,,the ,,auchensaugh ,,renovation  ,,of  
,,the  ,,national ,,covenant ,,and      
,,solemn ,,league ,,and ,,covenant2     
,,with ,,the  ,,acknowledgment ,,of     
,,sins ,,and ,,engagement ,,to ,,duties1
  ,,as ,,they ,,were  ,,renewed ,,at    
,,auchensaugh1 ,,near ,,douglas1  ,,july
 #bd1 #agab4  7,,compared ,,with ,,the  
,,editions ,,of ,,paisley1 #ahbj1 ,,and 
,,belfast1 #ahce47  ,,also1  ,,the      
,,renovation  ,,of ,,these  ,,public    
,,federal ,,deeds  ,,ordained ,,at      
,,philadelphia1 ,,october #h1 #ahhj1    
,,by ,,the  ,,reformed ,,presbytery1    
,,with ,,accommodation ,,of ,,the       
,,original ,,covenants1 ,,in ,,both     
,,transactions1  ,,to ,,their ,,times   
,,and ,,positions ,,respectively4       
99       99       99       99       99  
,,philadelphia #ahhj4           99      
99       99       99       99           
,,preface4    ,the ,reformed            
,presbytery1 at a meeting in            
,philadelphia1 ,october #fth #ahhj1     
,resolved1 ,that another edition of the 

,auchensaugh ,deed be published1  and   
appointed the undersigned a committee to
 attend to this business  with all      
convenient speed4    ,this ,presbytery1 
after forty years' experience1 during   
which  opportunities have been afforded 
for examining the opinions and          
practices of all parties1 professing any
 regard for the ,covenanted             
,reformation1 is still deeply impressed 
with the conviction that the            
transaction at ,auchensaugh #agab1 is   
the only faithful renovation of our     
,covenants1 ,national and ,solemn       
,league4 ,the fidelity of our fathers in
  that hazardous and heroic transaction1
 it is believed1 has ever since  been   
the occasion 7not the cause7 of all     
opponents manifesting their  hostility  
to the whole covenanted cause1 by first 
assaults upon that  detested ,bond4 ,and
 that this is the real state of the case
 we proceed to  prove by the following  
historical facts4 ,first4--,in          
connection with  remodeling the         

,testimony2 or rather by supplanting it 
in #ahjf1 the ,terms  of ,communion1    
without submitting an overture1 were    
also changed to  harmonize with         
,reformation ,principles ,exhibited1 by 
excluding the  ,auchensaugh ,renovation 
from the fourth ,term1 where it had     
stood for  nearly a century4 ,the same  
party have for years excluded from their
  abstract of ,terms the ,covenants     
themselves4 ,second4--,in ,scotland     
this faithful document was expunged in  
#ahbb1 obviously to prepare the  way for
 the adoption of a ,new ,testimony7671  
which appeared #ahcg-i4  ,the majority  
of the actors in that work who survive1 
are now in the ,free  ,church6          
,third4--,at the time when defection was
 progressing in the ,r4,p4  ,synod of   
,scotland1 the sister ,synod of ,ireland
 strenuously resisted an  attempt to    
remove the foresaid ,bond from its place
 in the ,terms4 ,the  ,rev4 ,messrs4    
,dick1 ,smith and ,houston in #ahcg1    
were faithful and  successful for the   

time in resisting that attempt4 ,mr4    
,houston would  ever resist any         
alteration in respect of the            
,auchensaugh ,bond1  regarding the      
objection laid against it as in reality 
aimed at the  ,covenants themselves4    
,yet as a sequel to their ,renovation of
 the  ,covenants at ,dervock #ahec1 the 
,auchensaugh ,bond was subsequently     
shown  to the porch--removed from the   
,terms6 ,fourth4--,at what was called   
covenant-renovation at ,pittsburgh      
#ahga1 we believe no one spoke in       
behalf of their fathers' noble          
achievement in #agab4 ,indeed this could
  not be rationally expected in a body  
who could tolerate members  vilifying   
the very ,covenants which they pretended
 to renew4  ,fifth4--,other parties     
farther removed from the position of    
their  reforming progenitors2 but who   
still claim ecclesiastical affinity with
  ,john ,knox1 and commonly prefix to   
the symbols of their faith the          
historical word ,westminster1 give very 

strong expression to their  feelings of 
hostility--not to the ,auchensaugh      
,bond1 of which probably  they never    
heard1 but to the ,british ,covenants   
expressly2 yea1 to the  very ordinance  
of public social covenanting itself4    
,but we shall let  them speak for       
themselves4 ,one ,doctor of divinity is 
reported as  saying--,i am opposed to   
the whole matter of covenanting4        
,covenants do  an immense sight more    
harm than good4 ,those ,scotch          
,covenanters brought  persecution upon  
themselves by their covenants4#a        
,another ,dr4 said1 ,i have always been 
opposed to covenanting4 ,one  generation
 of ,god's people have no right to enter
 into bonds that entail  obligations    
upon future generations4#b ,a third ,dr4
 said1 ,i hold it is  a sin for men to  
go into the august presence of ,god and 
enter into  covenant with him4 ,it is   
base presumption4#c ,a fourth ,dr4 said1
 ,i  hold that the church as an         
organization is not a responsible moral 

agent4 ,neither is the nation6 ,these   
sentiments may well excite  astonishment
 and alarm1 when proclaimed by          
accredited teachers of  morality and    
religion4 ,sixth4--,seceders have all   
along their history  claimed to be the  
sole heirs of the ,scottish covenanted  
inheritance4  ,they are not ignorant of 
the ,auchensaugh ,renovation4 ,how they 
view that  transaction may be best      
ascertained from their own language4    
,the  ,original ,secession ,magazine for
 ,november #ahhj1 p4 #hfa1 speaks thus1 
,the distinction drawn between          
',covenanters' and ',seceders1' we have 
shown to be groundless4 ,are ,reformed  
,presbyterians covenanters at all8      
,there is not an actual ,covenanter     
among them4 ,they renewed the           
,covenants after a fashion in #agab4 ,in
 our view the ,covenants were not       
renewed1 they were only mangled1 c4     
,these sentiments are sufficiently      
strong and explicit to be intelligible4 
,the writer's feelings evidently        

interfered with judicial discrimination1
 while openly expressing that  hostility
 to the ,auchensaugh ,bond which is     
concealed by others4 ,the ,rev4  ,john  
,mc,millan1 whom the ,lord honored to   
take the lead at ,auchensaugh1 is       
especially branded by this writer who   
asserts1--he did not secede and  retire1
 he was expelled2 nor was the position  
of his early associates in  the ministry
 of the purest water4 ,moreover1 this   
writer asserts that  they 7,seceders7   
have actually renewed the ,covenants1   
from time to time1  during the whole    
period of their existence4 ,how could   
this be1 since  ,seceders have all along
 rejected the civil part of the         
,covenants8 ,but  these documents bear  
on their face a direct aim at personal1 
domestic1  ecclesiastical1 and civil    
reformation4 ,no party can intelligently
 and  honestly renew the ,national      
,covenant and ,solemn ,league1 while    
eulogizing  the ,glorious ,revolution of
 #afhh1 while in allegiance to the      

,british  throne--that bloody horn of   
the beast2 or whose political principles
  will identify them with any other horn
 which may have power to scatter        
,judah4 ,zech4 i3 #ba4    ,we have thus 
attempted by an induction of            
particulars1 as concisely as  we could1 
to point out existing opposition to our 
,covenanted  ,reformation1 by various   
parties who assail the ,british         
,covenants  directly1 or by a first     
assault upon the ,auchensaugh ,bond1    
would reach a  fatal stroke at the      
,covenants themselves4 ,we believe with 
our  predecessors that those who reject 
the ,auchensaugh ,renovation1 by        
logical necessity will relinquish the   
,covenants themselves4    ,the reader   
may be assured that neither we nor the  
,reformed ,presbytery1  whose committee 
we are1 claim ,papal infallibility or   
,christian  perfection2 nor do we ask   
implicit faith in any uninspired        
documents4  ,but we sincerely believe   
ourselves that the ,auchensaugh         

,renovation and  the ,bond1 to which the
 foregoing statements are prefixed1 will
 be found  on examination to be sound1  
faithful1 and in nothing contrary to the
  word of ,god4    ,,david ,,steele1    
,,robert ,,alexander1  ,,john ,,clyde4  
,committee    ,,footnotes3    ,footnote 
#a3 ,this gentleman does not seem to    
know that infidels use  similar argument
 against ,christianity4 ,or1 did he     
never read--,i came  not to send peace  
on the earth1 but a sword4 ,his logic   
also is as  faulty as his theology--non 
causa pro causa4    ,footnote #b3 ,on   
what principle does this minister       
dispense the ordinance  of baptism to   
subjects in their minority8 ,is baptism 
a mere ceremony1  involving no          
obligation upon the children of         
believers8 ,gen4 xvii3 #ad4    ,footnote
 #c3 ,no presumption1 when graciously   
invited to do so4 ,is4  lvi3 #d1 #f1    
#aa4 ,this teaching tends to the        
subversion of social  order--the moral  
order of the universe4 #b ,pet4 ii3 #aj4

           99       99       99       99
       99        ,,the ,,auchensaugh    
,,renovation4    ,,the ,,national       
,,covenant ,,and ,,solemn ,,league ,,and
 ,,covenant1 ,,with ,,the               
,,acknowledgment ,,of ,,sins ,,and      
,,engagement ,,to ,,duties3 ,,as ,,they 
,,were ,,renewed ,,at  ,,auchensaugh1   
,,near ,,douglas1 #bdth ,,july1 #agab1  
,,with ,,accommodation ,,to ,,the       
7,,then7 ,,present ,,times4      ,,psalm
 lxxvi3 #aa4 ,vow and pay unto the ,lord
 your ,god4    ,,isaiah xxiv3 #e4 ,the  
earth also is defiled under the         
inhabitants thereof3  because they have 
transgressed the laws1 changed the      
ordinance1 broken  the everlasting      
covenant4    ,,ezek4 xvii3 #ah4 ,seeing 
he despised the oath by breaking the    
covenant  7when1 lo1 he had given his   
hand71 and hath done all these things1  
he  shall not escape4    #b ,,tim4 iii3 
#c4 ,truce-breakers--or                 
,covenant-breakers4        ,,historical 
,,introduction4      ,it is the         

ineffable product of eternal love1 and  
infinite condescension  in ,god toward  
his rational creatures1 that ever he was
 pleased to make a  covenant with them1 
and not to command and require obedience
 to his holy  and just will1 by virtue  
of his most absolute supremacy and      
rightful  dominion only2 but even to    
superadd sweet and precious promises1 as
 a  reward of that obedience1 which he  
might of right have required1 without   
giving any such incitements or          
pursuasives to it4 ,and as no tongue of 
men or angels is sufficient to express1 
no strength of imagination to  conceive1
 no sublimity of intellectual faculties 
to comprehend the depth  of that spring1
 and breadth of that ocean of unbounded 
love1 which hath  exerted itself in     
,god's covenanting with man2 yea1 with  
sinful man1 by  means of a ,mediator3 so
 shall it always afford matter of wonder
 and  admiration to all finite and      
intelligent beings1 to the ages of      
eternity1 and shall never be            

comprehended by any1 but by him whose   
understanding is infinite2 wherefore    
,he1 who is all-sufficient and          
self-sufficient1 should invite1 yea1    
press and entreat unworthy indigent     
nothings1 the sinful children of men to 
such an incomparable degree of  honor1  
dignity and advancement1 as that is1 to 
enter into a covenant  relation1 and    
come into a solemn treaty of peace and  
conjunction with  ,him1 who is          
infinitely removed beyond all blessing  
and all praise4 ,to  have this          
invitation1 is indeed the honor and     
privilege of all within  the visible    
church1 to whose ears the joyful sound  
of the glorious  gospel of ,jesus       
,christ hath come2 but few are so wise  
as to accept and  approve it4 ,many1 too
 many1 account themselves unworthy of   
this honor1  and by despising this      
privilege1 and rejecting this dignity1  
deprive  themselves of the greatest     
happiness2 but as all nations1 upon whom
 the  day-star of the gospel hath       

arisen1 have had the invitation to this 
duty1 and all sound and real believers  
have actually participated of  this     
honor1 to have ,god making a covenant   
with them1 and they striking  hands with
 ,him through a ,mediator 7which        
covenant is commonly termed the         
,covenant of ,grace17 so these three    
kingdoms of ,scotland1 ,england and     
,ireland conjunctly1 and ,scotland by   
itself1 as an independent nation1  had  
in an eminent way and manner the honor1 
above most nations in the  world1 to    
dedicate and surrender themselves to the
 ,lord1 by a most  voluntary1 free and  
deliberate choice1 and to come under the
 bond of a  most solemn oath1 in a most 
religious manner1 devoting their all to 
,christ1 his interest and honor1 the    
flourishing and thriving of his         
kingdom1 the success of his gospel1 and 
reformation of his churches2 and  openly
 avouching him for their ,lord and      
,master1 to the honor of his  name1 and 
confusion of his enemies2 which         

,covenants ,national and  ,solemn       
,league1 though we look not upon them to
 be the same with the  covenant of      
grace1 yet we conceive of them as a     
solemn superadded and  new obligation1  
tying us to all the duties1 as well of a
 particular  ,christian conversation1 as
 these which tend to the public and     
national  advancement of reformation in 
religion1 whereof the covenant of grace 
is  the spring and foundation4    ,these
 covenants1 as they were the effects and
 consequents of many  remarkable and    
signal expressions of divine love and   
goodness1 many  singular mercies and    
deliverances vouchsafed to these        
nations1 as the  return of many earnest 
prayers and wrestlings of the ,lord's   
people with  him2 so they were the      
occasions of many blessings1 and great  
indications  of ,god's favor and        
loving-kindness4 ,then the ,lord        
delighted to dwell in  the nations2 then
 did he beautify the place of his       
sanctuary2 then did  he fill his        

people's hearts with joy and gladness1  
by the familiar  intimations of his     
special love and down pourings of his   
,spirit's  gracious influences1 as our  
land can afford many instances4 ,then   
did he  enlarge his people's affections1
 and animate their spirits with zeal and
  courage1 attended with knowledge1     
prudence and discretion to act for  him1
 and advance his kingdom4 ,then did he  
illustrate his churches in  these       
kingdoms1 as bright and sparkling stars 
arising out of the thick  clouds of     
antichristian darkness1 and getting out 
from under ,prelatic  and ,erastian     
yokes of bondage and slavery1 and made  
them go forth as the  meridian sun      
glorious and excellent2 terrible as an  
army with banners4  ,hence it came to   
pass that these nations sent out a      
savory report to all  the neighboring   
reformed churches1 a report which       
comforted1 revived1  strengthened1      
animated and encouraged all the true and
 loyal subjects of  ,christ's kingdom2  

which struck terror and amazement to the
 hearts of his  enemies2 which shook and
 caused to tremble the pillars of       
,antichrist's  kingdom1 and disquieted  
the very foundations of the seat of that
  beast2 which made malignants at home  
and abroad to be ashamed and            
confounded1 and even forced the haters  
of the ,lord to feign submission  to    
him4 ,numberless were the advantages and
 privileges which did redound  to these 
nations by1 and were the lovely         
attendants and sweet  consequents of1   
these covenants2 whereby ,god did set to
 his seal of  approbation1 and gave     
clear evidence and demonstration of his 
acceptance  of his people's cheerful and
 willing adventures in this duty of     
covenanting with him3 and as these      
blessings and mercies1 which1 as the    
dew of ,hermon1 were distilled upon his 
people's heads and hearts1 while  they  
abode steadfast with him1 and faithful  
in his covenant were so many            
irrefragable proofs of his acquiescence 

