A Phoenix, Covenant – Order
A PHENIX, OR, The Solemn LEAGUE and COVENANT.
Whereunto is annexed,
I. The Form and manner of His Majeſties Coronation in Scotland. With a Sermon then preached on that occaſion, by Robert Douglas of Edenburgh.
II. A Declaration of the Kings Majeſty to all His loving Subjects of the Kingdoms of Scotland, &c. in the Yeare 1650.
III. The great Danger of Covenant-breaking, &c. Being the ſubſtance of a Sermon preached by Edm. Calamy the 14. of Jan. 1645. before the then Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir Tho. Adams, together with the Shieriffs, Aldermen, and Common-councell of the ſaid City: being the day of their taking the Solemn League and Covenant at Michael Baſenſhaw, London.
EDINBƲRGH, Printed in the year of Covenant-breaking.
To the Reader.
Reader,
THou mayſt expect ſome Reaſons (by way of Preface) why theſe things thus collected are preſented to thy conſideration, the principall part thereof having been the occaſion of ſo much conteſt and trouble in theſe Nations, and therefore deſired by many it ſhould have been buried in its own aſhes. But for that things of ſuch publique concernment, have been acted by the Heads of theſe Nations, and in ſo ſolemn a manner, in the preſence of Almighty God, it cannot ſo ſoon be forgotten, but ought to be weighed, and layd to heart, with the good or evil conſequences that have or ſhall accrew thereby, it is therefore left to thy ſerious conſideration.
A ſolemn League and Covenant: For Reformation and defence of Religion: the Honour and Happines of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
WE the Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgeſſes, Miniſters of the Goſpel, and Commons of all ſorts in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, 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 & Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, the Honour and Happineſs of the Kings Majeſty, and his Poſterity, and the true Publick Liberty, Safety & peace of the Kingdoms, wherein every ones private condition is included; & calling to mind the treacherous and bloody Plots, Conſpiracies, Attempts, & 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 exerciſed; whereof the deplorable eſtate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the diſtreſſed eſtate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous eſtate of the Church & Kingdom of Scotland, are preſent and publick Teſtimonies. We have now at laſt (after other means of Supplication, Remonſtrance, Proteſtations, and Sufferings,) 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 mature deliberation, reſolved and determined to enter into a Mutuall 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 ſeverall places and callings, the preſervation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, 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 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.
2. That we ſhall in like manner without reſpect of perſons, endeavor the extirpation of popery, prelacy, (that is, Church-government by Archbiſhops, Biſhops, their Chancellors, and Commiſſaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other Eccleſiaſticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy) ſuperſtition, hereſie, ſchiſm, prophanneſs, and whatſoever ſhall be found to be contrary to ſound Doctrine, and the power of godlineſs; leſt we partake in other mens ſins, and therein 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 ſeverall vocations, endeavour with our eſtates and lives, mutually to preſerve the rights and priviledges of the parliaments, and the Liberties of the kingdomes, and to preſerve and defend the Kings Majeſties Perſon and Authority, in the Preſervation and Defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdomes, that the World may bear witneſſe with our Conſciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminiſh His Majeſties juſt Power and Greatneſſe.
4. We ſhall alſo with all Faithfulneſſe endeavour the diſcovery of all ſuch as have been, or ſhall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil Inſtruments, by hindering the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from His People, or one of the three Kingdomes from another, or making any faction or parties among the People, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may be brought to publick Tryal, and receive condign Puniſhment, as the degree of their Offences ſhall require or deſerve, or the Supream Judicatories of both Kingdomes reſpectively, or others having power from them for that effect ſhall judge convenient.
5. And whereas the Happineſſe of a bleſſed Peace between theſe Kingdomes, denied in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good Providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and ſetled by both the Parliaments, we ſhall each one of us, according to our place and intereſt, endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all Poſterity, and that Juſtice may be done upon the wilfull oppoſers thereof, in manner expreſſed in the precedent Articles.
6. We ſhall alſo according to our places and callings in this common cauſe of Religion, Liberty, and Peace of the Kingdomes, 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 Kingdomes, and the honour 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 ſuppreſſe 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 Kingdomes are guilty of many ſins and provocations againſt God, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, as is too manifeſt by our preſent diſtreſſes and dangers, the fruits thereof: We profeſſe and declare before God and the world our unfained deſire to be humbled for our own ſins, and for the ſins of theſe Kingdomes, 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 our 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 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 may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and eſtabliſh theſe Churches and Kingdomes 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 the 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 bleſſe our deſires and proceedings with ſuch ſucceſſe, as may be deliverance and ſafety to his people, and encouragement to other Chriſtian Churches, groaning under, or in danger of the yoak of Antichriſtian tyranny: to joyn in the ſame or like Aſſociation and Covonant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt, and the peace and tranquility of Chriſtian Kingdomes and Common-wealths.
Wil. Lenthal, Speaker
Beuchamp St. John
Gilbert Gerrard
Walter Earle
James Cambel
Thomas Cheeke.
Robert Nicholas
Benjamin Rudyard
John Gurdon
Robert Harley
Francis Knollis
Edward Maſter
John White
Anthony Sapley
Dennis Bond
Lawrence Whitaker
Michael Noble
…ere. Hoby
Richard Barwis
Edward Baynton
William Cawley
John Moyle
John Pyne
George Searle
Henry Vane ſenior
Nevil Pool
John Young
Henry Herbert
Thomas Sandys
William Ieſſon
Philip L. Herbert
Thomas Bartington
Martin Lumley
John Trevor
Francis Godolphin
Thomas Arundell
Edward Stephens
Gilbert Piekering
John Greve
Oliver Cromwell
Henry Vane junior
William Cage
Richard Eriſey
Philip L. Liſle
Will. Heveningham
Iſaac Pennington
Richard Creſheld
Thomas Pelham
Thomas Parker
John Leigh
John Harris
Auguſtin Skinner
John Venn
William Strickland
John Franklin
Samuel Brown
Robert Scawen
Roger Hill
John Button
John Meyrick
Ambroſe Brown
Richard Winn
Edward Owner
Charles Pym
Charles L. Cranborn
Ben. Weſton
Dudley North
John Nut
John Corbet
Roger Burgoyne
Peter Temple
Benjamin Valentine
Thomas Walſingham
Oliver Luke
William Alenſon
Humphrey Salwey
Richard Moor
William Aſhurſt
Thomas Moor
Thomas Fountain
William Ellys
Henry Shelley
Rich. Shuttleworth
Henry Ludlow
George Gallop
Robert Wallop
Arthur Heſilrige
Oliver Saint-John
Thomas Grantham
Francis Barnham
Will. L. Fitz Williams
Edmund Dunch
Henry Mildmay
Hugh Rogers
Thomas Hatcher
John Wray
Simonds D'Ewes
Anthony Bedingfield
John Aſhe
William L. Munſon
Martin Liſter
Robert Goodwin
Edward Thomas
Henry Lucas
Miles Corbet
Philip Smith
Cornelius Holland
William Spurflowe
John Lowry
Peter Wentworth
Henry Chomley
Philip Stapleton
William Pierrepoint
Roger North
Alexander Popham
Thomas Hodges
John Maynard
Samuel Vaſſal
Anthony Irby
John Clotworthy
John Br…lme
Richard Jervoyſe
John Blackiſton
Walter Long
John Rolle
Robert Jennor
John Waddon
William Maſham
John Liſle
Edmund Fowel
Edward Aſhe
Thomas Pury
Richard Whitehead
Richard J…nyns
Humphrey Tufton
Thomas Da…res
Thomas Earl
John Downes
John Goodwyn
Francis Drake
William Waller
Samuel Luke
Francis Buller
Richard Harman
George Buller
Arthur Onſlowe
Richard Wynwood
Robert Pye
H. L. Gray of Ruthin
Richard Knightley
John Pym
Chriſtoph. Yelverton
Anthony Nicoll
Peter Wroth
Robert Reynolds
Nat. Barnardiſton
Henry Heyman
William Purefoy
Valentine Walton
Michael Oldeſworth
William Wheeler
Hall Ravenſcroft
T. L. Gray of Groby
Thomas Middleton
Edw. Hungerford
Chriſtopher Wrey
Richard Lee
Herbert Morley
Thomas Lane
Robert Cecil
William Bell
Thomas Some
Herbot. Grimſtone
Symon Snowe
John Naſh
Herbot. Grimſtone
Ralph Aſheton
Edward Ayſhcoghe
John Wylde
John Trenchard
Thomas Jervoyſe
Richard Browne
William Plaiters
Nathaniel Stephens
Richard Roſe
Francis Rous
Gilbert Millington
Walter Young
John Brown
John Hippiſley
Edward Poole
Henry Pelham
William Hay
John Driden
Nathaniel Fyennes;
William Lewis
Giles Grene
William Lytton
John Harvey.
Edward Dowce
William Strode
Edmond Prideaux
Thomas Hoyle
Edward Exton
Francis Popham
Zouch Tate
John Curſon
Alexander Bence
Squire Bence
John Selden
John Glyn
Richard Onſlow
John Coke
Tho. L. Wenman
Bulſtrode Whitlock
George Montague
Edward Partheriche
Henry Campion
VVilliam VVhittaker
Denzel Holles
Edward VVingate
James Fennys
Poynings Moore
Edward Biſſe, junior.
VVilliam Jephſon
Edward Montague
Norton Knatchboll
Thomas Eden
Edward Baynton
Jo. Evelin
Jo. Potts
Sam. Rolls
Ralph Aſhton
VVilliam Drake
Pereg. Pelham
VVilliam Brereton
Thomas VViddrington
Natha. Hallows
Joh. Bamfield
Symond Thelwall.
Hen. VVorſley
Phil. Parker
Edw. Boys
John Alford.
Die Veneris, 29 Januar. 1644.
ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That the Solemn League and Covenant be on every day of Faſt and Publique Humiliation, publiquely read in every Church and Congregation within the Kingdome: And that every Congregation be enjoyned to have one of the ſaid Covenants fairly Printed in a fair Letter, in a Table fitted to hang up in ſome publick place of the Church to be read.
Hen. Elſynge Cler. Pail. Dom. Com.