The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland, Solemn League and Covenant
A Solemn League and Covenant For Reformation, and Defence of Religion, The Honour and Happineſs of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.
WE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgeſſes, Miniſters of the Goſpel, and Commons of all ſorts 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 and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, the Honour and Happineſſe of the Kings Majeſty and his Poſterity, and the true publick 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 Profeſſours 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 publick teſtimonies: We have now at laſt (after other means of Supplication, Remonſtrance, Proteſtation and Suffering) 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 ſeveral places and callings, the preſervation of the Reformed Religion in the Chuch 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, 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 Catechizing; 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, endeavour the Extirpation of Popery, Prelacy (that is, Church-government by Arch-bishops, Bishops, their Chancellours and Commiſſaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, and all other Eccleſiaſticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy) Superſtition, Hereſy, Schiſm, Prophaneſſe, and whatſoever shall be found to be contrary to ſound Doctrine, and the power of Godlineſs; Leſt we partake in other mens ſins, 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.
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 Kingdoms; And to preſerve and defend the Kings Majeſty's Perſon and Authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms; That the world may bear witneſſe with our conſciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majeſty's 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 Kingdoms from another, or making any faction, or parties amongſt the people contrary to this League and Covenant, That they may be broughr to publick triall, and receive condigne 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 Kingdoms, denyed in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good Providence of GOD granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and ſettled by both Parliaments, We shall each one of us, according to our place and intereſt, endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Poſterity, And that Juſtice may be done upon the willfull Oppoſers thereof, in manner expreſſed in the precedent Article.
6. We shall alſo according to our places and callings in this Common cauſe of Religion, Liberty, and Peace of the Kingdoms, 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, whither to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourſelves to a deteſtable indifferency or neutrality in this cauſe, which ſo much concerneth the Glory of GOD, the good of the Kingdoms, and 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 reveale 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 Kingdoms 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, unfained deſire to be humbled for our own ſins, and for the ſins of theſe Kingdoms, eſpecially that we have not, as we ought, valued the ineſteemable 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, wich are the cauſes of other ſins and tranſgreſſions ſo much abounding amongſt us. And our true and unfained purpoſe, deſire, and endeavour for ourſelves, and all others under our power and charge, both in publick and in private, in all dutyes 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 Kingdoms 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 peform the ſame, As we shall anſwer at that 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 yoke of Antichriſtian Tyranny, or to joyn in the ſame, or like Aſſociation & Covenant, To the Glory of GOD, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the peace & tranquillity of Chriſtian Kingdoms, and Common-wealths.