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
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
attaining all things we Covenant for but to the aim desire design and endeavour to live in no sin Covenanted against never to approve our selves in it to omit no known duty engaged unto and to leave no mean unesayed for attaining the whole of it See Mr Durham on 3 Command concerning the obligation of Vowes Page 133. c. III. In the following words from vers 10. to vers 15 or 17. Moses proposes the matter more closely shewing the extant of the obligation thereof in a threefold respect 1. In respect of the Universality of the Persons obliged 2. In respect of the sacredness and inviolable strictness of its Obligation 3. In respect of the perpetuity of its Obligation First In respect of the Persons obliged it is of universal extent binding and obliging all the Members of the Church and Common-wealth of Israel of all sorts qualities ranks vocations ages sexes none excluded for these things 1. All of all qualities Captains Vers 10. Elders or Magistrates Officers both of Church and State with all the Men of Israel Accordingly we find Josiah taking all engaged all the Men of Judah and the Priests and the Prophets and all the People both small and great 2 Kings 23.2 And Ezra made the chief Priests and Levites and all Israel to swear the Covenant Ezra 10.5 None are so high that they are above the obligation of it None so smal or base that they are below it It s very encouraging when there are Nobles and Captains c. to take the Covenant It s very necessary they should go before others in it but it does not only belong to them Quest 7 Quer. May the Covenant be renewed without these Captains Elders Officers or Primores Primates Regni when they will not concur Ans Certainly this extensive obligation reaching all Persons is to be understood positively that all these are obliged to enter into Covenant but not negatively that without any of these the Covenant should not be entered into The Motives mentioned are common to the smal as well as the great and without them as well as with them the Articles of it and the keeping and doing them are common to both alike The relation that the smal and meaner sort of People have to God the other contracting party is the same that the Nobles and Great-ones have vers 12. and the Priviledges of it to be established as a People unto Himself and to have him for their God vers 13. do no more belong to the one than to the other and consequently the Smal may renew it as well as the Great but not Nationally to bind the whole Nation formally to which indeed the concurrence of its Representatives is necessary 2. Vers 11. All of all Ages and Sexes even their Little-ones and their Wives vers 11. are obliged to take it if they be capable Concerning which Quest 8 Quer. If Children may be admitted to the Covenant Ans It cannot be doubted but they are under the bond of it materially being Children of the â—ovenant Act. 3.25 to whom belong the promises and also the duties how soon they are capable of the Covenant of Grace Act. 2 29. and that they are obliged to take it if they be capable otherwise their Parents are to engage for them Accordingly in Scotland it hath been in use for faithful Ministers to take Parents engaged to the covenants when they presented their Children to Baptism 3. All of all ranks of relations even Strangers Servants frâ—m the hewer of wood to the drawer of water Quest 9 Quer. If Strangers be obliged or to be admitted to the Covenant Ans As in Israel Strangers being admitted to the covenant together with their circumcision was one bage of their being proselytes of which Strangers only this is to be understood so now thô the case differ very far such strangers as are natuâ—alized and reside in the country may be admitted to the National Covenant of that Nation whereof they are subjects and wherein they are Church Members O hers are only to be restrained from doing or saying any thing against it Quest 10 4. Neither only these that stood there before the Lord in that place but the absent also vers 13.14 Some might have had as good reason then to Object as many do now foolishâ—y that pâ—rsonally they never tâ—ok the Covenant being not present when it was â—â—ken But it is plain here absence will not absolâ—e from the obligation of it so it is in all real Covenants that are not meerly Personal All the Members of the Community covenanting are under the bond oâ— the common Covenant It would be a ridiculous exceptiâ—n fâ—r one to alledge they are not oblâ—ged to stand to the Allegiance sworn to a King or to a Covenant of Peace made with an Independant Nation by the Community of that Nation whereof they are Members because they were abroad when these Transactions were made But with reference to all these it may be a Question Quest 11 May the Covenant universally be imposed upon all ranks and sorts of Persons Or May all be admitted to take it Ans Thô all be under the obligation of it materially and all are bound to take it formally caeteris paribus if they be qualified yet neither ought it to be imposed nor should any be admitted but with respect to their capacities Gracious and Legal The Wicked that are scandalous and obstinate in Wickedness Error Profanity or Malignancy hating Instruction and casting the Lords Word behind them have not Gods right to it for unto such He saith what hast thou to do to take up may Covenant in thy mouth Psal 50.16 17. Some were legally incapacitate as the Enemies of Truth and Godliness with whom they were not to associate Exod. 23.32 Exod. 34.15 Deut. 7.2 Judg. 2.2 Ezra 4.3 Ezra 9.14 Who is to be understood with this exception except they were Proselytes and Penitents such as Rahab Josh 2. It is clear frâ—m the Scriptures thô all are bound to it it is to be imposed upon and tendered to none but those that subscribe to it with choise and resolution Josh 24.15.22 Nâ—ne but such as are reformed from the Defections and Complyancies of the time Neh. 10.28 None but such as have knowledge and understanding of the Sins and Duties contained in the Covenant ibid. None but such as can swear and subscribe it according to these qualifications of an Oath Jer. 4.2 in truth in judgement and in righteousness Secondly Ver 12 The Obligation of this Covenant is shewed to be very great not only ext nsively but intensively Vers 12.13 It must be very sacred inviolable strictissimi juris since 1. it is a Covenant and Oath mutually entered into by Israel with the Lord their God and by the Lord with them ver 12 and consequently cannot be dissolved but by consent of both Parties Quest 12 It is a grave Question Can nothing loose the Obligation of a lawful Oath Answ 1. It
