The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland, National Covenant

The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland · National Covenant

The Nationall Covenant, OR The Confeſſion of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland, ſubſcribed at first by the Kings Majeſty and his Houshold, in the yeare 1580. Thereafter, by Perſons of all rankes, in the yeare 1581, By ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councill, and Acts of the general Aſſembly. Subſcribed againe by all ſorts of Perſons in the Yeare 1590, By a new Ordinance of Council, at the deſire of the General Aſſembly: With a General Band for maintenance of the true Religion & the Kings Perſon. And now ſubſcribed in the Year 1638. By Us, Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgeſſes, Miniſters, and Commons, then under-ſubſcribing: Together, with our reſolution and promiſes for the cauſes after ſpecified, To maintaine the ſaid true Religion, and the Kings Majeſty, according to the Confeſſion foreſaid, and Acts of Parliament. And now, upon the Supplication of the General Aſſembly to His Majeſty's high Commiſſioner, and the Lords of his Majeſty's Honorable Privy Council, ſubſcribed again in the Year 1639. by Ordinance of Council, and Act of General Aſſembly. The Tenor whereof here followeth.

WE All, and every one of Us underwritten, Proteſt, that, after long and due Examination of our owne Conſciences, in matters of true & falſe Religion, We are now throughly reſolved of the Truth, by the Word and Spirit of God; and therefore we believe with our hearts, confeſs with our mouths, ſubſcribe with our hands, and conſtantly affirme before God, and the whole Word, that this onelyonly is the true Chriſtian Faith and Religion, pleaſing God, and bringing Salvation to man, which now is by the mercy of God revealed to the world, by the preaching of the bleſſed Evangel, and receaved, believed, and defended, by many and ſundry notable Kirks and Realmes, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland, the Kings Majeſty, and three eſtates of this Realme, as Gods eternall Truth, and onelyonly ground of our Salvation: as more particularly is expreſſed in the Confeſſion of our Faith, ſtablished, and publickly confirmed by ſundry Acts of Parliament, and now of a long time hath beene openly profeſſed by the Kings Majeſty, and whole body of this Realme both in Burgh and Land. To the which Confeſſion and forme of Religion, wee willingly agree in our conſciences in all points, as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity, grounded onelyonly upon his written Word. And therefore, we abhorre and deteſt all contrary Religion, and Doctrine: But chiefly, all kinde of Papiſtry, in generall and particular heads, even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God, and Kirk of Scotland: but in ſpecial we deteſt and refuſe the uſurped authority of that Roman Antichriſt upon the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the civill Magiſtrate, and conſcience of men, All his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things againſt our Chriſtian liberty, His erronious Doctrine, againſt the ſufficiency of the written Word, the perfection of the Law, the office of Chriſt, and his bleſſed Evangel. His corrupted Doctrine concerning originall ſinne, our naturall inability and rebellion to Gods Law, our Juſtification by faith only, our imperfect Sanctification and obedience to the Law, the nature, number and uſe of the Holy Sacraments. His five baſtard Sacraments, with all his Rites, Ceremonies, and falſe Doctrine, added to the miniſtration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God. His cruell judgement againſt Infants departing without the Sacrament: his abſolute neceſſity of Baptiſme: his blaſphemous opinion of Tranſubſtantiation, or reall preſence of Chriſts body in the Elements, and receiving of the ſame by the wicked, or bodies of men. His diſpenſations with ſolemne Oathes, Perjuries, and