Christian Doctrine and practical use of Saving Knowledge Directory for publick Worship Propositions concerning Church Government and Ordination of Ministers c. And other Writings clearing and confirming these Truths approven by this Church and agreeable with the Word of GOD. The advancing and promoving the power of this True Reformed Religion in our selves and others against all Ungodliness and Profanity And the securing and preserving the purity thereof against all Error Heresie and Schisme and namely Independency Anabaptisme Antinomianisme Arminianisme Socinianisme Familisme Libertinisme Scepticisme Quakerisme and Erastianisme shall be more studied and endeavoured by us And as we declare we willingly agree in our Consciences with this Doctrine of the Church of Scotland in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity grounded only upon His written Word So we resolve constantly to adhere unto and maintain and defend and profess and confess and when called of GOD to be willing to suffer for every point of the said Doctrine as we shal desire to be approven and confessed by Christ Jesus before God and His Holy Angels 2. We shall also study more sincerity uprightness and heart integrity in the Worship of God and not satisfy our selves with the forme of it without the Spirituality that the Object of it requires And shal endeavour to Recover and Preserve the Liberty and Purity thereof from all Corruptions Novations or Inventions of Men Popish Prelatical Erastian or any other And if we cannot get these Corruptions Reformed and removed we shal study to keep our selves free of Communion and Participation with the same 3. We shall likewise by all Lawful means endeavour the Recovery and Re-establishment of Presbyterial Government which is the only order of Christs House of Divine Institution and seek to have it Redintegrated in all its parts Priviledges and Courts of Kirk Sessions Presbytries Synods and General Assemblies And that the true Discipline of the same Church may be impartially Exercised Both which we shall endeavour to Preserve aginst all that seek to Subvert and Pervert the same And when Restored and Recovered in its freedom and integrity shall Cordially submit unto the same as becomes the Flock of Christ 4. In like manner the carrying on the Work of Uniformity in the three Kingdoms shall be desired designed prayed for studied and endeavoured by us by Remonstrances Supplications Admonitions Testimonies and all other means possible lawful expedient and competent unto us in our capacities and that before all Worldly Interests whether concerning the Magistrate or our selves or any other whatsomever According to the Second Article 1. We shall do our outmost endeavours to have the Land purged of Popish Idolatry the Monuments thereof destroyed and so far as lies in our power shall never suffer the same to be reintroduced or errected again But shall endeavour to have the Penal Statutes against Papists of late stopped and suspended by the Tolleration revived left in full force and duely put in execution against those Enemies of Religion and all good Government 2. We shal Endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy by all approven means according to our Capacities and Vocations And in order thereto we shall never submit to that Prelatical Hierarchy of Arch-bishops Bishops c. having power of Order or Jurisdiction over preaching Presbyters whether Erastian or only Diocesan in any form or degree howsoever Reformed accommodated restricted or limited by Cautions or provisions of Men Since frequent and fatal experience hath taught this Church that they cannot be kept long within banks or bounds And the Word of GOD hath condemned that Office and Subordination it self in any degree We shall also by all lawful and legal means seek the removing of their substitute Curats depending on them from the Parish-Churches on which they have intruded And shall never submit to the Ministry of hear or receive Ordinances from nor pay any Stipends unto any Man that enters into the Cure of any Perish at the door of the Bishops Collation or Patrons Presentation 3. Because many have of late laboured to supplant the Liberties of the Kirk and have in a great measure obtained their design by the late Indulgences and Toleration We shall refuse withstand and witness against all such Encroachments on the Liberties of this Church in all times coming And shal withdraw our selves from CoÌ„munion with any such Meetings or Congregations that hold their freedom from and are modified by such Usurpations Purposing and promising to use all endeavours to have a settled Ministry according to Christs Institution without any dependence on subordination unto or homologation of an Ecclesiastick Erastian usurped supremacy in the Civil Magistrate Furthermore we shal strive to recover when recovered Maintain and Defend the Kirk of Scotland in all her Liberties and Priviledges according to our power against all who shall oppose or undermine the same or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsomever 4. And as on the one hand we here enter into Vowes to detest and abhor all Superstition Heresie and Profaneness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to found Doctrine and the power of Godliness and to keep our selves so far as we can from all partaking in other Mens sins by consent unto assâ—ciation incorporation combination communion complyance with or conniving at their siâ—s So We resolve in the Lords strengâ—h to guard against all Schisme and sinful Separation or unjust rash and disorderly withdrawing from Congregations Societies or Families or any part of the Communion of the true Reformed Covenanted Church of Scotland holding purely and intirely the Doctrine Worship Dâ—scipline and Government of the same in Principle and Exercise according to the Rules of Christ and standing Acts and Constitutions of this Church And that we shall neither gather nor set up formed separate Churches or Societies under other Ordinances Government or Ministry distinct from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Nor withdraw from Minister or Member of that Body