a Community undertaking Vows The same obligations to all the duties of these forementioned Divine Covenants thô here they are to be takâ—n as Publick and National Duties in reference to Religion as a publick Interest The same sanctions and certifications of Blessings and Curses here to be understood aâ— Na ional With respect to the Matter of them in the Old Testament Dispensation they obliged to the observation of the whole Moral Judicial and Ceremonial Law of GOD as it was then calculate to the judaical Pâ—dagogie requiring indeed perfection legal accordding to the Tenor of the Covenant of Works but admitting Repentance and through Faith accepting Perfection Evangelical according to the Tenor of the Covenant of Grace And in the New Testament Dispensation they oblige to the same observance of the same Laws that are not abolished and of these Ceremonial Institutions of CHRIST that are substitute in the place of the former Pedagogical and Typical Ceremonies calculate to the Meridian of Gospel Light Purity and Simplicity With respect to the End in both Dispensations they had and have the same subserviency to the Covenant of Grace the same with the Law to restrain Sin to manifest it and to lead to CHRIST for Remission of it And with respect to the several sorts of People engaging under these Bonds they were to Believers according to the Tenor of the Covenant of Grace and to Unbelievers according to the Tenor of the Covenant of Works But as to their Form and Formality they were the Ecclesiastick and National Covenants of the visible Community of the Lords People engaging to be His and to keep His Wayes and Testimonies First Transacted Exod. 19.5 8. Exod. 24.7 8. Renewed here Deut. 29. and several times afterwards Quest 3 III. Another Question is Who may tender or impose it May it be without the Magistrate Here the Magistrate Moses is Authorized to make it But may it be done without him Or when it is so is the obligation of it Binding when the Magistrate or publick Father disalowes or discharges it The reason of the doubt is taken from Numb 30.3 5 8. Where it is said if a Woman in her Fathers house or Husbands vow a Vow unto the Lord and her Father or Husband disallow her not any of her Vows or Bonds wherewith she hath bound her Soul shall stand but shall be made of none effect Ans Justice and Order requires that whoever hath the greatest Influence upon or Authority over the Community should tender the Oath and it belongs indeed to Magistrates to enjoyn it but not so
in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny or to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant to the Glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Common-wealths These Covenants abovewritten formerly Nationally Taken and Renewed and still Nationally Binding We in our private Station only Swear and Subscribe in their genuine sense conform to the Explication and Application thereof in our present Acknowledgement of the publick Sins and Breaches of the same and Engagement to the Duties contained therein which do in a special way relate to the present times and are proper for our capacities therein A Solemn Acknowledgement of PUBLICK SINS AND BREACHES OF THE COVENANT AND A Solemn Engagement to all the DUTIES contained therein namely these which do in a more special way relate unto the dangers of these times Anno 1689. WE all and every one of us by the good hand of God upon us taking in serious consideration the many sad afflictions and deep distresses wherewith we have been exercised for a long time past And remembering that as the Land in the dayes of our Fathers was sore wasted with the Sword and the Pestilence and threatned with Famine for their Breaches of Covenant shortly after they first entered into it For which Shame Concempt was poured out from the Lord against many thousands of our Nation when they did in a sinful way make War upon the Kingdom of England in the year 1648. contrary to the Testimony of His Servants and desires of His People and the remnant of that Army returning to this Land spoiled oppresed many of the Faithful at that time And after our Fathers in their Solemn Acknowledgement of Sins and Engagement to Duties had confessed the guilt of that Malignant Association and obliged themselves for the future never any more to connive at comply with or countenance Malignancy Yet they joyned themselves again with the people of these abominations And upon terms destructive to the Nations and Churches Interest dishonourable to God and prejudicial to Posterity accepted their mock Repentance and admitted Malignants to places of Power and Trust And by a precipitant Treaty at Breda with the head of them Charles II. brought him over and made him King upon his mock-subscription of the Covenant notwithstanding he had given manifest discoveries of his Treachery and Enmity to Religion and Liberty in his Commissionating James Graham to invade this Kingdom in the mean time of the Treaty Whereby GOD was mocked his Church cheated and the State betrayed And then a woful defection and division was caused and carried on by the Promoters and Abetters of the Publick Resolutions who notwithstanding the Malignant Party was still numerous and retaining their former Principles waited for an opportunity to raise a new and dangerous War not only to the rending of the bowels of this Kingdom but unto the dividing them from England and overturning of the Work of God in all the three Kingdoms did yet intertain and encourage them in their Armies For which breaches of Covenant the anger of the LORD was evidently seen to smoke against the Land which after the Defeat at Dunbar and at Worcester was brought in subjection to the English for several years So in process