degrees of Mariage forbidden in the Word: his cruelty againſt the innocent divorced: his divellish Maſſe: his blaſphemous Prieſthood: his profane Sacrifice for the ſinnes of the dead and the quick: his Canonization of men, calling upon Angels or Saints departed, worshipping of Imagery, Relicts, and Croſſes, dedicating of Kirks, Altars, Dayes, Vowes to creatures; his Purgatory, Prayers for the dead, praying or ſpeaking in a ſtrange language, with his Proceſſions and blaſphemous Letany, and multitude of Advocates or Mediators: his manifold Orders, Auricular Confeſſion: his deſperate and uncertaine Repentance; his general and doubtſome Faith; his ſatisfactions of men for their ſinnes: his Juſtification by works, opus operatum, works of Supererogation, Merits, Pardons, Peregrinations, and Stations: his holy water, baptiſing of Bells, conjuring of Spirits, croſſing, ſaning, anointing, conjuring, hallowing of GODS good creatures, with the ſuperſtitious opinion joyned therewith: his Worldly Monarchy, and wicked Hierarchy: his three ſolemne vowes, with all his shavelings of ſundry ſorts, his erronious and bloudy decrees made at Trent, with all the ſubſcribers and approvers of that cruell and bloudy Band, conjured againſt the Kirk of GOD: and finally, wee deteſt all his vaine Allegories, Rites, Signes and Traditions, brought in the Kirk, without or againſt the Word of GOD, and Doctrine of this true reformed Kirk, to the which we joyne ourſelves willingly, in Doctrine, Faith, Religion, Diſcipline, and uſe of the Holy Sacraments, as lively members of the ſame, in Chriſt our Head: promiſing and ſwearing by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD, that we shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Diſcipline of this Kirk, and shall defend the ſame according to our vocation and Power, all the dayes of our lives, under the pains contained in the Law, and danger both of Body and Soul, in the day of GODS fearful Judgment: And ſeeing that many are ſtirred up by Sathan, and that Roman Antichriſt, to promiſe, ſweare, ſubſcribe, and for a time uſe the Holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully againſt their own Conſciences, minding thereby, firſt, under the external cloak of Religion, to corrupt and ſubvert ſecretly GODS true Religion within the Kirk, and afterward, when time may ſerve, to become open enemies and perſecutors of the ſame, under vain hope of the Popes diſpenſation, deviſed againſt the Word of GOD, to his greater confuſion, and their double condemnation in the day of the LORD JESUS.

Wee, therefore, willing to take away all ſuſpicion of hypocriſy, and of ſuch double dealing with GOD and his Kirk, Proteſt, and call The Searcher of all hearts for witneſſe, that Our mindes and hearts, do fully agree with this our Confeſſion, Promiſe, Oath and Subſcription, ſo that Wee are not moved for any wordly reſpect, but are perſuaded onelyonly in our Conſciences, through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion, printed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we shall anſwer to him in the day, when the ſecrets of all hearts shall be diſcloſed. And becauſe we perceave that the quietneſs and ſtability of our Religion and Kirk, doth depend upon the ſafety & good behaviour of the Kings Majeſty, as upon a comfortable Inſtrument of Gods mercy, granted to this Countrey, for the maintaining of this Kirk, and miniſtration of Juſtice amongſt us, we proteſt and promiſe with our hearts under the ſame Oath, Hand-writ, and Pains, that we shall defend his Perſon and Authority, with our goods, bodies and lives, in the defence of Chriſt his Evangel, Liberties of our Country, miniſtration of Juſtice, and punishment of iniquity, againſt all enemies within this Realm, or without, as we deſire our GOD to be a ſtrong and merciful defender to us in the day of our death, and coming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: To whom with the Father. and the Holy Spirit, be all Honour and Glory Eternally.