in their first and laudable             
undertakings2 so the many sad and       
fearful plagues1 distractions1          
confusions and miseries1 which have     
attended and followed the many gross    
breaches and violations of these        
covenants and departures from ,god1 are 
no less evident discoveries1 undeniable 
signs and pregnant convictions  of the  
,lord's most just displeasure and       
indignation with the bypast and  present
 courses of revolting and backsliding   
from him2 which courses of  declension  
and grievous apostatizing from ,god and 
his covenant1 all the  three kingdoms   
and in special this nation1 and every   
individual therein  capable of such a   
work1 are1 without all controversy1     
called to bewail  and confess before    
,god1 and by speedy amendment to turn   
from them1 in  order to avert judgments1
 and turn away justly impendent wrath   
and long  threatened strokes4    ,the   
consideration of these blessings and    
benefits1 on the one hand1  which       

followed the zealous entering into1 and 
sincere performing of  these sacred     
oaths2 and upon the other hand the sense
 we desire to  retain of the plagues and
 curses1 threatened by ,god in his word 
against  covenant-breaking inflicted    
upon covenant-breakers in former ages1  
and  foreign nations1 and visibly       
impending upon us in these nations1 for 
our  perfidious dealing in ,god's       
covenant2 hath moved us a poor          
insignificant handful of people1        
unworthy indeed to be called the        
posterity of our zealous reforming      
ancestors1 though heartily desirous  to 
be found adhering to the same standard  
of doctrine1 worship1  discipline and   
government to which they adhered1 to    
attempt this solemn  and weighty duty of
 renewing 7in our capacities and        
stations7 these  covenant obligations1  
that we might at least give some        
discovery of our  respect to the cause  
of ,god1 for the advancement and        
preservation  whereof these covenants   

were first entered into1 and afterwards 
again  and again renewed by our         
religious progenitors1 and by the whole 
representative body of the three        
kingdoms1 who had any zeal for the      
interest of religion4 ,and that we      
might1 for our parts1 be in some        
measure instrumental to transmit a      
testimony for the work of ,god in our   
land to the succeeding generation4      
,neither do we want1 besides these      
general motives1 some special           
inducements to this undertaking4 ,as #a4
  ,because these national covenants1    
having been nationally broken1 and      
their funeral piles erected by wicked   
and perfidious rulers in the  capital   
cities of the kingdom1 with all         
imaginable ignominy and  contempt1 have 
long lien buried and 7almost7 quite     
forgotten under these  ashes2 most      
people either hating the very name and  
remembrance of them1  or at least being 
ashamed honorably to avouch their       
adherence to them1  and afraid to       

endeavor a vigorous and constant        
prosecution of the duties  contained in 
them3 ,so that it is high time that     
every one should do his  utmost towards 
a reviving of them4 #b4 ,because many   
openly declare their  sorrow and grief  
that ever these covenants should have   
been entered  into3 malignants calling  
them a conspiracy1 attributing every    
miscarriage of the persons engaged in   
them to the covenants themselves  as    
their native effects2 and others1 who   
would take it ill to be called          
malignants1 making them the causes of   
all the tyranny1 rapine1 bloodshed  and 
persecution of the late reigns1 as      
having raised the spleen of the  enemies
 of religion1 and accounting it safer   
that they should lie still  in their    
graves1 than that they should irritate  
malignants any more by  their           
resurrection4#d ,therefore we judge it  
our duty to renew them1  that we might  
evidence1 that notwithstanding all these
 malicious  calumnies and false         

consequences cast upon them1 we are     
still of the  same judgment with our    
reformers1 that they are the most       
sovereign  means1 under the blessing of 
,god1 for the reviving and preserving   
the  work of ,god in the land4 #c4      
,because of the courses that are carried
 on  in direct opposition to these      
covenants2 the nations1 formerly        
cemented  in peace and love in          
conjunction with truth and              
righteousness1 having  broken these     
bonds1 and united themselves upon       
another footing1 by the  late sinful    
incorporating union3 and imposing new   
oaths in opposition to  the covenant2   
such as abjuration1 c4 granting license1
 protection and  toleration to all the  
evils abjured in the covenant2 as       
heresies and  errors in doctrine1       
superstition in worship1 ,prelacy and   
,erastianism in  government1 and        
overthrowing all good discipline4 #d4   
,because of our own  sinful miscarriages
 in1 and woful declinings from our      

covenanted duties1  our proneness to    
break covenant with ,god1 and to be     
indifferent1 lax1  negligent and        
unsteadfast in the cause and work of    
,god1 and to be led  away with the error
 of the wicked1 and to fall from our    
steadfastness2  wherefore we thought it 
necessary to bind ourselves by a new tie
 to the  ,lord1 and one to another in a 
zealous prosecution of covenanted       
duties1  that the covenant might be as a
 hedge to keep us from running out into 
the paths of destroyers4 #e4 ,we being  
sincerely desirous and having an        
earnest longing to celebrate the sacred 
ordinance of the ,lord's ,supper1       
whereof many had unjustly called us     
despisers and contemners1 and  finding  
it to have been the laudable practice of
 the church of ,scotland  formerly1 that
 all such as were admitted to that holy 
table should swear  and subscribe the   
covenant before their coming thereunto2 
we judged it a  fit preparation for our 
receiving a sacramental confirmation of 