for any offence in any case where either the offence may be legally removed without our withdrawing Or cannot be instructed to be condemned by the Word of God or the Constitutions of this Church Or is in it self an insufficient ground of withdrawing Or a thing to be condescended upon forborn or forgiven But shall study to maintain Union and Communion in Truth and Duty with all the Ministers and Members of the said Church that do and in so far as they do follow the Institutions of Christ According to the Third Article 1. We shall endeavour with all sincerity reality and constancy according to our Vocations and Capacities by all possible lawful means to seek the removal of those things that corrupt prelimite or preclude the right constitution of Parliaments and other Judicatories The rescinding and taking away of these wicked Acts and Oaths that give entrance unto the Enemies of the Reformation to sit there as Members and exclude those that are honest and well affected to the Covenant and Cause of GOD. And
the tracherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors 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 excercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the * Distressed dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies we have now at last †After all the Supplications Remonstrances Protestations Sufferings of our Fathers and our own Grievous Sufferings and Contendings after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestation 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 all the maturity of deliberation that our circumstances could allow after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a muâ—ual 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 Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies The Reformation 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-goverment by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schism Prophanness and whatsoever shall be found to be contraâ—y 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 several Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdom And to preserve and defend * The Civil Magistrates Person and Authority the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdoms That the World may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intention to diminish his just power and greatness 4. We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing †Between the Magistrate and Subjects 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 publick trial and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And wherâ—as the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Pregenitors is by the good Providence of God granted unto and ‡ Was in the dayes of our Fathers concluded hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliamen's We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain ‡ As they were then conjoyned in a firm Peace Union to all Posterity and that Justice may be done upon the wilful 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 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 Kingdoms and honour †Of the Government 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 suppress or overcome we shall reveal 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 distress and dangers the fruits thereof We profess 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 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 unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power charge both in publick and in private in all duties we ow 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 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 bless our desires and proceedings with such success as may be a deliverance and safety to his People and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or
perform Family Duties themselves in their own Persons which made so necessary and useful a duty to be misregarded by others of inferiour Rank And we may add in our degenerate times not only the Great Ones generally profess the neglect and contempt of so necessary and useful a duty both in their own Persons and in the use of Chaplains except such who are as Prophane as themselves But the greatest part of the Commons are altogether Strangers to it many performing no part of Family-worship Others only singing a Psalm and Reading a Chapter without Praying And others making a fashion of performing all but very perfunctoriously formally and indifferently and scarce once in a day And making litle Conscience in Catechising and Instructing their Children and Servants The Nobility Gentry and Burrows who should be examples of Godliness and Sober walking unto others are very generally Ring-leaders of excess and Rioting Whereby it is Impossible to reckon up all the Abominations that are in the Land But the Blaspheming of the Name of God swearing by the Creatures Profanation of the Lords day Uncleanness Drunkenness Excess and Rioting Vanity of Apparrel Lying and Deceit Railing and Cursing Arbitrary and uncontrolled Oppression and grinding of the faces of the Poor by Land lords and others in Place and Power are become ordinary and common Sins We have been far from amending our Lives and promoting a personal Reformation and going before one another in the example of a real Reformation when we have been bad examples of Deformation in our personal Practises and publick Transactions and being too familiar and too far unite with the Patrons and Patterns of all the Lands Deformations Our Fathers also acknowledged Albeit they were the Lords People engaged unto Him into a Solemn way yet they had not made it their study that Judicatories and Armies should consist of and places of Power and Trust be filled with Men of blameless and Christian Conversation and of known Integrity and approven fidelity affection and zeal unto the cause of God And not only those who were neutral and indifferent but disaffected and Malignant and others who were profane and scandalous were intrusted By which it came to pass that Judicatories even then were the seats of Injustice and Iniquity And many in their Armies by their