of time calling to mind how the Malignants again recovering power and restored to the Government were suffered peaceably at their own pleasure and leasure to overturn the Glorious Work of our Covenanted Reformation and to cut down the carved work of the House of our GOD as it were with Axes and Hammers by rescinding all the Acts and Laws made in savours thereof and to reintroduce the abjured yokes of Anti-christian Prelacy Erastian Supremacy and Absolute Tyranny Which through our sinful and scandalous Complyance therewith have been so far advanced that there wanted little to the re-establishment of Popery it self in these Lands Having it also in recent memory what indignities have been done to our Covenants in not only breaking them and declaring them void and of no force enacting the breaches of them and abjuring of them but in burning them and making it a capital Crime to own them Which horrid violations and villanies have been generally complyed with or connived at without control For which we cannot but acknowledge and adore the Righteousness of the LORD in giving us up unto and suffering us long to houl under many miseries and calamities of grassant Tyranny Oppression Persecution and Murdering violence these Eight and Twenty years Whereby the Land hath been reduced almost to desolation And considering also that a cloud of calamities do still hang over our heads and threaten us with sad things to come we cannot but look upon these things as from the Lord who is righteous in all his wayes feeding us with the bread of tears and making us to drink the waters of affliction until we be taught to know how evil and bitter a thing it is to depart away from him by breaking the Oath and Covenant which we had made with Him and that we may be humbled before Him by confessing of our sin and forsaking the evil of our way Therefore being pressed with so great necessities and straits and warranted by the word of God and having the example of Gods People of old who in the time of their troubles and when they were to seek delivery and a right way for themselves that the Lord might be with them to prosper them did humble themselves before Him and make a free and particular confession of the sins of their Princes their Rulers their Captains their Priests and their People And did engage themselves to do no more so but to reform their wayes and be stedfast in His Covenant And remembring the practice of our Predecessors in the year 1596. wherein the General Assembly and all the Kirk Judicatories with the concurrence of many of the Nobility Gentry and Burgesses did with many tears acknowledge before God the breach of the National Covenant and engaged themselves into a Reformation even as our Predecessors and theirs had before done in the General Assembly and Convention of States in the year 1567. And the more recent practice of the Godly renewing the National Covenant and Acknowledging the breaches of it both befote they obtained Authority for it in the year 1638. And again by Authority in the year 1639. And that noble Precedent of that National Solemn Acknowledgement of Publick Sins and Breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant and Solemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therein which we are here enlarging condescended upon by the Commission of the General Assembly approven by the Committe of Estates and publickly owned in all the Churches at the renewing of the Solemn League anno 1648. and 1649. Together with the Solemn Renovation thereof accompanied with such confession of Sins as did suit that time yet fresh in our memories by that small Army of the LORDS
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
secret thoughts which no law of Man can reach yet in our day extorted by threatnings of Torture and Death if they were not discovered in Answers to our persecuters impertinent questions In all which impositions on our Liberties as men we have too stupidly couched under all burdens and complyed with them The Churches Liberties have also been invaded by the Ecclesiastical Supremacy declared by a Blasphemous Law inherent in the Crown and by an Absolute Power which all were required to obey without reserve which are horrid encroachments on the incommunicable Prerogatives of JEHOVAH and His CHRIST as only King and Head of His Church And yet these have been established and homologated by our several involvements in the sin of Prelacy and its attending Patronages robbing the Church of the Liberty of election of Pastors Indulgence and Tolleration to the prejudice of and without a Witness for the Churches Liberties In that same Article we are bound also to preserve and defend the supreme Magistrates Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms As in the National Covenant is expressed likewise to defend his Person and Authority in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Country Ministration of Justice and punishment of iniquity and stand to his defence in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom As the Duty is qualified in Scriptures 2 Sam 5 3 2 Kings 11 17 1 Kings 12 16 2 Chron 26 16 21 Rom 13 3 4 1 Pet 2 14. But as our Fathers in their acknowledgement had reason to say Neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might harden the King in his evil way But upon the Contrary he hath not only been permitted but many of us have been Instrumental to make him exercise his Power in many things tending to the prejudice of Religion and of the Covenant and of the Peace and Safety of these Kingdoms Which is so far from the right way of preserving his Majesties Person and Authority that it cannot but provoke the Lord against him unto the hazard of both Nay under a pretence of relieving