turning awaâ— from the Lord serving the gods of the Nations having among them Root bearing Gall and Worm wood who might bless themselves iâ— their presumption of Impunity notwithstanding the threatned curse Buâ— much more in after Generations they that never dwelt in thâ— Land of Egypt and never saw the plagues punishing that Lands wickedness but afterward might see the abominations and the Dungy gods as iâ— is in the Hebrew of other Nations were in hazard of that defection anâ— presumption when the Covenant might be worn antiquated out of daâ— and mind which might encourage them much more than at that timâ— when it was in every Bodies mouth and memory to say I shall have peaâ— thô I walk in the imagination of mine heart 2. The threatned punishmenâ— of the breach of this Covenant was perpetual The Lords anger and jealousie shall smok against Covenant-breakers all the Curses written shall lyâ— upon them their names shall be blotted out from under Heaven verâ— 20. He shall separate them unto evil vers 21. Not only in that agâ— wherein the Covenant was Renewed but the Generation to come oâ— their Children that should rise up after them shall observe the punishment of the Posterity when they shall have forsaken the Covenant oâ— the Lord God of their Fathers and the Lord shall have rooted theâ— out of their Land for the same vers 22. to 28. which was not accomplished till many Centuries afterwards Quest 14 Quer. If the Obligation of National Covenants where the matter iâ— lawful he perpetual and binding upon Posterity Answ If any Engagements can be supposed binding to Posterity certainly Nationaâ— Covenants to keep the Commandments of God and to adhere to his institutions must be of that nature It cannot be denyed that several Obligations do bind Posterity Publick Promises with annexation of curseâ— to the breakers make the Posterity obnoxious as well as those who personally came under the Engagement Neb 5 12 13 That promise of the Jewish Nobles and Rulers would have brought their Posterity under the Curse if they had exacted usury of their Bretheren as Joshua's Adjuration did oblige all posterity never to build Jericho Josh 6.26 and the breach of it did bring the Curse upon Hiel the Bethelite in the dayes of Ahab Publick Vowes do bind Posterity Jacobs Vow Gen. 28.21 did oblige all his posterity virtually comprehended in him Hos 12.4 The Rechabites found themselves obliged to observe the Vow of their Fore-father Jonadab Jer. 35.6.14 Publick Oaths do oblige posterity Joseph took an Oath of the Children of Israel to carry up his Bones to Canaan Gen. 50.25 which did oblige the posterity some hundreds of years after Exod. 13.19 Josh 24.32 National Covenants with Men before God do oblige posterity as Israels Covenant with the Gibeonites Josh 9.15.19 for the breach whereof many Ages after the posterity was plagued 2 Sam. 21.1 So Zedekiah's Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. 17.18 19. Especially National Covenants with God before Men about things Moral Objectively obliging are Perpetual Jer. 50.5 And yet more especially as Grotius observes when they are of an Hereditary nature that is when the subjeâ—t is permanent the matter Moral the end Good and in the form of them there is a Clause expressing their perpetuity All which Ingredients of perpetual Obligations are clear in Scotlands Covenants Which are National Promises adjuring all the Members of the Scottish Church under a Curse to preserve and promote Reformation according to the Word of God and to extirpate what is in Doctrine Worship Discipline or Government opposite thereto National Vowes devoting the then engaging and suceeding Generations to be the Lords people and to walk in His wayes National Oaths solemnly sworn by all Ranks with hands lifted up to the Most High GOD never to admit of Innovations or submit to Usurpations contradictory to the Word of God National Covenants wherein the King Parliament and People did Covenant with each other to perform their repective duties in their â—everal places and stations inviolably to preserve Religion and Liberty Yea National Lawes solemnly ratified by King and Parliament and made the foundation of the Peoples Compact with the King at his Inauguration And Finally they are National Covenants with God as party contracting to keep and do the Words of His Covenant The subject or parties contracting are permanent as long therefore as Scotland is Scotâ—and and God is Unchangeable who hath given His revealed Will for the Rule of Mans Obedience Scotlands Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government must be endeavoured to be preserved in a conformity to it The Matter of them is morall containing nothing but what is antecedently and eternally binding albeit there had neveâ— been a formal Covenant The Ends of them perpetually good to wit For defence of the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in thâ— Confession of Faith and which had been for many years with a blessing from Heaven preached and professed in this Kirk and Kingdom as Gods undoubted Truth grounded only upon His written Word And for maintaining the Kings Majestie his Person and Estate c. Having before our eyes the Glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of thâ— Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peacâ— of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included And in thâ— very Forme of them there are Clauses expressing their perpetuity Aâ— in that Article of the National Covenant subscribed anno 1638 there aâ— these words Being convinced in our minds and confessing with our mouths thâ— the present and succeeding Generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaâ— National Oath and Subscription inviolable In the Solemn League these Art. 〈◊〉 That we and our posterity after us may as bretheren live in Faith and Love and tâ— Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us Art. 5. We shall endeavour that thâ— may remain conjoined in a firm Peace and Vnion to all posterity IV. Next from vers 16. to 20. This faithful Watch-maâ— warns Vers 16.17 that and all Generations of the danger of breach 〈◊〉 Covenant Shewing First The Inductives to this sin exposing peopâ—â— to the danger of it and involving them in the guilt of it before he laâ— before them what shall be the punishment of it Quest 15 If it be enquired then What are the chief Temptatioâ— inducing to this sin of Covenant-breaking Here it is Answered Dwelling among and converse with a People of a false Religion 〈◊〉 ye know how ye have dwelt in the Land of Egypt and ye have seen their aboâ— nations c. as it is noted in a Parenthesis v. 16 17. This induces boâ— Persons Families and Tribes vers 18. and in this order first Person then Families then Tribes to symbolize with them in perjury Peopâ—â— are more readily seduced to sin by the perverse example of these thâ— live among
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
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