Like as many Acts of Parliament not onelyonly in general do abrogate, annull, and reſcind all Lawes, Statutes, Acts, Conſtitutions, Canons, civil or municipall, with all other Ordinances and practique penalties whatſoever, made in prejudice of the true Religion and Profeſſours thereof; Or, of the true Kirk-diſcipline, juriſdiction, and freedome thereof; Or in favours of Idolatry and Superſtition; Or of the Papiſticall Kirk: As Act. 3. Act. 13. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. of King Iames the ſixt, That Papiſtry and Superſtition may be utterly ſuppreſſed according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament repeated in the 5. Act. Parl. 20. K Iames 6. And to that end they ordaine all Papiſts and Prieſts to be punished by manifold Civill and Eccleſiaſtical pains, as adverſaries to Gods true Religion, preached and by Law eſtablished within this Realme, Act. 24. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. as common enemies to all Chriſtian government, Act. 18. Parl. 16. K. Iames 6. as rebellers and gainſtanders of our Soveraigne Lords Authority, Act. 47. Parl. 3. K. Iames 6. and as Idolaters. Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. but alſo in particular (by and atcour the Confeſſion of Faith) do abolish and condemne the Popes Authority and Juriſdiction out of this Land, and ordaine the maintainers thereof to be punished, Act 2. Parl. 1. Act 51. Part. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 114. Parl. 12. K. Iames 6. do condemne the Popes erronious doctrine, or any other erronious doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Chriſtian religion publickly preached, and by law eſtablished in this Realme: And ordaines the ſpreaders and makers of Books or Libels, or Letters, or writs of that nature to be punished, Act 46. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. do condemne all Baptiſme conforme to the Popes Kirk and the Idolarry of the Maſſe, and ordaines all ſayers, willfull hearers, and concealers of the Maſſe, the maintainers and reſetters of the Prieſts, Jeſuites, traffiquing Papiſts, to be punished without any exception or reſtriction, Act 5. Parl. 1. Act. 120. Parl. 12. Act. 164. Parl. 13. Act. 193. Parl. 14. Act. 1. Parl. 19. Act. 5. Parl. 20. K. Iames 6. do condemne all erroneous bookes and writtes containing erroneous doctrine againſt the Religion preſently profeſſed, or containing ſuperſtitious Rites and Ceremonies Papiſticall, whereby the people are greatly abuſed, and ordaines the home-bringers of them to be punished, Act 25. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. do condemne the monuments and dregs of by-gone Idolatry; as going to the Croſſes, obſerving the Feaſtivall dayes of Saints, and ſuch other ſuperſtitious and Papiſticall Rites, to the dishonour of GOD, contempt of true Religion, and foſtering of great errour among the people, and ordaines the uſers of them to be punished for the ſecond fault as Idolaters, Act 104. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6.

Like as many Acts of Parliament are conceaved for maintenance of GODS true and Chriſtian Religion, and the purity thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God, the liberty & freedom thereof, in her National, Synodal Aſſemblies, Presbyteries, Seſſions, Policy, Diſcipline and Juriſdiction thereof, as that purity of Religion and liberty of the Church was uſed, profeſſed, exerciſed, preached and confeſsed according to the reformation of Religion in this Realm. As for inſtance, The 99. Act. Parl. 7. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. Act. 160. Parl. 13. of King Iames 6. Ratified by the 4. Act. of King Charles. So that the 6. Act. Parl. 1. and 68. Act. Parl. 6. of King Iames 6. in the Yeare of God 1579. declares the Miniſters of the bleſſed Evangel, whom GOD of his mercy had raiſed up, or hereafter should raiſe, agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrin, and Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, and the People that profeſſed Chriſt, as he was then offered in the Evangel, and doth communicate with the Holy Sacraments, (as in the reformed Kirk's of this Realm they were publickly adminiſtrat) according to the Confeſſion of Faith, to be the true and Holy Kirk of Chriſt Jeſus within this Realm, and decerns and declares all and ſundry, who either gainſayes the Word of the Evangel, received and approved, as the heads of the Confeſſion of Faith, profeſſed in Parliament, in the Yeare of God 1560. ſpecified alſo in the