,god's  covenanted love and favor to us1
 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that 
we  should avouch ,him for our ,god1 and
 testify our adherence to ,his cause    
and truth1 by our renewing our national 
covenants with ,him4    ,upon these and 
the like weighty considerations we      
resolved to set about  this solemn and  
tremendous duty2 and being assured that 
we have no  sufficiency in ourselves for
 any such undertaking1 after frequently 
imploring the ,lord for light and       
direction1 strength and assistance1 and 
seeking for ourselves a right way in the
 performance of the duty1 upon  days of 
humiliation1 both in our private        
societies and publicly in the  fields1  
we did condescend upon the following    
acknowledgment of sins1  the more to    
enable us to remember our own and the   
land's breaches of  covenant1 in our    
solemn public confession thereof2 and   
did draw up the  following engagement to
 duties1 not to superadd any new oath   
and  obligation to the covenants1 but   

only to adjust the articles of the      
covenant to the circumstances of the    
time1 and to explain in what sense  the 
covenant binds us against the present   
evils that are now prevalent  in the    
land1 and to the contrary duties4 ,as   
for the covenants  themselves1 we made  
no material alteration in them1 as      
judging it a work  more proper for an   
assembly of divines1 or representative  
body of church  and state 7had they been
 upright and faithful in this cause7    
than for  us1 who1 as we are called by  
others in contempt1 must own ourselves  
in  truth to be1 but a handful of weak  
and most illiterate people1 and but  as 
babes in comparison of the first framers
 of our covenants2 only that  we might  
make them in some measure accomodable to
 the present lamentable  circumstances1 
whereinto we are involved by our        
iniquities1 we have  annotated some few 
necessary alterations upon the margin1  
wherein the  judicious will find that we
 have in nothing receded from the scope 

and  substance of the covenant1 but only
 in the phrase2 for instance1 where  the
 covenant binds to the defence and      
preservation of the king's  majesty and 
government1 in regard we have no king   
nor supreme civil  magistrate so        
qualified1 as ,god's law and the        
laudable laws of this  realm require1 to
 whom we might1 for conscience sake1    
subject ourselves1  in a consistency    
with our defending the true reformed    
religion in all  its parts and          
privileges3 ,therefore1 we can only bind
 ourselves to  defend and preserve the  
honor1 authority and majesty of lawful  
sovereigns1 or supreme magistrates1     
having the qualifications aforesaid1    
when ,god shall be pleased to grant them
 to us4 ,where no judicious  person will
 say that there is any substantial      
alteration as to the  matter of the     
duty1 but only as to the object to whom 
the duty is to  be performed2 there     
being none such in being as can justly  
claim1 or to  whom we may with a good   

conscience pay such an allegiance4      
,having mutually agreed concerning these
 prerequisites to this sacred  action1  
that the same might be orderly gone     
about1 and might not be  performed in a 
clandestine way1 so as to preclude any  
upright-hearted  friends to the         
covenanted reformation from joining with
 us in that so  necessary a duty1 there 
was public intimation made of the design
 a  competent space of time before1 upon
 a day of humiliation1 and likewise     
upon the ,lord's day immediately        
preceding the work4    ,as for the      
particular way and manner1 method and   
circumstances of the  work1 we had not  
given any narrative of them2 but that   
some1 who came  with an evil eye1 to spy
 out our liberty1 for criticizing1 not  
for  joining or profiting1 have in part 
misrepresented the same1 and may        
further do so2 therefore1 to obviate all
 such misreports1 we have  thought fit  
to make this brief relation thereof4    
,upon ,wednesday1 ,july #bc;d1 those who

 had the work in design being met       
together1 the minister began the day's  
work with prayer for special  assistance
 to attain due preparation1 and a       
suitable frame1 throughout  the whole   
solemnity3 and thereafter had a         
prefatory discourse to the  people1     
showing the nature of the work in       
general1 its lawfulness1  expediency1   
and necessity1 from scripture precedents
 and approven  examples of the people of
 ,god1 adducing the #ith chapter of     
,ezra1 ,neh4  ,ezek4 ,dan4 and ,neh4 x4 
#bh1 #bi1 for proof thereof2 and of the 
day in  particular1 that it was a day of
 fasting and supplication1 with         
preaching of the word1 in order to      
preparation for the solemnities         
intended1 both of renewing the covenants
 and celebrating the sacrament  of the  
,lord's1 ,supper4 ,after which a part of
 the lxxviii4 ,psalm1 from  the #eth to 
the #abth verse being sung1 ,mr4 ,john  
,m',neil1 preacher of the  gospel1 had a
 sermon upon ,jer4 #a4 #d1 and #e4 ,in  

those days1 and in that  time1 saith the
 ,lord1 the children of ,israel shall   
come1 they and the  children of ,judah  
together1 going and weeping3 they shall 
go and seek  the ,lord their ,god4 ,they
 shall ask the way to ,zion1 with their 
faces  thitherward1 saying1 ,come and   
let us join ourselves to the ,lord1 in a
  perpetual covenant that shall not be  
forgotten4 ,from which text he  raised  
and prosecuted largely1 and particularly
 the two following  observations1 as    
most pertinent for the work of the day2 
the first  implicitly supposed1 the     
other more explicitly asserted in the   
words2  viz4 #a4 ,that1 a people in     
covenant with ,god may be forgetful of  
and  deal falsely in their covenant2 or 
that covenant-takers may be             
covenant-breakers4 #b4 ,that1 it is the 
duty of a people who have broken        
covenant with ,god to engage themselves 
again to the ,lord by the  renovation of
 their covenant4 ,where in prosecuting  
the former1 he  showed by what gradual  

