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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34784	The Covenant with a narrative of the proceedings and solemn manner of taking it by the honourable House of Commons and reverent Assembly of Divines the 25th day of September, at Saint Margarets in Westminster : also two speeches delivered at the same time, the one by Mr. Philip Nye, the other by Mr. Alexander Hendersam.	Henderson, Alexander, 1583?-1646.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.	1643 (1643)	Wing C6621; ESTC R3970	18,809	36

THE COVENANT WITH A Narrative OF The Proceedings and Solemn Manner of Taking it by the Honourable House of COMMONS and Reverent Assembly of DIVINES the 25th day of September at Saint Margarets in Westminster ALSO TWO SPEECHES Delivered at the same time The one By Mr. Philip Nye The other By Mr. Alexander Hendersam Published by speciall Order of the House LONDON Printed for Thomas Vnderhill at the Bible in Wood-Street 1643. THE COVENANT That was read svvorn unto and subscribed by the Honourable House of Commons and Reverend Assembly of DIVINES the 25. of September WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion Having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the Honour and happinesse of the Kings Majestie and His posterity and the true publique Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdomes wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the treacherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdomes ever since the Reformation of Religion And how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time encreased 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 publique Testimonies We have now at last after other meanes of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the Preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practise of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe And each one of us for himselfe with hands lifted up to the most high God doe sweare 1 That wee shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our severall Places and Callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies The Reformation of Religion in 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 endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the neerest Conjunction and Vniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Forme 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-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sinnes and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues And that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdomes 3 We shall with the same Sincerity Reality and Constancy in our severall Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliaments 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 Kingdome That the World may beare witnesse with our Consciences of our Loyalty And that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just Power and Greatnesse 4 We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have beene or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any Faction or Parties amongst the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publicke tryall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve Or the supreame Judicatories 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 betweene these Kingdomes denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath beene lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our Place and Interest endeavour That they may remaine conjoyned in a firme Peace and Vnion to all posterity And that Justice may be done upon the wilfull 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 Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintenance 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 Vnion 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 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 reveale and make knowne that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall doe as in the sight of God And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sinnes and provocations against God and his Sonne Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits therof We professe and declare before God and the world our unfained desire to be humbled for our owne sinnes and for the sinnes of these Kingdomes especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel That we have not labored for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavored to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sinnes and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publicke and in private in all duties wee owe to God and man

them to this work as a work of a marvellous high nature and concernment This being ended Mr. Alexander Hendersam one of the Commissioners sent from the Assembly of the Church of Scotland being also desired thereunto made a Speech to the like purpose Then the Covenant was read notice being first given to the Assembly that after the hearing of it each person should immediately by swearing worship the great Name of God and testifie so much outwardly by lifting up their hands which was all done very solemnly and with so much joy seen in their countenances and manifested by clapping of their hands as was sutable to the gravity of such a worke and the sadnesse of the present times Both Assemblies having thus sworn with whom the Commissioners from Scotland joyned the Speaker with the Members of the House of Commons went up into the Chancell and there subscribed their names in a Roll of Parchment provided for that purpose in which this Covenant was fairly written and afterward the Prolocutor the Commissioners from Scotland and the Members of the Assembly of Divines did the like in another Roll which being finished the Name of God was again solemnly invocated and praises returned for vouchsafing this Church and Kingdome so happy and joyfull a day a Psalme was sung and then the Assembly dismissed An Exhortation made to the Honourable House of Commons and Reverend Divines of the Assembly by Mr. Nye before he read the Covenant A Great and solemn work Honourable and Reverend this day is put into our hands let us stir up and awaken our hearts unto it We deale with God as well as with men and with God in his greatnesse and excellencie for by him we sweare and at the same time we have to doe with God and his goodnesse who now reacheth out unto us a strong and seasonable arme of assistance The goodnesse of God procuring succour and help to a sinfull and afflicted people such are we ought to be matter of feare and trembling even to all that heare of it Ier. 33. 