confpiraces, attempts and practices of the enemies of GOD, against the true religion and profeffors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, ever fince the reformation of religion; and how much their rage, power and presumption are of late, and at this time, increased and exercifed, whereof the deplorable state of the church and kingdom of Ireland, the distressed eftate of the church and kingdom of England, and the dangerous eftate of the church and kingdom of Scotland, are prefent and public teftimonies: We have now at laft (after other means of fupplication, remonstrance, proteftation and fufferings) for the preservation of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and deftruction, according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in former times, and the example of GOD's people in other nations; after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and folemn league and covenant, wherein we all fubfcribe, and each one of us for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most high GOD, do fwear, I. THAT we shall fincerely, really, and constantly, thro grace of GOD, endeavour in our feveral places and callings, the prefervation of the reformed religion in the church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline and government, against our common enemies; the reformation of religon in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline 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, confeffion of Faith, form of church-government, directory for worship, and catechising; 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 we shall in like manner, without respect of perfons, endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy, (that is, church-government by arch-bishops, bishops, their chancellors and commissioners, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other ecclefiaftical officers depending on that hierarchy) fuperftition, heresy, fchifm, profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to found doctrine and the power of Godliness; leaft we partake in other mens fins, 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. r III. We shall, with the same sincerity, reality and constancy, in our several vocations, endeavour, with our estates and lives, mutually to preferve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the king's majesty's person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion, and liberties of the kingdoms; that the world may bear witness with our confcience of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts, or intentions to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatness. IV. We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the difcovery of all fuch as have been or shall be incendiaries, Malignants, or evil instruments, by hindring the reformation of religion, dividing the king from his people, or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any faction or parties amongst the people, contrary to this league and covenant; that they may be brought to public trial, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the fupreme judicatories of both kingdoms refpectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient. V. And whereas the happiness of a bleffed peace between these kingdoms, denied in former times to our progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and fettled by both parliaments; We shall each one of us, according to our place and interest, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and union to all pofterity; and that justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent article. VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common cause of religion, liberty and peace of the Kingdom's, assisft and defend all those that enter into this league and covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; and shall not fuffer ourselves directly or indirectly, by whatfoever combination, perfuafion or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a Ff4 deteft : 1 456 The Solemn league and Covenant. detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause, which fo much concerneth the glory of GOD, the good of the kingdom, and honour of the King; but shall all the days of our lives zealoufly and conftantly continue therein, against all opposition, and promote the fame, according to our power, against all lets and impediments whatsoever; and, what we are not able ourselves to fupprefs or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed; All which we shall do as in the fight of God. باله And, because the se kingdoms are guilty of many sins, and provocations against God, and his Son Jefus Christ, as is too manifeft by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof; we profess and declare, before God and the world, our unfeigned defire to be humbled for our own fins, and for the fins of these kingdoms, especially that we have not as we ought valued the ineftimable 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 fins and tranfgreffions so much abounding amongst us: and our true and unfeigned purpose, defire, and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in publie 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 máy 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 bearts, with a true intention to perform the fame, as we shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts fhall be disclosed; most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy fpirit for this end; and to bless our defires & proceedings, with fuch success, as may be deliverance and fafety to his people, and encouragement to other Chriftian Churches, groning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichriftan tyranny, to join in the fame, or like association and covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the kingdom of Jefus Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Christian kingdoms and common-wealths. FINIS. SOLEMN Acknowledgment OF PUBLICK SINS AND Breaches of the COVENANT; ANDA Solemn Engagment To all the DUTIES contained therein, NAMELY, Those which doin a more special way relate unto the dangers of thesetimes. Together with The act of the Commiffion of the general assembly, 1648, and act of Parliament 1649, for Renewing the League and covenant. The act of the commission of the general Assembly, for renew ing the Solemn League and Covenant. THE commiffion of Edinburgh, October 6. 1648. the general assembly confidering, that a great part of this land have involved themselves in many and grofs breaches of the folemn league and covenant; and that the hands of many are grown flack in following and purfuing the duties continued therein; and that many, who not being come to sufficient age when it was first sworn and subscribed, have not hitherto been received in to the fame: do, upon these, and other grave and important confiderati ons, appoint and ordain the folemn league and covenant to be renewed throughout all the congregations of this kingdom. And, because it is a duty of great weight and consequence, ministers, after the fight hereof, would be careful to take pains, in their doctrine and otherwife, that their people may be made sensible of these things wherein they have broken the covenant, and be prepared for the renewing thereof with fuitable affections and dispositions: And, that these things may be the better performed, we have thought it necessary to condescend. upon a folemn acknowledgment of public fins and breaches of the covenant, and a folemn engagement to all the duties contained therein, namely, those which do in a more special way relate unto the dangers of these times; and this folemn acknowledgment and engagement, fent herewith, shall be made use of, and the league and covenant shall berenewed in fuch manner as follows. First, There shall be intimation of a folemn public humiliation and faft the second Sabbath of December, to be kept upon the next Thursday, and the Lord's day thereafter; at which intimation, the League and Covenant, and the public acknowledgment of fins, and engagement unto duties, are to be publicdy read by the minister, in the audience of all the people; and they are to be exhorted to get copies thereof, that they may be made acquainted therewith: and the humiliation and falt is to be kept the next Thursday thereafter, in reference to the breaches of the covenant, contained in the folemn public acknowledgment, as the causes thereof; and the next Lord's day thereafter which is also to be spent in public humiliation and fafting, immediately after the fermon, which is,to be applyed to the business of that day, the public acknowledgment and pagagement is again to be publicly read: and thereafter prayer is to be made, containing the confession of the breaches mentioned therein, and begging merey for these sins, and strength of God for renewing the covenant in fincerity and truth: after which prayer, the Solemn League and Covenant is to be read by the minifter, and then to be fworn by him and all the people, who are to engage themselves for performance of all the duties cuntained therein; namely, these which are mentioned in the public acknowledgment and engagement, and are oppofite unto the fins therein confefled:and the actions is to be closed with prayer to God, that his people may be enabled, in the power of his ftrenght, to do their duty, according to their oath, now renewed in fo folemn a way. It is alfo hereby provided, That all those who renew the League and Covenant, shall again subscribe the fame: and that none be admitted to the renewing or fubfcribing thereof, who are excluded by the other act and direction sent herewith, 1 A. KER. |