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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	according_a	church_n	doctrine_n	4,717	5	6.8021	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61639	Naphtali, or, The wrestlings of the Church of Scotland for the kingdom of Christ contained in a true and short deduction thereof, from the beginning of the reformation of religion, until the year 1667 : together with the last speeches and testimonies of some who have died for the truth since the year 1660 : whereunto are also subjoyned, a relation of the sufferings and death of Mr. Hew McKail ...	Stewart, James, Sir, 1635-1713.; Stirling, James, 1631-1672?	1667 (1667)	Wing S5683; ESTC R3435	226,444	388

of Scotland England 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 Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour and Happinesse of the Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the treacherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and Practices of the Enemies of GOD against the true Religion and Professours 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 exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestation and 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 mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall 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 Chuch of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies The Reformation of Religion 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-government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresy Schism Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary 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 severall vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty's Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms That the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatnesse 4. We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing 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 broughr to publick triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream 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 between these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good Providence of GOD granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and settled 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 willfull 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 whither to make defection to the contrary part or to give ourselves 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 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 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 distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before GOD and the world 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 inesteemable 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 wich are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for ourselves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all dutyes 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 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 peform 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 with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches

and Kingdome as Gods undoubted truth grounded only upon his written Word The other cause was for maintaining the Kings Majesty His Person and Estate the true worship of GOD and the Kings authority being so straitly joined as that they had the same Friends and common enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our mindes and confessing with our mouthes that the present and succeeding generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid nationall Oath Subscription inviolable Wee Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers Commons under subscribing considering divers times before especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion of the Kings honour and of the publick peace of the Kingdome By the manifold innovations and evills generally conteined and particularly mentioned in our late supplications complaints and protestations Do hereby professe and before God his Angels and the World solemnly declare That with our whole hearts we agree resolve all the dayes of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true Religion and forbearing the practice of all novations already introduced in the matters of the worship of GOD or approbation of the corruptions of the publicke Government of the Kirk or civil places and power of Kirk-men till they be tryed allowed in free assemblies and in Parliaments to labour by all meanes lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel as it was stablished and professed before the foresaid Novations and because after due examination we plainely perceave and undoubtedly believe that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God are contrary to the Articles of the Foresaid Confessions to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of Religion in this Land to the above written Acts of Parliament do sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny and to the subversion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion and of our Liberties Lawes and Estates We also declare that the Foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted and ought to be understood of the Foresaid novations and evils no lesse then if every one of them had been expressed in the Foresaid confessions and that we are obliged to detest abhorre them amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duety to God to our King and Countrey without any wordly respect or inducement so farre as humane infirmity will suffer wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect We promise and sweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the Foresaid Religion That we shall defend the same and resist all these contrary errours and corruptions according to our vocation and to the uttermost of that power that GOD hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life and in like manner with the same heart we declare before GOD and Men That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of GOD or to the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority But on the contrary we promise and sweare that we shall to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Majesty his Person and Authority in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome As also to the mutual defence and assistance every one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion and his Majesty's Authority with our best counsel our bodies meanes and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in genearal and to every one of us in particular And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion allurement or terrour from this blessed loyall Conjunction nor shall cast in any let 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 shall by all lawful meanes labour to further and promove the same and if any such dangerous divisive motion be made to us by Word or Writ We and every one of us shall either suppresse it or if need be shall incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously obviated neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion combination or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us seing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfeined desire to maintaine the true worship of God the Majesty of our King and peace of the Kingdome for the common happinesse of our selves and the posterity And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our Profession and Subscription we joine such a life conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God We therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all other under us both in publick in our particular families and personal carriage to endeavour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian liberty and to be good examples to others of all Godlinesse Sobernesse and Righteousnesse and of every duety we owe to God and Man And that this our Union and Conjunction may be observed without violation we call the living GOD the Searcher of our Hearts to witness who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfained Resolution as we shall answere to JESUS CHRIST in the great day and under the pain of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamy and losse of all honour and respect in this World Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happy successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glory of GOD the honour of King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses c. The Article of this Covenant which was at the first Subscription referred to the determination of the General Assembly being determined and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth the Government of the Kirk by Bishops the Civill places and Power of Kirkment upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Assembly declared to be unlawful within this Kirk we subscribe according to the determination foresaid A Solemn League and Covenant For Reformation and Defence of Religion The Honour and Happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms

as this Apostacy arising from small beginnings by fair and smooth pretensions crafty insinuations Court-flatteries false calumnies and suggestions open and gross perjuries and violent dissorders according to the working of Sathan After great and long opposition by Conferences Warnings petitions faithful and constant Testimonies and sufferings of the Zealous Witnesses of our Lord both unto bonds banishment Sentences of Death against the again aspiring Prerogative and usurping Prelacy under it's shaddow did in the secret and holy Judgement of God chang the Glory of God and of our Lord Jesus into the Similitude and Image of the Roman Beast turning the Power of Godliness unto Formality his faithful Ministers into corrupt Hirelings the Power and Life of Preaching into Flattery and Vanity the Substance of Religion into empty and ridiculous Ceremonies the Beauty and Purity of the Ordinances into Superstitious Inventions of Kneeling Crossing Holy Dayes and the like the Beautiful and Powerful Government of Gods House for the Edification of Souls to a Lordly Dominion over Consciences and violent Persecution of mens persons And in a word the great End of the Glorious Gospel and it's Blessed Ministry even the salvation of poor sinners which is the pleasure of the Lord the fruit of the travel of His Soul the Joy of Heaven the Crown and Glory of the blessed Apostles and the End of all things and of the second Appearance of the Great God into an Empty Title and specious pretext for the fulfilling of mens lusts and pleasures the establishing of their Power and Tyranny and the ruine and exterminion of all such as opposed and mourned for all these Abominations Thus this Work and Kingdom of Darkness did advance apace and had almost attained unto it's full maturity of hurrying this poor Land and Nation headlong into that Gulf of Confusion Error and Superstition whereinto Popery did formerly involve us when it pleased the Lord according to His Great Mercy and faithfulness to remember His Covenant though we had fearfully forgotten it and in the midst of that growing darkness and those manifold Confusions to cause His Spirit to move and Light to arise upon this Land about the middle of the Year 1637. Which appearing in the former Power and Glory did from a very small and improbable beginning even the opposition of a few weak Women to the introducing and reading of that Carcase of formality the Service-Book then ready to be imposed proceed in such an Univer●al Vigorous Regular and Powerful method through the whole Land without the least mixture and ingredient of force and Violence but only by these most warrantable and inquestionable meanes of Petitioning Remonstrating Protesting and renewing their Covenant with God and amongst themselves that before the end of the Year 1638. the Work of God was revived with more Glory and Splendor then ever formerly it had attained We know that not only the Renewing of the Covenant especially with the enlargement explaining the same in order to the Novations in Worship and Corruptions in Government whereunto this Church had Apostatized and the bond of Mutual Defence thereto added but also their Protestings joynt Petitionings have been condemned as Seditious Rebellious But seing the same both from the clear Word of God the pure Light of Nature the Zealous and Valiant Practices of our first Reformers and the Lawes and Constitutions of the Realme are clearly warranted And by the Power and Presence of God were signally approved and by the supervenient Acts of the King Parliament and Generall Assembly so fully established and confirmed And seing that they only were and are condemned by such as either being the Children of the Devil filled with all subtilty and mischief and enemies of all Righteousness cease not to pervert the right Wayes of the Lord or by such who for advancement of their own Interests have sacrificed all Conscience and Reason to Ambition and Covetousnes or by such who in base and open flattery of the King and of the Powers and neither knowing nor regarding any other Interest or Concernment then that which dependeth on their Pleasure do set and serve the same in place of the most High Or lastly by such who never did nor do concern themselves in such enquiryes but affect a pretended Gallantry in Gallio's Indifferency therefore remitting such as are further desirous of satisfaction unto the debats Papers of these Times and especially unto the late large Apology we shall only mention the steps and progress of the Lords Work and our Engagements therein according to our first purpose In the beginning of the Year 1638. great multitudes of people consisting of all Ranks being awaked by the Arbitrary imposing of a Service-Book more corrupt in some things then that of England and the Book of Canons and the erecting and violent exercing of the High Commission-Court to the perverting of the Pure Worship of God the utter subverting of all regular Government and the confounding of all things Divine and Humane and the destroying of our Civil Liberties and conceaving the true cause of all the abounding Sin imminent calamities of these Times to be the violation of the National Covenant formerly thrice sworn in the Land they again most Solemnly with a very wonderful gracious mixture of Tears and joy renew the same almost in all parts of the Land with the addition above mentioned to forbear the practice and approbation of all Innovations in Worship or Corruptions in Government until the same should be lawfully determined and that other of Mutual Defence and Assistance in the prosecution of the ends of that Covenant against all sorts of persons whatsoever And in November the same Year the Generall Assembly at Glasgow determined anent the foresaid novations and corruptions disproving and rejecting under these heads the five Articles of Perth the Government of the Church by Bishops the erecting of Prelacy therein and all the Corruptions flowing therefrom whereby the Oath of the Covenant is clearly explained and purifyed In the Year 1639. the Prelats being routed run to Court 〈◊〉 up the King England and Irland with all their Friends and Popish partakers in Scotland against the faithful Covenanters as Rebellious and Seditious Persons But they having prepared for their own just Defence the Lord by His outstretched Arm and Power dispelling all these menacing clouds and imminent storms doth by a Pacification concluded reduce a fair calm The King therein aggreeing that an Assembly and Parliament shall be held and that all matters respectively shall be therein determined The Assembly sitting in August thereafter the Kings Commissioner being present and assenting doth ratify the conclusions of the last Assembly at Glasgow and the Commissioner and Secret Council subscribe the Covenant as it was then explained and at the Petition of the Assembly it is enacted to be again subscribed for the Fifth time by the Body of the whole Land But no Faith Honesty nor Honor binding the Prelats and a Court by