miscarriages became their Plague unto the great prejudice of the Cause of God the great scandal of the Gospel and the great increase of looseness and profanity throughout all the Land. But we their far more degenerate Children have seen and owned Judicatories consisting of and filled with perjured Traitors to God and their Countrey And Armies made up of these Plagues Maâ—shalled under a displayed Banner against the Cause of God Not only to the Scandal but for the Suppression of the Gospel and forcing people to prosanity throughout the Land Yet we have not sighed nor cryed for these Abominations nor have we been concerned as we ought with the abounding of them through the Land Nor hath our Zeal which in any measure we professed exâ—ended it self far beyond the places where we sojourned not regarding the Ignorance and Profanity of the many dark places in the Land both in the Borders Highlands and Northern Isles and other parts nor being careful of propagating the knowledge of God and Religion among them As likewise wiâ—h blushing we must confess our Pride and presumptuous boasting of the External Priviledges we had and others wanted of the Gospel and outward Reformation and Testimony which we bragged off as if that had made us better than others while we made not Conscience of improving these Priviledges nor of bringing forth suitable Fruits in a personal Reformation And in like manner the conceitedness of some in Suffering and Non Complyance and Contending for Truth rather for keeping up the Contention and abetting a Party and many times under too lofty names of the Suffering Party and Remnant and the like than to keep and hold fast the Word of the Lords Patience to His Glory as our Crown And many other evidences of pride hateful to God in boasting of the use of Armies in an ostentive way and being too much taken up with them 〈◊〉 thô necessary for the defence of our Lives in a revengeful resenting of affronts in a passionate and disdainful refusing to take reproof for excesses in the manner of any duty when we thought the matter was right And in our lightness of Carriage forgetting our Sufferings since they began to abate Yea both in time of our greatest Sufferings and since we got this Liberty of date we must acknowledge with regrate that Idleness of both kinds hath too much abounded among us Both that when we were in a manner driven from the World and shut up from all Employments but the exercise of Godliness many did not improve that opportunity of the Cross to promote acquaintance and communion with God being slothful in Prayer Reading and other Duties And some again even since they might have had access to go to Service or other lawful Employments have continued idle and out of work to the opening of the mouths of many against the Cause albeit they were not called to or employed in any publick business for the same And besides all these things there be many other transgressions whereof the Land wherein we live are guilty which we have not been humbled for to this day But in stead of mourning for them confessing and forsaking them we have been rather defending or daubing covering or colouring excusing or extenuating them All which we now desire to acknowledge and be humble for that the World may bear witness with us that Righteousness belongeth unto God and shame and confusion of face unto us as appears this day BUT because it is needful for these who find Mercy not only to confess but also to forsake their sin Therefore that the reality and sincerity of our Repentance may appear WE do Resolve and Solemnly Engage our selves before the Lord carefully to avoid for the time to come all these Offences whereof we have now made solemn publick acknowledgement and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto And to testifie the integrity of our Resolution herein and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords strength to perform the same we do again Renew our Solemn League and Covenant promising hereafter to make Conscience of all the Duties whereunto we are obliged in all the Heads and Articles thereof particularly of these which follow Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and precious and the knowledge of the Great Truths of the Gospel so generally decreased in this Land is so absolutely necessary Therefore we shall endeavour to be better acquainted with the written Word of God the only infallible Rule of Faith and Manners And shall study more than formerly the Doctrine of this True Reformed Church summarly contained in our Confession of Faith Catechisms larger and shorter Sum of
Form so far as it could serve the time and the Engagements thereof quadrate with their capacities are not to be rashly condemned for their Renewing old Vows which were and in so far only as they were before and then and are alwayes binding Yea rather it were suitable and seasonable for the Representatives who can easily mend what was not within their sphere to do in stead of despising the meanness of that party and carping at the imperfections of that action to imitate their Zeal in Renewing these National Engagements with solemn Acknowledgements of the Breaches thereof in a Form that will better please them This would be a notable mean of turning away the Lords fierce Wrath from the Nation 2 Chron. 