9. We are to exalt and acknowledge him this day who is fearefull in praises sweare by that Name which is holy and reverent enter into a Covenant and league that is never to bee forgotten by us nor our posterity and the fruit I hope of it shall be so great as both we and they shall have cause to remember it with joy and such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances the like hath not been in any age or Oath we read of in sacred or humane Stories yet sufficiently warranted in both The parties ingaging in this league are three Kingdoms famous for the knowledge and acknowledgement of Christ above all the Kingdoms in the world to swear before such a presence should mould the spirit of man into a great deale of reverence what then to be engaged to be incorporated and that by sacred Oath with such an high and Honourable Fraternity An Oath is to be esteemed so much the more solemn by how much greater the persons are that sweare each to other as in heaven when God sweares to his Son on earth when Kings sweare each to other so in this businesse where Kingdomes sweare mutually And as the solemnity of an Oath is to bee measured by the persons swearing so by the matter also that is to be sworne to God would not sweare to the Covenant of works he intended not to honour it so much it was not to continue it was not worthy of an Oath of his but to the Covenant of grace which is the Gospel he swears and repents not of it God sweares for the salvation of men and of Kingdoms And if Kingdoms sweare what subject of an Oath becommeth them better then the preservation and salvation of Kingdomes by establishing the Kingdome of a Saviour amongst them even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is a Mediator and Saviour for Nations as well as particular persons The end also is great and honourable as either of the former Two is better then one saith He who best knoweth what is best and from whom alone every thing hath the goodnesse it hath Association is of divine Off-spring not only the being of Creatures but the putting of them together the cluster as well as the grape is the work of God confort and harmony amongst men especially amongst Saints is very pleasing unto the Lord If when but two or three agree and assent upon any thing on earth it shall be confirmed in heaven and for this because they gather together in his name much more when two or three Kingdomes shall meet and consent together in his name and for his name that God may bee one and his name one amongst them and his presence amidst them That prayer of Christ seemeth to proceed from a feeling sense of his own blessednesse Father that they may be one as thou in me c. Unity amongst his Churches and Children must needs therefore be very acceptable unto him For out of the more deep sense desires are fetcht from within us the more pleasing will be the answer of them unto us Churches and Kingdomes are deare to God his patience towards them his compassions over them more then particular persons sheweth it plainly But Kingdoms willingly engaging themselves for his Kingdome his Christ his Saints the purity of Religion his worship and Government in all particulars and in all humility sitting down at his feet to receive the law and the rule from his mouth what a price doth hee set upon such Especially when as we this day sensible of our infirmity of an unfaithfull heart not steddy with our God but apt to start from the cause if we feele the knife or the fire who binde our selves with cords as a sacrifice to the hornes of the Altar We invocare the name of the great God that his vowes yea his curse may be upon us if we doe not this yea though we suffer for so doing that is if we endeavour not so farre as the Lord shall assist us by his grace to advance the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ here upon earth and make Jerusalem once more the praise of the whole world notwithstanding all the contradictions of men What is this but the contents and matter of our Oath What doe we covenant What doe we vow Is it not the preservation of Religion where it is reformed and the Reformation of Religion where it needs Is it not the Reformation of three Kingdomes and a Reformatiom universall Doctrine Discipline and Worship in whatsoever the Word shall discover unto us To practise is a fruit of love to reforme a fruit of zeale but so to reforme will be a token of great prudence and circumspection in each of these Churches And all this to be done according to Gods word the best Rule and according to the best reformed Churches the best interpreters of this Rule If England hath obtained to any greater perfection in so

