forts of perfons whatsoever; fo that whatfoever fhall be done to the leaft of us for that cause, shall be taken as done to us all in gencral, and to every one of us in particular. And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatfoever fuggeftion, combination, allurement, or terror, from this bleffed and loyal conjunction; nor fhall caft any let or impediment that may ftay or hinder any fuch refolution, as, by common confent, fhall be found to conduce for fo good ends: But, on the contrary, fhall, by all lawful means, labour to further and promove the fame; and if any fuch dangerous and divifive motion be made to us, by word or writ, We, and every one of us, fhall either fupprefs it, or, if need be, thall incontinent make the fame known, that it may be timeously obviated. Neither do we fear the foul afperfions of rebellion, combination, or what else our adverfarics, from their craft and malice, would put upon us; feeing what we do is fo well. warranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned defire to maintain the true worship of God, the Majefty of our King, and the peace of the kingdom, for the common happiness of ourfelves and our pofterity.

AND because we cannot look for a bleffing from God upon our proceedings, except with our profeffion and fubfcription we join fuch a life and converfation as befeemeth Chriftians who have renewed their covenant with God:

We

We therefore, faithfully promife, for ourselves, our followers, and all others under us, both in public and in our particular families, and perfonal carriage, to endeavour to keep ourselves within the bounds of Chriflian liberty; and to be good examples to others of all godliness, fobernefs, and righteoufnefs, and of every duty we owe to God and man.

AND, that this our union and conjunction may be obferved without violation, We call the LIVING GOD, THE SEARCHER OF OUR HEARTS, to witnefs, who knoweth this to be our fincere defire and unfeigned refolution, as we fhall anfwer to JESUS CHRIST in the great day, and under the pain of God's everlafting wrath, and of infamy and lofs of all honour and respect in this world: Moft humbly befeeching the LORD to ftrengthen us by his HOLY SPIRIT for this end, and to blefs our defires and prcceedings with a happy fuccefs, that religion and righteoufnefs may flourish in the land, to the glory of GoD the honour of our King, the peace and comfort of us all. In witnefs we have fubfcribed with our hands all the premiffes."

ВоTH nations having entertained ideas of civil power directly oppofite to King Charles I. and as he confidered Epifcopal government as a more proper inftrument of prerogative than any other form. The Parliament, with which he differed, having called together an Affem

bly

bly of Divines, for the advancement of religion, they made confiderable progrefs in the bufinefs; while the Parliament promoted the cause of civil liberty. Charles had recourfe to arms. His opponents meant to defend themfelves: And, having called in the affiftance of their brethren in Scotland, they would comply only on condition of the South Britons joining with them in an ecclefiaftic union, for promoting uniformity in religion, in conformity to the beft Reformed Churches. Though the meafure was difagreeable to many politicians; yet, for political reasons, rather than religious motives, they complied with it: And the following Covenant, entitled THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT, was entered into :

"WE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgeffes, Minifters of the Gofpel, and Commons of all forts, in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland, by the providence of God living under one King, and being of one Reformed Religion, having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the honour and happiness of the King's Majefty and his pofterity, and the true public liberty, fafety and peace of the kingdom, wherein every one's private condition is included: And calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, confpiracies, attempts, and practices of the enemies of God against the true religion,

and profeffors thereof, in all places, efpecially in these three kingdoms, ever fince the Refor mation of Religion; and how much their rage, power, and prefumption are of late, and this time, increafed and exercifed, whereof the deplorable ftate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the diftreffed eftate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are prefent and public teftimonies: We have now, at laft, (after other means of fupplication, remonftrance, proteftations, and fufferings), for the prefervation of ourfelves and our religion from utter ruin and deftruction, according to the commendable practice of thefe kingdoms in former times, and the example of God's people in other nations, after mature deliberation, refolved and determined to enter into a mutual and Solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all fubfcribe, and each of us for himfelf, with our hands lifted up to the Most HIGH GOD, do fwear,

I. THAT we fhall fincerely, really, and conftantly, through the grace of God, endeavour, in our feveral places and callings, the prefervation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, against our common enemies; the Reformation of Religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline, and government, according to the Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed

Reformed Churches: And fhall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confeflion of faith, form of church-government, directory for worship and catechifing; that we, and our pofterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love ; and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midft of us.

II. THAT we fhall, in like manner, without refpect of perfons, endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, church-government by archbishops, bithops, their chancellors and commiffaries, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other ecclefiaftical officers depending on that hierarchy), fuperftition, herefy, fchifin, profanenefs, and whatfoever fhall be found to be contrary to found doctrine, and the power of godlinefs; left 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.

III. WE fhall, with the fame fincerity, reality, and conftancy, in our feveral vocations, endeavour, with our eftates and lives, mutually to preferve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms; and to preferve and defend the King's Majefty's person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms; that the world may bear witnefs

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