29.10 Hereby Reformation in Church and State might be promoted and preserved Order and Union in the Church which hath been long wanting might be settled and established Former Defections might be honestly and honourably removed and remedied Future Innovations and Corruptions Schismes and Dâ—sorders might be prevented and precluded And all Malignant Enemies of Reformation might be by this Test discovered and excluded from all Trust in Church or State and capacity to do either hurt Yet without any constraint or restraint upon any Mans true liberty How pleasant and acceptable both to God and Man would it be as it may be hoped it will be when the Lords people in these Lands now sore and long scattered and divided shall return going and weeping seeking the Lord their God and asking the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward That at least the Owners Lovers of Reformation were saying Come and let us joyn our selves unto the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten THE NATIONAL COVENANT OR The Confession of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and his Houshold in the year 1580. Thereafter by Persons of all ranks in the year 1581. By Ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Council and Acts of the General Assembly Subssribed again by all sorts of Persons in the year 1590. By a new Ordinance of Council at the desire of the General Assembly With a general Band for maintainance of the true Religion and the Kings Person And subscribed in the year 1638. By the Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons then undersubscribing Together with their resolution and promises for the causes after specified To maintain the said true Religion and the Kings Majesty according to the Confession foresaid and Act of Parliament And thereafter upon the Supplication of the General Assembly to His Majesties high Commissioner and the Lords of his Majesties Honourable Privy Council subscribed again in the Year 1639. by Ordinance of Council and Act of General Assembly And now again by Vs this present Year 1689. Acknowledging the publick breaches thereof and engaging to the Duties contained therein with Accommodation to our Case and Time. WE All and every one of Us underwritten Protest that after long and due Examination of our own Consciences in matters of true and false Religion We are now throughly resolved of the Truth by the Word and Spirit of God and therefore we believe with our hearts confess with our mouths subscribe with our hands and constantly affirm bef re God aâ—d the whole World that this only is the true Christian Faith anâ— Relâ—gion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to Man which now is by the Mercy of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the Blessed Evangel and received believed and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realms but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland * and sometimes by the Kings Majesty and Three Estates of this Realme as Gods eternal Truth and only ground of our Salvation As more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our Faith stablished and publickly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament and now of a long time hath been openly professed by the Kings Majesty and whole body of this Realm both in Burgh and Land. To the which Confession and Form of Religion We willingly agree in our Consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth anâ— Verity grounded only upon his written Word And therefore we abhore and detest all contrary Religion and Doctrine But chieflly all kind of Papistry in general and particular heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland But in special We detest and refuse the usurped Authority of that Roman Anti-câ—rist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk the Civil Magistrate and Conscience of Men all his Tyrannous Laws made upon indifferent things against our Christian Liberty his erroneous Doctrine against the sufficiency of the written Word the perfection of the Law the Offices of Christ and His blessed Evangel His corrupted Doctrine concerning Original Sin our natural Inability and Rebellion to Gods Law our Justification by Faith only our imperfect Sanctification and Obedience to the Law the Nature Number and Use of the Holy Sacraments His five bastard Sacraments with all his Riâ—es Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God. His cruel judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament His absolute necessity of Baptism his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or Real presence of Christ's Body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or Bodies of Men. His Dispensations with solemn Oaths Perjuries and degrees of Marriage forbidden in the Word his cruelty against the Innocent divorced his devillish Mass his blasphemous Priest-hood profane Sacrifice for the Sin of the Dead and the Quick his Canonization of Men calling upon Angels or Saints departed worshipping of Imagery Relicks and Crosses dedicating of Kirks Altars Dayes Vowes to Creatures his Purgatory Prayers for the Dead praying or speaking in a strange Language with his Processions and blasphemous Litany and multitude of Advocates or Mediators his manifold Orders auricular Confession his desperate and uncertain Repentance his general and doubtsome Faith his satisfactions of Men for their sins his Justification by Works opus operatum Works of Supererogation Merits Pardons Peregrinations and Stations his Holy Water baptising of Bells conjuring of Spirits Crossing Saning Anointing Conjuring hallawing of Gods good Creatures with the superstitious opinion joyned therewith his worldly Monarchy and wicked Hierarchy his three solemn Vowes with all his Shavellings of sundry sorts his Erroneous Bloody Decrees made at Trent with all the Subscribers and Approvers of that cruel bloody Band conjured against the Kirk of God And Finally we detest all his vain Allegories Rites Signes and Traditions brought into the Kirk without or against the Word of God and Doctrine of this true reformed Kirk to the which we joyn our selves willingly in Doctrine Faith Religion Discipline and use of the Holy Sacraments as lively Members of the same in Christ our Head Promising and Swearing by the Great Name of the Lord our God that we