firſt Parliament of King Iames 6. and ratified in this preſent Parliament, more particularly do ſpecify, or that refuſes the adminiſtration of the Holy Sacraments, as they were then miniſtrated, to be to members of the ſaid Kirk within this Realme, and true Religion, preſently profeſſed, ſo long as they keep themſelves ſo divided from the ſociety of Chriſts body: And the ſubſequent Act. 69. Parl. 6. of K. Iames 6. declares, That there is none other Face of Kirk, nor other Face of Religion, then was preſently at that time, by the Favour of GOD eſtablished within this Realme, which therefore is ever ſtiled, Gods true Religion, Chriſts true Religion, the true and Chriſtian Religion, and a perfect Religion, Which by manifold acts of Parliament, all within this realme are bound to ſubſcribe the articles thereof, the Confeſſion of Faith, to recant all doctrine & errours, repugnant to any of the ſaid Articles, Act. 4. & 9. Parl. 1. Act. 45.46.47. Parl. 3. Act 71. Parl. 6. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. Act 123. Parl. 12. Act 194. and 197. Parl. 14. of K. Iames 6. And all Magiſtrats, Sherifs, &c. on the one parte are ordained to ſearch, apprehend, and punish all contraveeners; For inſtance, Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 104. Parl. 7. Act 25. Par. 11. K. Iames 6. And that notwithſtanding of the Kings Majeſty's licences on the contrary, which are diſcharged & declared to be of no force in ſo farre as they tend in any wayes, to the prejudice & hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parliament againſt Papiſts & adverſaries of true Religion, Act. 106. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. On the other part in the 47. Act. Parl. 3. K. Iames 6. It is declared and ordained, ſeeing the cauſe of Gods true Religion, and his highnes Authority are ſo joyned, as the hurt of the one is common to both: and that none shal be reputed as loyall and faithfull ſubjects to our Soveraigne Lord, or his Authority, but be punishable as rebellers and gainſtanders of the ſame, who shall not give their Confeſſion, and make their profeſſion of the ſaid true Religion, and that they who after defection shall give the Confeſſion of their Faith of new, they shall promiſe to continue therein in time comming, to maintaine our Souveraigne Lords Authority, and at the uttermoſt of their power to fortify, aſſiſt, and maintaine the true Preachers and Profeſſors of Chriſts Evangel, againſt whatſoever enemies and gaineſtanders of the ſame: and namely (againſt all ſuch of whatſoever nation, eſtate, or degree they be of) that have joyned, and bound themſelves, or have aſſiſted, or aſſiſts to ſet forward, and execute the cruell decrees of Trent, contrary to the Preachers and true Profeſſors of the Word of God, which is repeated word by word in the Article of Pacification at Perth the 23 of Februar. 1572. approved by Parliament the laſt of Aprile 1573. Ratified in Parliament 1587. and related, Act 123. Parl. 12. of K. Iames 6. with this addition, that they are bound to reſiſt all treaſonable uproars and hoſtilities raiſed againſt the true Religion, the Kings Majeſty, and the true Profeſſors.

Like as all Liedges are bound to maintaine the King Majeſty's Royal Perſon▪ and Authority, the Authority of Parliaments, without the which neither any lawes or lawful judicatories can be eſtablished. Act 130. Act. 131. Parl. 8. K. Iames 6. and the ſubjects Liberties, who ought onelyonly to live and be governed by the Kings lawes, the common lawes of this Realme allanerly, Act 48. Parl. 3. K. Iames the firſt. Act. 79. Parl 6. K. Iames the 4. repeated in the Act 13 1. Parl. 8. K. Iames 6. Which if they be innovated or prejudged, the commiſſion anent the union of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, which is the ſole Act of the 17. Parl. of K. Iames 6. declares ſuch confuſion would enſue, as this Realme could be no more a free Monarchy, becauſe by the fundamentall lawes, ancient priviledges, offices and liberties of this Kingdome, not onelyonly the Princely Authority of his Majeſty's Royal diſcent hath been theſe many ages maintained, but alſo the peoples ſecurity of their Lands, livings, rights, offices, liberties, and dignities preſerved, and therefore for the preſervatien of the ſaid true Religion, Lawes, and Liberties of this Kingdome, it is ſtatute by the 8. Act Parl. 1. repeated in the 99. Act Parl. 7. Ratified in the 23. Act Parl. 11. and 114. Act Parl. 12. of K. Iames 6. and 4. Act of K. Charles. That all Kings and Princes at