steps of declension a people usually    
come to deal  falsely in ,god's         
covenant1 such as1 7#a47 ,by            
forgetfulness1 ,deut4 iv4 #bc4  ,there  
being a connexion between forgetting and
 forsaking1 or dealing  falsely in      
,god's covenant1 so the church          
intimates1 ,psal4 xliv4 #ag1 #ah4  ,all 
this is come upon us2 yet have we not   
forgotten thee1 neither have  we dealt  
falsely in thy covenant2 our heart is   
not turned back1 neither  have our steps
 declined from thy way4 ,and the        
returning remnant of  ,israel being     
sensible of this connexion1 resolve to  
bind themselves to  the ,lord in a      
perpetual covenant that may not be      
forgotten4 7#b47 ,by  seeking shifts and
 arguments to elude and evade the       
obligation of the  covenant and to      
defend the breaches thereof2 which is   
after vows to make  inquiry4 7#c47 ,by  
despising the bond of it2 ,ezek4 xvi4   
#ei4 ,which hast  despised the oath in  
breaking the covenant4 7#d47 ,by        

defection to the  iniquities which are  
sworn and engaged against in the        
covenant1 ,jer4 xi4  #aj4 ,they are     
turned back to the iniquities of their  
forefathers1 which  refused to hear my  
words2 and they went after other gods to
 serve them2  the house of ,israel and  
the house of ,judah have broken my      
covenant1  which ,i made with their     
fathers4 7#e47 ,by changing the         
government1 laws1  and ordinances sworn 
to be maintained in the covenant2 either
 the  government of the state1 without  
consulting divine direction1 and due    
inspection into the qualification of the
 persons set up1 ,hos4 viii41  compare  
the #ast and #dth verses4 ,they have    
transgressed my covenant1 c4  ,they have
 set up kings1 but not by me1 princes   
and ,i knew it not2 that  is1 without   
consulting me to know my will1 and      
without my approbation  and consent2 or 
the government of the church1 without   
regard to the  revealed will of ,god4   
,thus1 ,abijah justly chargeth ,jeroboam

 that he had  cast out the priests of   
the ,lord1 the sons of ,aaron1 and the  
,levites1  and that he had made priests 
after the manner of the nations of other
  lands2 but encourages himself that he 
and ,judah had the ,lord for their      
,god1 because they had not forsaken him2
 and the priests which  ministered unto 
the ,lord were the sons of ,aaron4 #b   
,chron4 xiii4 #f1 #aj4  7#f47 ,by an    
entire forsaking and disowning the      
obligation of the  covenant1 ,dan4 xi4  
#cj4 ,he------shall have intelligence   
with them that  forsake the holy        
covenant4 7#g47 ,by a stated opposition 
to the covenant1  and persecuting of    
these who adhere thereunto4 ,thus       
,elijah justly  charges ,israel1 #a     
,kings xix4 #aj1 that they had forsaken 
,god's covenant1  because they had      
thrown down his altars1 slain his       
prophets1 and sought  after ,elijah's   
life4 ,and in a use of lamentation      
deduced from the  foresaid doctrine1 he 
showed1 that all ranks in the land had  

reason to  mourn over their breach of   
covenant1 in regard that some of all    
ranks1  from the throne to the dunghill1
 in church and state1 are1 or have been 
guilty of dealing falsely in ,god's     
covenant1 in all and every one of  these
 diverse ways1 and of declining from it3
 and in regard that there  has been so  
much ignominy and contempt cast upon    
these sacred covenants1  not only by    
breaking them openly1 but also avowedly 
disowning and  disdaining their         
obligation1 and making the adherence to 
them criminal2  and1 which is above all1
 burning them by the hand of the        
hangman1 and  burying them so long in   
forgetfulness4 ,this guiltiness he      
applied not to  great persons only1 but 
also to professors1 to ministers1 and   
particularly to ourselves1 who are      
called dissenters from the present      
establishment2 pressing upon us no less 
than others1 the absolute and           
indispensable necessity of being        
convinced of1 and mourning over these1  

not as the sins of others only1 but also
 as our own--we having a chief  hand in 
the trespass2 pressing upon all present 
concerned in the work  the duty of      
self-examination1 and putting themselves
 to the trial1  concerning their        
knowledge of the covenant obligations1  
both as to their  nature and extent1 as 
well as their sense of the breaches of  
these  obligations4    ,in the second   
head of doctrine1 viz41 ,that it is the 
duty of a people  who have broken       
covenant with ,god1 to engage themselves
 again to him by  renovation of their   
covenant2 after proving the proposition 
by several  heads of arguments          
deduced--#ast1 ,from the lawfulness of  
entering into  covenant with ,god1      
whether personal1 as ,jacob1 ,gen4      
xxviii4 #bj1 #ba1 or  economical1 as    
,joshua and his family1 ,josh4 xxiv4    
#ae1 or national1 as  ,god brought his  
people ,israel under a covenant with    
himself1 ,exod4 xix  #e4 ,the           
consequence holding undeniably1 that if 