and doing for the King whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the House of God some have ranversed and violated most of all the Articles of the Covenant So in our unhappy dayes it is our Sin Shame and Sorrow that we have had to do with men mounted on a Throne of iniquity that have been subverting Religion and Persecuting it designing to introduce Poperie it self and Slaverie Destroying our Liberties Suppressing the Evangel and Oppressing its Professors Enacting and Executing manifest Injustice stoping the Ministration of Justice against Idolaters Adulterers Murderers and other Malifactors and and punishing Equity and Duty instead of Iniquity arrogating and obtaining a Monstrous Prerogative above all Rights and Priviledges of Parliament all Laws all Liberties a power to Tyrannize as be lists without control But as it was our Fathers sin to inaugurate the late King after such discoveries of his Hypocritical emnity to Religion and Liberty upon his subscription of the Covenant So when he burnt and buried that Covenant and degenerate into manifest Tyrannie and had razed the very foundation upon which both his Right to govern and the Peoples Allegiance were founded and remitted the Subjects Allegiance by annulling the Bond of it We sinned in continuing still to own his Authority when opposite to and destructive of Religion and Liberty And many in swearing the Oath of Allegiance including also the Supremacy with the boundless Prerogatives without any Restrictions or Qualifications when all the Authority he had was engaged and exerted in a Rebellion against GOD forgetting foregoing and disowning these Limitations in the Covenant And in putting in his Interest with the Application of the words of the Covenant to him thô stated in opposition to it in the state of the quarrel in our Declarations of war at Pentland and Bothuel-Bridge for which the LORD put us to shame and went not out with our Armies Again we desire to confess and mourn over this as the sin of the Land and breach of Covenant that the Duke of York hath been admitted to the exercise of the Royal Office against the Laws of GOD and man being incapable of the Covenants qualifications of a Magistrate and being a Papist incapable of taking the Oath of Coronation to maintain the True Protestant Religion and abolish and gainstand Popery which for the preservation of the true Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom is statute by the 8 Act Parl 1 K Jam 6 That all Kings at the Reception of their Princely Authority shall take and swear Yet his Authority thô inconsistent with and declaredly opposite to Religion and Liberty hath been owned and upheld by paying the Cess and Supplies expresly exacted for maintaining Tyrannie in the destruction of Religion and Liberty Our own Consciences within and Gods Judgements upon us without do convince us of the manifold wilful renewed Breaches of the Fourth Article which concerneth the discovery of Malignants consonant to the Scriptures 2 Sam 23 6 Esther 7 5 6 Psal 26 5 6 Psal 101 8 Prov 25 5 For their Crimes have not only been connived at but dispensed with and pardoned and themselves received into intimate Fellowship and entrusted with Counsels admitted into Parliaments and put in places of Power and Authority for managing the publick Affairs of the Kingdom whereby in Gods Justice they got at last into their hands the whole power and Strength of the Kingdom both in Judicatories and Armies and did imploy the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful Engagement in War against the Kingdom of England Notwithstanding of the discent of many considerable Members of Parliament who had given constant proof of their integrity in the Cause from the beginning Of many faithful Testimonies and free Warnings of the Servants of God of the Supplications of many Synods Presbyteries and Shires And the Declarations of the General Assembly and their Commissioners to the Contrary Which Engagement as it was the Cause of much Sin so also of much Miserie and Calamity unto this Land and held forth the grieveousness of our sin in Complying with Malignants in the greatness of our Judgement that we may be taught never to split again upon the same Rock upon which the Lord hath set so Remarkable a beacon And after all that is come to pass unto us because of this our trespass And after that Grace hath been shewed unto our Fathers and us once and again from the Lord our God by breaking these Mens Yoke from off their and our necks and sometimes delivering our Fathers so far from their insultings that He put them into a Capacity to Act for the good of Religion their own safety and the Peace and safety of the Kingdom should they and we again break his Commandment and Covenant by joyning once more
dividing our selves from the Recusants and making defection to the party imposing them and opposing the Covenants And by Combination of those that preferred Peace to Truth and Ease to Duty by the terror of threatned continuance of Persecution and the perswasion of a promised Relaxation and immunity from Troubles many Ministers have been divided from the Testimony of the Church of Scotland against the encroaching Supremacy and Absolute Power and one from another and have made defection to that part and Party that were advancing these Encroachments and Usurpations on the prerogatives of Christ and Priviledges of his Church by receiving Indulgences and Tolerations from them in their own nature destructive unto and given and received on terms inconsistent with the Duties of the Covenants which were contrived and conferred on purpose to divide them from this cause and from their Brethren that more tenaciously adhered to it and did effectuate that design