there is none other Face of Kirk nor other Face of Religion than was presently at that time by the favour of God established within this Realm which therefore is ever stilled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true and Christian Religion and a perfect Religion Which by manifold Acts of Parliament all within this Realm are bound to subscribe the Articles thereof the Confession of Faith to recant all Doctrine and Errors repugnant to any of the said Articles Act 4 and 9 Parl. 1. Act 45 46 47. Parl. 3. Act 71. Parl. 6. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. Act 123. Par. 12. Act 194 and 197. Parl. 14. of K. James 6. And all Magistrates Sherifs c. On the one part are ordained to search apprehend and punish all Contraveeners For instance Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 104. Parl. 7. Act 25. Parl. 11. K. James 6. And that notwithstanding of the King's licences on the contrary which are discharged and declared to be of no force in so far as they tend in any wayes to the prejudice and hinderance of the execution of the Acts of Parliament against Papists and Adversaries of true Religion Act 106. Parl. 7. K. James 6. On the other part in the 47. Act Parl. 3. K. James 6. It is declared and ordained seing the cause of God's true Religion and his Highness Authority are so joyned as the hurt of the one is common to both And that none shall be reputed as Loyal and Faithful Subjects to our Soveraign Lord or his Authority but be punishable as Rebellers and Gain-standers of the same who shall not give their Confession and make their profession of the said true Religion and that they who after defection shall give the Confession of their Faith of new they shall promise to continue therein in time coming to maintain our Soveraign Lords Authority and at the uttermost of their power to fortifie assist and maintain the true Preachers and Professors of Christs Evangel against whatsoever Enemies and Gain-standers of the same And namely against all such of whatsoever Nation Estate or Degree they be that have joyned and bound themselves or have assisted or assists to set forward and execute the cruel Decrees of Trent contrary to the Preachers and true Professors of the Word of God which is repeated word by word in the Article of Pacification at Perth the 23 of Febr 1572. Approved by Parliament the last of April 1573. Ratified in Parliament 1587. And related Act 123. Parl. 12. of K. James 6. with this addition That they are bound to resist all treasonable Uproars Hostilities raised against the true Religion the Kings Majesty and the true Professors Likeas all Liedges are bound to maintain the Kings Majesties Royal Person and Authority the Authoritie of Parliaments without the which neither any Laws or lawful Judicatories can be established Act 130. Act 131. Parl. 8 K. James 6. And the Subjects Liberties who ought only to live and be governed by the Kings Laws the common Laws of this Realm allanerly Act 48. Parl. 3. K. James the first Act 79. Parl. 6. K. James 4. repeated in the Act 131. Parl. 8. King James 6. Which if they be innovated or prejudged the Commission anent the Union of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England which is the sole Act of the 17. Parl. of King James the 6. Declares such Confusion would ensue as this Realm could be no more a free Monarchy because by the fundamental Laws ancient Priviledges Offices and Liberties of this Kingdom not only the Princely Authority of his Majesties Royal descent hath been these many Ages maintained but also the Peoples security of their Lands Livings Rights Offices Liberties and Dignities preserved and therefore for the preservation of the said true Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom it is statute by the 8 Act Parl. 1. repeated in the 99 Act Parl. 7. ratified in the 23 Act Parl. 11. and 114. Act Parl. 12. of K. James 6 4 Act of K. Charles 1. That all Kings and Princes at their Coronation and Reception of their Princely Authority shall make their faithful Promise by their Solemn Oath in the presence of the Eternal God That during the whole time of their Lives they shall serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of their power according as He has required in His most Holy Word contained in the Old and New Testament And according to the same Word shall maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus the Preaching of His Holy Word the due and right ministration of the Sacraments now received and preached within this Realm according to the Confession of Faith immediatly preceeding and shall abolish and gain-stand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall rule the People committed to their charge according to the Will and Command of God revealed in His foresaid Word and according to the laudable Laws and Constitutions received in this Realm no wayes repugnant to the said Will of the Eternal God and shall procure to the uttermost of their power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect peace in all time coming And that they shall be careful to root out of their Empire all Hereticks and Enemies to the true Worship of God who shall be convicted by the true Kirk of God of the foresaid crimes which was also observed by * K. Charles the first his Majesty at his Coronation in Edinburgh 1633. As may be seen in the order of the Coronation In obedience to the Commandment of GOD conform to the practice of the Godly in former times and according to the Laudable Example of our Worthy and Religious Progenitors which was warranted also by Act of Council commanding a general Band to be made and subscribed by his Majesties Subjects of all Ranks for two causes One was For defending the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above-written and a former large Confession established by sundry Acts of lawful General Assemblies and of Parliaments unto which it hath relation set down in publick Catechisms and which had been for many years with a Blessing from Heaven preached professed in this Kirk and Kingdom as Gods undoubted Truth grounded only on 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 joyned as that they had the same Friends and common Enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our minds and confessing with our mouths that the present and succeeding Generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid National Oath and Subscription inviolable We under-subscribing considering divers times before and especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion * His Highness's honour by whose noble enterprise so signally countenanced of the Lord we have obtained this reviving in our bondage of the Kings
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
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