it be lawful and  necessary1 in any of  
these respects1 to enter into covenant  
with ,god1 it  must needs be also lawful
 and a duty to renew the same after the 
breach  thereof4 #b;dly1 ,from          
,scripture precedents of the people of  
,god1 who1  after breaking off and      
declining from ,god's covenant1 renewed 
the same4  ,as for instance1 the        
covenant made with ,israel at ,horeb1   
was renewed at  the plains of ,moab1    
,deut4 xxxix2--by ,joshua1 chap1        
xxiv42--by ,asa1 #b  ,chron4 xv4 #ac1   
#ad2--;by ,jehoiada1 #b ,kings xi4      
#ag2--;by ,hezekiah1 #b ,chron4  xxix4  
#aj2--;by ,josiah1 #b ,kings1 xxiii4    
#b2--;by ,ezra and ,nehemiah1 ,ezra1 x4 
#c2--,neh4 ix ult4 and x4 #bh1 #bi4     
#c;dly1 ,from ,scripture precepts1      
,deut4  xxix4 #a--,these are the words  
of the covenant which the ,lord         
commanded  ,moses to make with the      
children of ,israel in the land of      
,moab1 beside  the covenant which he    
made with them in ,horeb4 ,psalm1 lxxvi4

 #aa--,vow1  and pay unto the ,lord your
 ,god4 #dthly1 ,from ,scripture         
promises1 wherein  the ,lord promiseth  
as a blessing and mercy to his church   
and people1  that they should renew     
their covenant with him1 ,isaiah xix4   
#ba1 #bc--be2  ,zech4 ii4 #aa4 ,for     
further opening of the proposition1     
these two  questions were proposed and  
solved--,first1 ,whether all persons who
  have broken covenant with ,god may be 
admitted to renew the same8  ,answer1   
,all sorts of persons in the three      
kingdoms are under the  obligation of   
the covenant1 and consequently1 bound to
 renew and keep it  inviolable2 but all 
are not in present capacity1 and        
therefore have no  actual right to enter
 into covenant3 such as are obstinately 
wicked1  living in error1 profanity1 or 
malignancy1 have not ,god's call and    
right  from him1 as such1 to renew a    
covenant with him2 for1 ,psal4 #a4 #af1 
#ag--;,god says to the wicked1 ,what    
hast thou to do to take my covenant in  

thy mouth8 ,but all such as are         
reformed1 or reforming from all         
iniquity1 and namely from the defections
 and compliances of the time2  who have 
some suitable sense of the breaches1 and
 competent knowledge  and understanding 
of the duties engaged unto in the       
covenant1 ,neh4 x4  #bh1 have a right   
and an immediate call to the duty of    
renewing the  covenant4 #b;dly1 ,if any 
number of people may renew a national   
oath and  covenant without the consent  
and concurrence of royal authority1 or  
at  least1 without the concurrence of   
some chief and principal men in church  
and state8 ,answer1 ,without the        
concurrence of church and state1 a      
covenant cannot be taken or renewed     
nationally1 speaking strictly2 yet a    
few may publicly declare their adherence
 to their covenant-engagements  by      
renewing them1 not only without the     
consent and concurrence of  authority1  
but against it2 and there are several   
precedents for so  doing1 both before   

and since the established reformation4  
,as for  instance1 that covenant at     
,edinburgh1 ,anno #aeeg2 at ,perth1     
#aeei2 at  ,stirling1 the same year2    
another at ,leith1 ,anno #aefj2 another 
at ,ayr1  #aefb4 ,and at ,lanark1 a     
small handful of the ,lord's people     
renewed it in  direct opposition to1 and
 at ,lesmahago1 without the consent or  
concurrence of authority2 which         
instances may be both an inducement and 
encouragement to us to renew1 and in our
 mean capacity1 to testify to  the      
nation our approbation of1 and adherence
 to these covenants4    ,in the         
prosecution of this doctrine1 he had    
occasion also to insist upon  the       
reasons1 or motives1 and manner of      
entering into covenant4 ,the  scope and 
argument of the reasons adduced as      
motives to the duty of  covenanting was 
to this effect3--    #a4 ,the turning   
away of the ,lord's wrath and anger from
 a land1 or  people1 which              
covenant-breaking hath deserved1 may be 

a motive to  renewing covenant with     
,god2 this was the motive that prompted 
the good  reforming ,king ,hezekiah to  
make a covenant with the ,lord1 #b      
,chron4 xxix4  #aj--,now it is in mine  
heart to make a covenant with the ,lord 
,god of  ,israel1 that his fierce wrath 
may turn away from us4 ,and ,nehemiah1  
with  the returned captives1 ,neh4 ix4  
#ch--;,and because of all this1 we make 
a  sure covenant4    #b4 ,reviving and  
advancement in reformation1 being the   
ordinary  consequent and effect of      
upright covenanting with the ,lord1 may 
be  another motive and inducement       
thereunto2 this appears both in personal
  and national covenanting--,in         
personal1 ,psal4 cxix4 #ajf--;,i have   
sworn1  and ,i will perform it1 that ,i 
will keep thy righteous judgments4 ,the 
,psalmist's having sworn1 was a very    
quickening consideration to excite  him 
to the performance of his duty4 ,in     
national covenanting1 we always  find1  
after the people of ,israel and ,judah  

