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A74761 The iniquity of the late Solemne League, or Covenant discovered: by way of a letter to a gentleman desiring information upon the poynt. Whereunto is subjoyned the Covenant it selfe. 1644 (1644) Thomason E36_10; ESTC R229345 7,324 16

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Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms 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 Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happinesse of the Kings Majesty and His Posterity and the true publike Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included and calling to mind the treacherous and bloudy plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors therof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the reformation of Religion how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised wherof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdome 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 publike Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter 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 solemne League and Covenant wherin we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high God do swear I. THat we 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 indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes 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 II. That wee shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors 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 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 mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the 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 Kingdoms 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 IIII. Wee shall also with all faithfullnesse 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 publiquetriall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreame Iudicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest indeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Posterity And that Iustice may be done upon the willfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Articles VI. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common Cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdome assist and defend all those that enter into this League Covenant in the maintaining 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 conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or Neutralitie in this Cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes and the honour of the King but shall all the daies of ourlives realously 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 do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdomes 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 and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins 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 publike and in private in all duties we owe to God and Man to amend our lives and each one to goe 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 made in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at the grea● 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 groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny to joine in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and the peace and tranquility of Christian Kingdomes and Common-Wealths FINIS
to endeavour the same to his power without giving himselfe to a detestable Neutrality in this Cause or making a defection to the contrary part Now see the Iniquity of this Article which so plainly speakes the language of desperate Rebellion it is notoriously known by the Armes which they and the Scots have raised and used in pursuit of this and former Covenants or Conspiracies what is meant by assisting and defending their Covenantees by maintaining and pursuing their Covenant against all opposition whatsoever so that he which Covenants with them doth by this Article bind himselfe to endeavour by force of Armes to compell his Soveraign to the Reformation pretended by this Covenant and doth as much as in him lyes cut himselfe off from returning to his duty and obedience which is here called a defe●tion to the contrary part And I marvaile those Gentlemen who by entring this Covenant hope for liberty doe not see in what a Toyle they are caught worse then the Prison for should they have liberty thereupon what doe they intend to doe to live quietly at home No they expresly bind themselves against Neutrality as a detestable thing or to assist the King that indeed they stand bound to doe but by this Covenant desperately undertake against it under the name of defection to the contrary part VI. Lastly to fill up the measure and to mock God Almighty to his face he that enters Covenant with these holy Leaguers doth professe that he approves and binds himselfe to all their premises as to that which much concernes the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes and the honour of the King Artic 6. and elswhere All which considered I may conclude that no Subject in this Kingdome who has not cast of the conscience of that which is just and right much lesse such an one that abhorres the designes and proceedings of these men and has suffered in opposition to them can approve and allow the Contents of this Covenant and bind himselfe to a reall pursuance of them But he will rather say to his soule in the Psalmists words Wilt thou have any thing to doe with the stoole or seat of wickednesse which imagineth mischiefe as a Law Psal 94. 20. or as Iacob of the Brethren of Cruelty Oh my soule come not thou into their secret Gen. 49. 6. After the Resolution of Conscience it will be needlesse to stand upon outward Motives those evills of desolation which these men threaten as you say to bring upon Family Posterity Inheritance yet I desire you consider that Houses and Families doe continue by the providence and blessing of God not by the will of Cruell and blood-thirsty men who as the Psalmist threatens them shall not themselves live out halfe their dayes Thus much for the resolving and keeping a good Conscience in the refusall of this Covenant by reason of the grosse and palpable iniquity of the Contents thereof now for the recovery of Conscience ensnared by entring this Covenant we must consider the not binding of it if taken Which was the second point proposed at the beginning This is a certaine Truth That the matter and intent of the Covenant being unlawfull it cannot bind to performance no more then Herods oath did bind him to proceed to execution Matth. 14. or the great curse under which those forty Conspiratours Act. 23. combined themselves to make an end of Paul could indeed oblige them to performance But there are two sorts of men that abuse themselves by a misconceit of the not binding of this Covenant 1. Those that are suffered to take it with expresse Reservations of their owne framing which doe annull and frustrate the whole Contents and leave nothing to bind them as thus I take this Covenant so farre forth as it doth not contrary the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance or the like And thus the Iudges there as it is said were permitted to take it But they as wise as they are should have considered that although indeed they be not bound to performe the Contents of this Covenant being made void by such reservations yet will they be made to know they must performe and proceed as farre as their Masters who impose it doe or shall think fit to doe upon after occasions and for default will be dealt with not as Malignants only but as perjured Persons They should also as knowing as they are learne that while they thus play fast and loose within the compasse of their owne Law Gods Law casts an heavy bond upon them the guilt of an heinous sinne in mocking and taking Gods name in vaine after so high a manner For when Reservations are allowed in the taking of Oath or Covenant they must limit the matter of it but in part and not destroy it in the whole for then the whole businesse is as was said an open mockery a presumptuous taking of Gods name in vaine and requires a speedy repentance II. The other sort are those who hearing this doctrine That this Covenant being taken doth not bind to performance by reason of the unlawfull Contents of it doe ignorantly and by ill consequence conclude themselves into it after this manner If it binds not then may we take it and there 's no harme done They must know that although it binds not to performance because no man can stand bound to doe that which is unlawfull and wicked yet if they take it it binds them under the guilt of a grievous sinne in calling God to witnesse they will doe that which indeed with a good conscience they cannot performe Such I say are not bound to performe what they have wickedly undertaken and promised by this Covenant but they are bound speedily to repent of the grievous sinne they have committed both against God whose name and Majesty they have abused in taking such a Covenant and against the King their Soveraigne to whom they were bound by the oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy in duties contrary to the designes and intention of this Covenant and so had need to make hast in returning to their duty as Shimei did after he had cursed the King And Shimei fell downe before the King and said Let not my Lord impute iniquity to me neither doe thou remember that which thy servant did perversely on the day that my Lord the King went out of Ierusalem For thy servant knoweth that I have sinned therefore behold I am come the first this day to meet my Lord the King 2. Sam. 19. 19 20. Sir I hope you will not need the advice of this latter part but will according to the direction of the former endeavour to keep a good Conscience which you shall find in this your durance to be a continuall feast I pray God direct and strengthen you A SOLEMNE 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 Jreland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen