Exhortation to Taking the Solemn League and Covenant, Colophon
Printed at London for Ralph Smith, at the ſigne of the Bible in Cornhill, neere the Royall Exchange. 1644.
A SOLEMN League and Covenant, FOR Reformation, and Defence of Religion, The Honour and Happineſſe of the KING, And the Peace & Safety of the three Kingdoms OF England, Scotland, and Jreland.
WE 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, halving before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, the honour and happineſs of the Kings Majeſtie, and His Poſterity, and the true publike Liberty, Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms, wherein every ones private condition is included, and calling to minde the treacherous and bloody plots, Conſpiracies, Attempts, and 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 & Kingdom of England, and the dangerous eſtate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are preſent and publike Teſtimonies; We have now at laſt, (after other meanes 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 ſolemne League and Covenant, wherein we all ſubſcribe, and each one of as for himſelf, with our hands lifted up to the moſt high God, do ſwear: