Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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A38366
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England and Scotlands covenant with their God in viz, the protestation, the vow, and covenant, and an ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the taking the same / ordered by the Commons in Parliament that these covenants and ordinances bey forthwith printed and published.
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1645
(1645)
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Wing E2931; ESTC R23870
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17,390
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60
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they received the said copies as also the day they sent them forth and to what Parishes they have sent them which certificate they are to return to the Clerk of the Parliament appointed for the Commons House that so an accompt may be given of it as there shall be occasion IV. That the severall Ministers be required to read the said Covenant publikely unto their people the next Lords day after they receive it and prepare their people for it against the time that they shal be called to take it V. That the said League and Covenant be taken by the Committees of Parliament in the place where they reside and tendred also to the Inhabitants of the Town within seven daies after it comes to the said Committees hands VI. That the said Committees after they have taken it themselves do speedily disperse themselves through the said counties so as three or four of them be together on dayes appointed at the chief places of meeting for the severall divisions of the said counties And summon all the Ministers Church wardens Constables and other Officers unto that place where after a Sermon preached by one appointed by the Committee for that purpose they cause the same Minister to tender the League and Covenant unto all such Ministers and other Officers to be taken and subscribed by them in the presence of the said Committees VII That the said Committees do withall give the said Ministers in Charge to tender it unto all the rest of their Parishioners the next Lords Day making then unto their said Parishioners some solemn exhortation concerning the taking and observing therof and that the said Committees do also return to the severall Parishes the names of all such as have taken the Covenant before them who yet shall also subscribe their names in the Book or Roll with their neighbors in their severall Parishes And if any Minister refuse or neglect to appear at the said summons or refuse to take the said Covenant before the Committee or to tender it to his Parish that then the Committees be carefull to appoint another Minister to do it in his place VIII That the League and Covenant be tendred to all men within the severall Parishes above the age of eighteen as wel lodgers as inhabitants IX That it be recommended to the earl of Manchester to take speciall care that it be tendered and taken in the Vniversity of Cambridge X. That for the better incouragement of all sorts of Persons to take it It be recommended to the assembly of Divines to make a brief Declaration by way of Exhortation to all sorts of Persons to take it as that which they judge not only lawfull But all things considered exceeding expedient and necessary for all that wish well to Religion the King and Kingdom to joyn in and to be a singular pledge of Gods gracious goodnesse to all the three Kingdoms XI That if any Minister do refuse to take or to tender the Covenant or any other person or persons do not take it the Lords day that it is tendred that then it be tendred to them again the Lords day following and if they still continue to refuse it that then their names be returned by the Minister that tenders it and by the Church-wardens or Constables unto the Committees and by them to the House of Commons that such further course may be taken with them as the Houses of Parliament shall see cause XII That all such persons as are within the severall Parishes when notice is given of the taking of it and do absent themselves from the Church at the time of taking it and come not in afterwards to the Minister Church-wardens or other Officers to take it in their presence before the return be made be returned as refusers The manner of the taking it to be thus The Minister to read the whole Covenant distinctly and audibly in the Pulpit and during the time of reading thereof the whole Congregation to be uncovered and at the end of his reading thereof all to take it standing lifting up their Right hands bare and then afterwards to subscribe it severally by writing their names or their marks to which their names are to be added in a parchment Roll or a Bock wherein to the Covenant is to be inserted purposely provided for that end and kept as a Record in the Parish XIIII That the Assembly of Divines do prepare an Exhortation for the better taking of the Covenant And that the said Exhortation and the Declaration of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland joyned in the Armies for the vindication and defence of their Religion Liberties and Lawes against the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant party and passed the 30. of Ian. last be publikely read when the Covenant is read according to the fourth and sixth Articles And that a sufficient number of Copies of the said Declaration be sent by the persons appointed to send the true Copies of the said Covenant in the first and second Articles FINIS An Exhortation to the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and happinesse of the King and the Peace and safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland IF the power of Religion or solid Reason if Loyalty to the King and piety to their native Countrey or love to themselves and naturall affection to their posterity if the Example of men touched with a deep sense of all these or Extraordinary successe from God thereupon can awaken an embroyled bleeding remnant to imbrace the soveraigne and onely means of their recovery there can be no doubt but this Solemn League and Covenant wil find wheresoever it shall be tendred a people ready to entertain it with all cheerfulnesse and duty And were it not commended to the Kingdom by the concurrent encouragement of the Honourable Houses of Parliament the Assembly of Divines the renowned City of London multitudes of other persons of eminent rank and quality in this Nation and the whole Body of Scotland who have all willingly sworn and subscribed it with rejoycing at the Oath so graciously seconded from Heaven already by blasting the Counsels and breaking the power of the Enemy more than ever yet it goeth forth in its own strength with such convincing evidence of Equity Truth and Righteousnesse 〈◊〉 may raise in all not wilfully ignorant or miserably seduced inflamed affections to joyn with their Brethren in this happy Bond for putting an end to the present miseries and for saving both of King and Kingdom from utter ruine now so strongly and openly laboured by the Popish faction and such as have been bewitched and besotted by that viperous and bloody generation For what is there almost in this Covenant which was not for substance either expressed or manifestly included in that solemn Protestation of May 5. 1641. wherein the whole Kingdom stands ingaged untill this day The sinfull neglect whereof doth as we may justly fear open one floodgage
Bishops Bishops their Chauncellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse 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 III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives murually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties 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 Majesties just power and Greatnesse IV. We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindring 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 brought to publique triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supream Iudicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denied 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 firm Peace and Vnion to all Posterity And that Iustice may be done upon the wilfull Opposers thereof in manner expressed in the present Articles VI. 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 terror to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this Cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and Honour of the 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 Iesus 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 these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity power thereof and that we have not indeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfeigned purpose desire indeavour for our selves all others under our power charge both in publique 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 reall Reformation that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at that great Day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and incouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoak of Antichristian tyranny to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the inlargement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ and the Peace and Tranquility of Christian Kingdoms and Common wealths An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament With Instructions for the taking of the League and Covenant in the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales VVHereas a Covenant for the preservation and Reformation of Religion The maintenance and defence of Laws and Liberties hath been thought a fit and excellent meanes to acquire the favour of Almighty God towards the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and likewise to Vnite them and by uniting to strengthen and fortifie them against the Common-Enemy of the true Reformed Religion peace and prosperity of these Kingdoms And whereas both Houses of Parliament in England the Cities of London and Westminster and the Kingdom of Scotland have already taken the same It is now Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That the same Covenant be solemnly taken in all places throughout the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales And for the better and more orderly taking thereof these directions ensuing are appointed and enjoined strictly to be followed Instructions for the taking of the Solemne League and Covenant throughout the Kingdome I. THat the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament do speedily send to the Lord Generall and all other Commanders in chief and Governours of Townes Forts Castles and Garrisons as also to the Earl of Warwick Lord High Admirall of England true Copies of the Solemne League and Covenant to the end it may be taken by all Officers and souldiers under their severall Commands II. That all the Knights and Burgesses now in Parliament do take speciall care speedily to send down into their severall Counties which are or shall hereafter be under the power of the Parliament a competent number of true Copies of the said League and Covenant unto the Committees of Parliament in their severall Counties And that the said Committees do within six dayes at the most disperse the said Copies to every parish church or Chappel in the severall Counties to be delivered unto the Ministers Church-wardens or Constables of the severall Parishes III. That the said Committees be required to return a certificate of the day when