their Coronation and reception of their Princely Authority, shall make their faithfull promiſe by their ſolemne oath in the preſence of the Eternal God, that, enduring the whole time of their lives, they shall ſerve the ſame Eternal God to the uttermoſt of their power, according as he hath required in his moſt Holy Word, contained in the old and new Teſtament. And according to the ſame Word shall maintain the true Religion of Chriſt Jeſus, the preaching of his Holy Word, the due and right miniſtration of the Sacraments now receaved and preached within this Realme (according to the Confeſſion of Faith immediately preceeding) and shall abolish and gainſtand all falſe Religion contrary to the ſame, and shall rule the people committed to their charge, according to the will and command of God, revealed in his foreſaid Word, and according to the laudable Lawes and Conſtitutions received in this Realme, no wayes repugnant to the ſaid will of the Eternall God; and shall procure, to the uttermoſt of their power, to the Kirk of God, and whole Chriſtian people, true and perfite peace in all time coming: and that they shall be careful to root out of their Empire all Hereticks, and enemies to the true worship of God, who shall be convicted by the true Kirk of God, of the foreſaid crimes, which was alſo obſerved by his Majeſty, at his Coronation in Edinburgh 1633. as maybe ſeene in the order of the Coronation.

In obedience to the Commandment of GOD, conforme to the practice of the godly in former times, and according to the laudable example of our Worthy and Religious Progenitors, & of many yet living amongſt us, which was warranted alſo by act of Councill, commanding a general band to be made and ſubſcribed by his Majeſty's ſubjects, of all ranks, for two cauſes: One was, For defending the true Religion, as it was then reformed, and is expreſſed in the Confeſſion of Faith abovewritten, and a former large Confeſſion eſtablished by ſundry acts of lawful generall aſſemblies, & of Parliament, unto which it hath relation, ſet down in publick Catechiſmes, and which had been for many years with a bleſſing from Heaven preached, and profeſſed in this Kirk and Kingdome, as Gods undoubted truth, grounded only upon his written Word. The other cauſe was, for maintaining the Kings Majeſty, His Perſon, and Eſtate: the true worship of GOD and the Kings authority, being ſo ſtraitly joined, as that they had the ſame Friends, and common enemies, and did ſtand and fall together. And finally, being convinced in our mindes, and confeſſing with our mouthes, that the preſent and ſucceeding generations in this Land, are bound to keep the foreſaid nationall Oath & Subſcription inviolable, Wee Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgeſſes, Miniſters & Commons under ſubſcribing, conſidering divers times before & eſpecially at this time, the danger of the true reformed Religion, of the Kings honour, and of the publick peace of the Kingdome: By the manifold innovations and evills generally conteined, and particularly mentioned in our late ſupplications, complaints, and proteſtations, Do hereby profeſſe, and before God, his Angels, and the World ſolemnly declare, That, with our whole hearts we agree & reſolve, all the dayes of our life, conſtantly to adhere unto, and to defend the foreſaid true Religion, and (forbearing the practice of all novations, already introduced in the matters of the worship of GOD, or approbation of the corruptions of the publicke Government of the Kirk, or civil places and power of Kirk-men, till they be tryed & allowed in free aſſemblies, and in Parliaments) to labour by all meanes lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the Goſpel, as it was ſtablished and profeſſed before the foreſaid Novations: and becauſe, after due examination, we plainely perceave, and undoubtedly believe, that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications, Complaints, and Proteſtations have no warrant of the Word of God, are contrary to the Articles of the Foreſaid Confeſſions, to the intention and meaning of the bleſſed reformers of Religion in this Land, to the above written Acts of Parliament, & do ſenſibly tend to the re-eſtablishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny, and to the ſubverſion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion, and of our Liberties, Lawes and Eſtates, We alſo declare, that the Foreſaid Confeſſions are to be interpreted, and ought to be underſtood of the Foreſaid novations and evils, no leſſe then if