The League Illegal, Document 1 – Document 3
THE COVENANT Which cauſed theſe Scruples of Conſcience, Here followeth.
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, England, Scotland, and Ireland.
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, having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, the honour and happineſs of the Kings Majeſty, and His Poſterity, and the true publick Liberty, Safety, and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every one private condition is included, and calling to mind the treacherous and bloudy Plots, Conſpiracies, Attempts, and practiſes 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 Charch and Kingdom of Ireland, the diſtreſſed eſtate of the Church and 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, Proteſtations, and Sufferings) for the preſervation of our ſelves and our Religion from utter ruin and deſtruction, according to the commendable practiſe 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 mutual 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:
I.
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 Church 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 endevour 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.
II.
That we ſhall in like manner, without reſpect of perſons, endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, Church-Government by Archbiſhops, Biſhops, their Chancellours and Commiſſaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other Eccleſiaſtical Officers depending on that Hierarchy) Superſtition, Hereſie, Schiſme, Profaneneſs, 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.
III.
We ſhall with the ſame ſincerity, reality and conſtancy, in our ſeveral 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 Majeſties perſon and authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the world may bear witneſs with our Conſciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminiſh His Majeſties juſt power and greatneſs:
IV.
We ſhall alſo with all faithfulneſs endevour the diſcovery of all ſuch as have been, or ſhall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evill Inſtruments, by hindring 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 brought to publick triall, and receive condign puniſhment, as the degree of their offences ſhall require or deſerve, or the ſupream Judicatories of both Kingdoms reſpectively, or others having power from them for that effect, ſhall judge convenient.
V.
And whereas the happineſs of a bleſſed Peace betweene theſe Kingdoms, 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 Parliaments: we ſhall each one of us, according to our place and intereſt, endeavor that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all poſterity; And that Juſtice may be done upon the wilful oppoſers thereof, in mannr expreſſed in the precedent Articles.
VI.
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 terror, 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 Kingdoms, and the honor of the King; but ſhall all the dayes of our lives zealouſly and conſtantly continue therein, againſt all lets and impediments whatſoever; and what we are not able our ſelves to ſuppreſs 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 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, our 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 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 other 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 reall 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 perform 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; to joyn in the ſame, or like Aſſociation and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the peace and tranquillity of Chriſtian Kingdoms and Common-wealths.
The two firſt clauſes of the Covenant, as they were offered to the Aſſembly, licenſed, and entred into the Hall book according to Order, September 4. 1643. and Printed at London for Philip Lane.
1. THat we ſhall all and each one of us, ſincerely, readily and conſtantly, through the Grace of God, endeavour in our ſeveral places and callings, the preſervation of the true Reformed Proteſtant Religion, in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government according to the word of God, and the reformation of Religion in the Church of England (this Explication to be at the end of the Covenant, as far as we do or ſhall in our conſciences conceive to be according to the Word of God) according to the ſame holy Word, the Example of the laſt Reformed Churches, and as may bring the Church of God in both Nations to the neereſt 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.
2. That we ſhall in like manner, without reſpect of perſons, endeavour the Extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superſtition, Hereſie, Schiſme and Profaneneſs, and whatſoever ſhall be found to be contrary to ſound Doctrine, and the power of Godlineſs in both Nations, leſt we partake in other mens ſins, and thereby be endangered to receive of their plagues, that the Lord may be one, and his Name one in both Kingdoms.
To which firſt printed copy, the Doctors Speech delivered in the Aſſembly, relateth, pag. 48.
The two clauſes of the Covenant, as they were altered and Printed by Order of the Houſe of COMMONS.
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 Church 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 Archbiſhops, Biſhops, their Chancellours, Commiſſaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other Eccleſiaſtical Officers depending on the Hierarchie, Superſtition, Hereſie, Schiſm, Profaneneſs, 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.