Times before, and especially at this Time, the Danger of the true reformed Religion, of the King's Honour, and of the publick Peace of the Kingdom, by the manifold Innovations and Evils generally contained, and particularly mentioned in our late Supplications, Complaints, and Proteftations; Doe hereby profefs, and before God, his Angels, and the World, folemnlie declare, That with our whole Hearts we agree, and refolve all the Days of our Life conftantlie to adhere unto and to defend the forefaid true Religion: And forbearing the Practice of all Novations alreadie introduced in the Matters of the Worship of God, or Approbation of the Corruption of the publick Government of the Kirk, or civil Places and Power of Kirkmen, till they be tryed and allowed in free Affemblies and in Parliaments; to labour, by all Means lawful, to recover the Puritie and Libertie of the Gofpel, as it was established and profeffed before the forefaid Novations. And because, after due Examination, we plainlie perceave and undoubtedlie believe, that the Innovations and Evils contained in our Supplications, Complaints and Proteftations, have no Warrant of the Word of God; are contrarie to the Articles of the forefaid Confeffions, to the Intention and Meaning of the bleffed Reformers of Religion in this Land, to the above-written Acts of Parliament; and do fenfiblie tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and Tyrannie, and to the Subverfion and Ruine of the true Reformed Religion, and of our Liberties, Lawes and Eftates: Wee alfo declare, That the forefaid Confeffions are to be interpreted, and ought to be understood of the forefaid Novations and Evils, no leffe than if every one of them had been expreffed in the forefaid Confeffions; and that wee are o bliged to deteft and abhorre them, amongst other partieular Heads of Papistrie abjured therein. And therefore, from the Knowledge and Confcience of our Dutie to God, to our King and Country, without any worldly Respect or Inducement, fo farre as humane Infirmitie will fuffer, wifhing a further Measure of the Grace of God for this Effe: Wee promife and fwear_by_the GREAT GREAT NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD, tð continue in the Profeffion and Obedience of the forefaid Religion; and that we shall defend the fame, and refift all thefe contrarie Errors and Corruptions, according to our Vocation, and to the uttermoft of that Power that God hath put in our Hands, all the Days of our Life. And in like manner, with the fame Heart wée declaré before God and Men, That wee have no Intention, nor Defire to attempt any Thing that may turne to the Dif honour of God, or to the Diminution of the King's Greatneffe and Authority: But on the contrary, wee promise and sweare, That wee shall, to the uttermost of our Power, with our Means and Lives, ftand to the Defence of our dread Sovereign the King's Majefty his Perfon and Authority, in the Defence and Prefervation of the forefaid true Religion, Liberties and Laws of the Kingdome: As alfo, to the mutual Defence and Affift ance every one of us of another, in the fame Cause of maintaining the true Religion and His Majefty's Autho rity, with our best Counsel, our Bodies, Means and whole Power, against all Sorts of Perfons whatsoever; fo that whatfoever fhall bee done to the least of us for that Caufe, fhall be taken as done to us all in general, and to every one of us in particular. And that wee fhall neither direct ly nor indirectly fuffer our felves to be divided or with drawen by whatsoever Suggestion, Combination, Allure ment or Terrour, from this bleffed and loyal Conjunct? on; nor fhall caft in any Let or Impediment that may ftaye 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 Meanes labour to further and promove the fame; and if any fuch dan◄ gerous and divifive Motion be made to us by Word of Writ, Wee, and every one of us, thall either fupprefle it, or, if Need be, fhall incontinent make the fame knowne, that it may be timeoufly obviated. Neither do wee fear the foule Afperfions of Rebellion, Combi nation, or what else our Adverfaries, from their Craft and Malice, would put upon us, feeing what wee do is fo well warranted, and arifeth from an unfained Defire to maintaine maintaine the true Worship of God, the Majefty of our King, and the Peace of the Kingdome, for the common Happiness of our felves and the Pofterity. And because we cannot looke for a Bleffing from God upon our Proceedings, except with our Profeffion and Subfcription wee joyne fuch a Life and Gonversation as befeemeth Chriftians, who have renewed their Covenant with God: We therefore faithfully promise for our felves, our Followers, and all others under us, both in publicke, and in our particular Families and perfonal Carriage, to endea➡ vour to keepe ourselves within the Bounds of * Christian Liberty; and to be good Examples to others of all Godlineffe, Soberneffe, and Righteoufneffe, and of every Deutie wee owe to God and Man. And that this our Union and Conjunction may bee observed with. out Violation, Wee call the LIVING GOD THE SEARCHER OF OUR HEARTS to witnefs, who knoweth this to be our fincere Defire and unfained Refolution, as wee fhall anfwer to JESUS CHRIST in the