every one of them had been expreſſed in the Foreſaid confeſſions, and that we are obliged to deteſt & abhorre them amongſt other particular heads of Papiſtry abjured therein. And therefore from the knowledge and conſciences of our duety to God, to our King and Countrey, without any wordly reſpect or inducement, ſo farre as humane infirmity will ſuffer, wishing a further meaſure of the grace of God for this effect, We promiſe, and ſweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD, to continue in the Profeſſion and Obedience of the Foreſaid Religion: That we shall defend the ſame, and reſiſt all theſe contrary errours and corruptions, according to our vocation, and to the uttermoſt of that power that GOD hath put in our hands, all the dayes of our life: and in like manner with the ſame heart, we declare before GOD and Men, That we have no intention nor deſire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of GOD, or to the diminution of the Kings greatneſſe and authority: But on the contrary, we promiſe and ſweare, that we shall, to the uttermoſt of our power, with our meanes and lives, ſtand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne, the Kings Majeſty, his Perſon, and Authority, in the defence and preſervation of the foreſaid true Religion, Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome: As alſo to the mutual defence and aſſiſtance, every one of us of another in the ſame cauſe of maintaining the true Religion and his Majeſty's Authority, with our beſt counſel, our bodies, meanes, and whole power, againſt all ſorts of perſons whatſoever. So that whatſoever shall be done to the leaſt of us for that cauſe, shall be taken as done to us all in genearal, and to every one of us in particular. And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly ſuffer our ſelves to be divided or withdrawn by whatſoever ſuggeſtion, allurement, or terrour from this bleſſed & loyall Conjunction, nor shall caſt in any let or impediment, that may ſtay or hinder any ſuch reſolution as by common conſent shall be found to conduce for ſo good ends. But on the contrary, shall by all lawful meanes labour to further and promove the ſame, and if any ſuch dangerous & diviſive motion be made to us by Word or Writ, We, and every one of us, shall either ſuppreſſe it, or if need be shall incontinent make the ſame known, that it may be timeouſly obviated: neither do we fear the foul aſperſions of rebellion, combination, or what elſe our adverſaries from their craft and malice would put upon us, ſeing what we do is ſo well warranted, and ariſeth from an unfeined deſire to maintaine the true worship of God, the Majeſty of our King, and peace of the Kingdome, for the common happineſſe of our ſelves, and the poſterity. And becauſe we cannot look for a bleſſing from God upon our proceedings, except with our Profeſſion and Subſcription we joine ſuch a life & converſation, as beſeemeth Chriſtians, who have renewed their Covenant with God; We, therefore, faithfully promiſe, for our ſelves, our followers, and all other under us, both in publick, in our particular families, and perſonal carriage, to endeavour to keep our ſelves within the bounds of Chriſtian liberty, and & to be good examples to others of all Godlineſſe, Soberneſſe, and Righteouſneſſe, and of every duety we owe to God and Man, And that this our Union and Conjunction may be obſerved without violation, we call the living GOD, the Searcher of our Hearts to witneſs, who knoweth this to be our ſincere Deſire, and unfained Reſolution, as we shall anſwere to JESUS CHRIST, in the great day, and under the pain of Gods everlaſting wrath. and of infamy, and loſſe of all honour and reſpect in this World, Moſt humbly beſeeching the Lord to ſtrengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end, and to bleſſe our deſires and proceedings with a happy ſucceſſe, that Religion and Righteouſneſſe may flourish in the Land, to the glory of GOD, the honour of King, and peace and comfort of us all. In witneſſe whereof we have ſubſcribed with our hands all the premiſſes, &c.

The Article of this Covenant, which was at the firſt Subſcription, referred to the determination of the General Aſſembly, being determined, and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth, the Government of the Kirk by Bishops, the Civill places and Power of Kirkment, upon the reaſons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Aſſembly, declared to be unlawful within this Kirk, we ſubſcribe according to the determination foreſaid.