handling the word of righteousnesse and truths that are according to godlinesse as to make men more godly more righteous And if in the Churches of Scotland any more light and beauty in matters of Order and Discipline by which their Assemblies are more orderly Or if to any other Church or person it hath beene given better to have learned Christ in any of his wayes then any of us wee shall humbly bow and kisse their lips that can speak right words unto us in this matter and help us into the nearest uniformity with the word and minde of Christ in this great work of Reformation Honourable and Reverend Brethren there cannot be a more direct and effectuall way to exhort and perswade the wise and men of sad and serious spirits and such are you to whom I am commanded to speak this day then to let into their understandings the weight and worth and great importance of the work they are perswaded unto This Oath is such and in the matter and consequence of it of such concernment as I can truly say it is worthy of us yea of all these Kingdomes yea of all the Kingdoms of the World for it is swearing fealty and allegeance unto Christ the King of Kings and a giving up of all these Kingdomes which are his inheritance to be subdued more to his Throne and ruled more by his Scepter upon whose shoulders the government is laid and in the encrease of whose Government and peace there shall be no end Esa. 9. Yea we finde this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it to have been the Oath of the greatest Angel that ever was who setting his feet upon two of Gods Kingdomes the one upon the Sea the other upon the Earth lifting up his hand to heaven as you are to doe this day and so swearing Rev. 10. The effect of that Oath you shall find to bethis that the kingdoms of the world become the kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ and he shall reigne for ever Rev. 11. His Oath was for the full and finall accomplishment this of yours for a graduall yet a great performance towards it That which the Apostles and Primitive times did so much and so long pray for though never long with much quietnesse enioyed that which our Fathers in these latter times have fasted prayed and mourned after yet attained not even the cause which many deare Saints now with God have furthered by extreamest sufferings poverty imprisonment banishment death even ever since the first dawning of Reformation That and the very same is the very cause and work that we are come now through the mercy of Jesus Christ not only to pray for but sweare to And surely it can be no other but the result and answer of such prayers and teares of such sincerity and sufferings that three Kingdoms should be thus born or rather new born in a day that these Kingdoms should be wrought about to so great an engagement then which nothing is higher for to this end Kings raign Kingdomes stand and States are upheld It is a speciall grace and favour of God unto you Brethren Reverend and Honourable to vouchsafe you the opportunity and to put into your hearts as this day to engage your lives and estates in matters so much concerning him and his glory And if you should doe no more but lay a foundation stone in this great work and by so doing engage posteritie after you to finish it it were honour enough But there may yet further use be made of you who now are to take this Oath you are designed as chiefe master Builders and choyce Instruments for the effecting of this settled Peace and Reformation which if the Lord shall please to finish in your hands a greater happinesse on earth nor a greater means to augment your glory and crown in heaven you are not capable of And this let me further adde for your encouragement of what extensive good and fruit in the successe of it this very Oath may prove to be wee know not God hath set his Covenant like the Heavens not onely for duration but like also for extension The Heavens move and roule about and so communicate their light and heat and vertue to all places and parts of the earth so doth the Covenant of God so may this gift be given to other Covenants that are framed to that pattern How much this solémn League and Oath may provoke other Reformed Churches to a further Reformation of themselves what light and heat it may communicate abroad to other parts of the world it is only in Him to define to whom is given the utmost ends of the earth for his inheritance and worketh by his exceeding great power great things out of as small beginnings But however this I am sure of it is a way in all probability most likely to enable us to preserve and defend our religion against our common enemies and possible a more sure foundation this day will be laid for ruining Popery and Prelacy the chiefe of them then as yet wee have been led unto in any age For Popery it hath beene a Religion ever dexterous in fencing and muniting it selfe by association and joynt strength all sorts of Professors amongst them are cast into Fraternities and Brother-hoods and these Orders carefully united by Vow one with another and under some more generall notion of common dependency Such States also and Kingdoms as they have thus made theirs they endeavour to improve and secure by strict combinations and leagues each to other witnesse of late yeares that La Sainte ligue the holy league It will not bee unworthy your consideration whether seeing the preservation of Popery hath beene by Leagues and Covenants God may not make a League or Covenant to be the destruction of it Nay the very rise of Popery seemeth to be after such a manner by Kings that is Kingdomes assenting and agreeing perhaps by some joynt Covenant the Text saith with one minde why not then with one mouth to give their power and strength unto the Beast and make war against the Lamb Rev. 17. where you read the Lamb shall overcome the Beast and possibly with the same weapons he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings he can unite Kings and Kingdomes and give them one minde also to destroy the Whore and be her utter ruine And may not this dayes work be a happy beginning of such a blessed expedition Prelacie another common enemy that we Covenant and sweare against what hath it been or what hath the strength of it been but a subtile combination of Clergy-men formed into a policy or body of their own invention framing themselves into Subordination and Dependencie one upon another so that the interest of each is improved by all and a great power by this meanes acquired to themselves as by sad experience we have lately found The joynts and Members of this body you know were knit together by the sacred engagement of