great Day, and under the Paine of GOD's everlafting Wrath, and of Infamie and Loffe of all Honour and Refpect in this World; Moft humblie befeeching the LORD to ftrengthen us by his HOLY SPIRIT for this End, and to bleffe our Defires and Proceedings with a happie Succeffe; that Religion and Righteousness may flourish in the Land, to the Glory of GOD, the Honour of our King, and Peace and Comfort of us all. In witness whereof, we have subscribed with our Hands all the Premiffes. THE Article of this Covenant, which was at the first Subfcription referred to the Determination of the General Affembly, being now determined; and thereby the Five Articles of Perth, the Govern ment of the Kirk by Bishops, and the civil Places and Power of Kirkmen, upon the Reasons and Grounds contained in the Acts of the General Affembly, declared to be unlawful within this Kirk ; We fubfcribe according to the Determination forefaid. How King Charles II. took this Covenant, fee Collection of Acts &c. No. 25. There are also several Copies of this Covenant on Parchment, with the original Subscriptions of feveral Congregations, Ministers, Elders, and People, yet extant, to be feen in divers Hands. In the Copy fubfcribed Anno 1638, by Noblemen, &c. there is bere added our. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons affembled in Parliament, for the calling of an Affembly of Learned and Godly Divines, and others, to be confulted with by the Parliament, for the settling of the Government and Liturgy of the Church of England; and for vin dicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the faid Church from falfe Afperfions and Interpretations, June 12, 1643. WE 7 Hereas, amongst the infinite Bleffings of Almighty God upon this Nation, none is nor can be more dear unto us than the Purity of our Religion; and for that, as yet, many Things remain in the Liturgy, Difcipline and Government of the Church, which do neceffarily require a further and more perfect Reformation than as yet hath been attained: And whereas it hath been declared and refolved by the Lords and Commons, affembled in Parliament, That the prefent Church Government by Arch-bifhops, their Chancellors, Commiffars, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons and other Ecclefiaftical Officers, depending upon the Hie rarchy, is evil, and juftly offenfive and burdenfome to *the Kingdome, a great Impediment to Reformation and Growth of Religion, and very prejudicial to the State and Government of this Kingdom; and therefore they are refolved, that the fame fhall be taken away, and that fuch a Government fhall be fettled in the Church, as may be most agreeable to God's holy Word, and most apt to procure and preferve the Peace of the Church at home, and nearer Agreement with the Church of Scotland and other Reformed Churches abroad: And for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the Church of England from all falfe Calumnies and Afperfions; it is thought fit and neceffary to call an Affembly of learned, godly, and judi cious Divines, who, together with fome Members of both both the Houfes of Parliament, are to confult and advise of fuch Matters and Things touching the Premiffes, as fhall be propofed unto them by both or either of the Houfes of Parliament, and to give their Advice and Counsel therein to both or either of the faid Houses, when, and as often as they fhall be thereunto required. Be it therefore ordained by the Lords and Commons in this prefent Parliament affembled, That all and every the Perfons hereafter in this prefent Ordinance named, that is to say, And fuch other Perfon or Perfons as fhall be nominated and appointed by both Houfes of Parliament, or fo many of them as fhall not be letted by Sickness, or other neceffary Impediment, fhall meet and affemble, and are hereby required and enjoined upon Summons figned by the Clerks of both Houfes of Parliament, left at their respective Dwellings, to meet and assemble themfelves at Westminster, in the Chappel called King Henry the VIIth's Chappel, on the first Day of July, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand fix hundred and forty three; and after the first Meeting, being at leaft the Number of Forty, fhall from Time to Time fit and be removed from Place to Place; and alfo, that the faid Affembly fhall be diffolved in fuch Manner as by both Houses of Parliament fhall be directed; and the faid Perfons, or fo many of them as shall be so affembled, or fit, fhall have Power and Authority, and are hereby likewife enjoined from Time to Time, during this prefent Parliament, or until further Order be taken by both the faid Houfes, to confer and treat among themselves of fuch Matters and Things, touching and concerning the Liturgy, Difcipline and Government of the Church of England, or the vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the fame from all falfe Afperfions and Mifconftructions, as fhall be proposed unto them by both on either of the faid Houses of Parliament, and no other; and deliver their Opinion, Advices of, or touching the Matters aforesaid, as shall be most agreeable to the Word of God, to both, or either of the Houses, from Time to Time, in fuch Manner and Sort, as by both, I 2 |