in a great measure And others gave themselves to a detestable indifference in complying with conniving at and not witnessing against these defections but passing them over in a secure and submissive silence And yet many of us have not shewed our dislike of these backsliding courses by discountenancing withdrawing from and keeping our selves free of all participation with them And others have withdrawn that have not mourned for the sin of these things to the irritation and offence rather than conviction of these they withdrew from Moreover in the same Article we are sworn all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly to continue in this Cause against all Letts and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able our selves to suppress and overcome to reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed And in the National Covenant never to cast in any Lett or Impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends but on the contrary by all lawful means to labour to further and promove the same And if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by word or writ that we and every one of us shall either suppress it or if need be incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously obviated agreeing very well with Scriptures Num 14 9 10 Neh 6 3 6 8 9 10 11 c. Psal 69 9 Isa 8 12 14 Acts 4 19 Acts 20 24 21 13 Gal 2 5 Phil 1 28. Nevertheless many have been the lets and impediments that have been cast in the way to retard and obstruct the Lords work by Prelacy Supremacy Indulgences Tolleratâ—on and absolute Tyrannie and complyances therewith enacted by Law and all the mischiefs establâ—shed by a Throne of iniquity these 28. years Yet few have ever zealously contented and fewer have constantly continued in contending against these obstructions so destructive to the cause Many have keeped Secret the first motions and appearances of these things while they might have been suppressed and overcome And the generality have passed them over in silence and made not known nor adverted unto the Evil of these things when declared by witnessing against these things when they could not be otherwise removed or overcome Yet many of us have our selves cast in Lets and Impediments obstructive to the Cause by our Defections Divisions and Disorders against Common Consent precipitencies without coÌ„mon consent even of our Brethren adhering to the Testimony Many a divisive Motion hath not been counted dangerous as those which tended to divide us from the Covenanted Cause And many a good and necessary Motion hath been counted Divisive namely such as proposed the necessity of confessing and forsaking sin Besides these and many other breaches of the Articles of the Covenant in the matter thereof which concerneth everyone of us to search out and acknowledge before the Lord as we would wish his wrath to be turned away from us So have many of us failed exceedingly in the manner of following and pursuing the duties contained therein not only seeking great things for our selves and mixing private interests and ends concerning our selves and friends and followers with these things that concern the publick good but many times preferring such to the honour of God and good of his Cause and retarding Gods work untill we might carry alongst with us our own Interests and Designs It hath been our way to trust in the means and to rely upon the arm of flesh for success albeit the Lord many times hath made us meet with disappointment therein and stained the pride of all our glory by blasting every carnal confidence unto us We have followed for the most part the counsels of flesh and blood and walked more by the Rules of Policy than Piety and have hearkned more unto men than unto God. In the Conclusion of the Solemn League and Covenant there is a Profession and Declaration before GOD and the World of our unfeigned desires to be humbled a Ez k 7 16 for our own sins and b Ezek 9 4 for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not c Matth 22 5 valued as we ought the inestimable benefite of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the d Acts 2 42 1 Tim 6 13 14. Purity and e 2 Tim 3 5 Power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to f Ephes 3 17 Colloss 2 6 receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk g Colloss 1 10 worthy of Him in our lives h 2 Thes 2 11 12 which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding among us All which we are under many obligations to confess and mourn over from the Word And of our true and unfeigned purpose and desire to endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all Duties we owe to God and Man to amend our Lives and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation that the Lord might turn away His Wrath and heavy Indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace Yet we have refused to be Reformed and have walked proudly and obstinatly against the Lord not valuing His Gospel nor submitting our selves unto the obedience thereof nor seeking after Christ nor studying to honour Him in the excellency of His Person nor employ Him in the vertue of His Offices not making Conscience of Publick Ordinances nor Private nor Secret Duties nor studying to edifie one another in Love. The Ignorance of God and of His Son Jesus Christ prevails exceedingly in the Land. Even our Eathers in their purest times confessed in their Acknowledgement of Sins That the greatest part of Masters of Families among Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses and Commons neglected to seek God in their Families and to endeavour the Reformation thereof And albeit it had been much preswaded yet few of the Nobles and Great Ones could be perswaded to