had covenanted with the ,lord1  they    
made progress in reformation1 and the   
land was purged of  abominations and    
idols4 ,thus it was in ,asa's covenant1 
#b ,chron4 xv4 #ab  to #ai2 for there1  
the people have entered into a covenant 
with the ,lord1  and sworn with all     
their soul1 and with all their heart1   
the ,lord was  found of them2 and ,asa  
removed his mother1 ,maachah1 from her  
royal  dignity1 and stamped the idol    
which she had made1 and burnt it at the 
brook ,kidron2 and he brought into the  
house of the ,lord the things that  his 
father and himself had dedicated4 ,thus 
it was also in ,jehoiada's  covenant1   
which he made between the ,lord1 and the
 king1 and the people1  that they should
 be the ,lord's people1 #b ,kings xi4   
#ag1 #ah1 #bj2 for1  immediately after  
the making of his covenant1 all the     
people of the  land went into the house 
of ,baal1 and brake it down--his altars1
 and his  images brake they in pieces   
thoroughly2 and the priest appointed    

officers over the house of the ,lord2   
and they slew ,athaliah with the  sword4
 ,the like is evident in ,hezekiah's    
covenanting1 #b ,chron4 xxxiv41  xxxv4  
chapters4    #c4 ,this upright renewing 
of covenant with the ,lord is a way and 
mean to  procure many mercies1 both     
spiritual and temporal1 from the hand of
 the  ,lord2 which should be a strong   
inducement and motive to engage us      
thereunto4 ,spiritual mercies are       
entailed upon it1 ,deut4 xxix4 #ab1 #ac4
  ,that thou shouldest enter into       
covenant with the ,lord thy ,god1 and   
into  his oath1 which the ,lord thy ,god
 maketh with thee this day3 that he may 
establish thee to-day for a people to   
himself1 and that he may be unto  thee a
 ,god1 as he hath said unto thee1 and as
 he hath sworn unto thy  fathers1 to    
,abraham1 to ,isaac1 and to ,jacob4     
,temporal mercies are also  promised to 
this upright renewing and keeping       
covenant1 ,deut4 xxix4  #i--,keep       
therefore the words of this covenant1   

and do them1 that ye may  prosper in all
 that ye do4 ,and1 it is remarked1 #b   
,chron4 xv4 #ae1 that  after ,asa's     
covenant1 the ,lord gave them rest round
 about4    #d4 ,the malice and          
opposition of the ,popish1 ,prelatical1 
and malignant  party against the        
covenants1 and their doing what in them 
lies1 to make  their obligation void and
 null1 may be a motive and argument for 
the  people of ,god so much the more to 
avouch their respect to them by a       
public adherence1 especially after long 
continued breaches4    #e4 ,upright     
entering into1 or renewing covenant with
 ,god1 is a most  sovereign medicine for
 healing a people's breaches1 as well as
 their  backslidings1 the covenant being
 a cement1 as well to join and unite the
  people of ,god one to another1 as all 
of them in their duty to ,god2 and1  as 
it flows from the nature of the covenant
 to unite the friends of  reformation1  
so it is observable as one of the       
peculiar fruits of  covenant-renewing1  

that union in the ,lord has followed    
thereupon3 thus  it was with ,israel and
 ,judah in the text1 who united together
 in making  a covenant with the ,lord4  
,whence all the people of ,god1 who are 
called  to be united and perfectly      
joined together in the same spirit1 and 
in  the same mind2 and especially they  
who have been lamentably divided one    
from another1 by their manifold         
defections from ,god1 and from their    
covenant-engagements1 ought to be       
strongly inclined1 moved1 and engaged   
to this duty2 from this consideration1  
the upright covenant-renewing is  a     
usual mean of land-uniting and          
church-uniting dispositions amongst the 
people of ,god4    ,as for the manner of
 renewing covenant with ,god1 and how   
the duty ought  to be gone about1 he    
propounded and opened it in the         
following  particulars1 to this         
effect3--    #a4 ,that it must be done  
with understanding and judgment1 both in
  relation to the nature of the duties  

we engage to perform in the  covenant3  
grossly ignorant persons being justly   
deprived of the  privilege of engaging  
in covenant1 though bound to inform     
themselves of  its nature and           
obligation2 and also in relation to the 
breaches1 such as  would engage into it 
being called to have some suitable sense
 and  understanding1 both how it has    
been violated1 and by what means persons
  come to be guilty of the breach       
thereof4 ,so1 ,neh4 x4 #bh1 #bi--;,every
 one  that had knowledge and            
understanding entered into the covenant4
    #b4 ,this duty must be gone about   
with sincerity and uprightness of heart2
  thus ,joshua1 when making a covenant  
with the people1 that they should  serve
 the ,lord1 exhorts them--,now therefore
 fear the ,lord1 and serve  him in      
sincerity and truth1 ,joshua1 xxiv41    
compare the #beth verse with  the #adth4
 ,the want of which qualification in    
covenant-renewing1 causes               
unsteadfastness and perfidy in          

covenant-performing--,psal4 lxxviii4    
#cf1  #cg4    #c4 ,this duty of         
covenant-renewing requires1 as a        
qualification towards  the right        
performing of it1 that there be a due   
consideration1 and some  suitable       
impression of the solemnity and         
weightiness of the work3 which  ariseth1
 partly from the object or party        
covenanted with1 the holy  and jealous  
,god1 ,joshua xxiv4 #ai--;,he is a holy 
,god1 he is a jealous  ,god1 he will not
 forgive your transgressions1 nor your  
sins1 and partly  from the subject      
matter covenanted1 or engaged to4 ,the  
articles of the  covenant of grace1     
which we have professedly1 at last1     
yielded to in our  baptism1 are weighty2
 for therein1 as ,god engages to give us
 himself1  his ,son ,christ ,jesus1 and 
in him all temporal and eternal         
blessings2 so  we engaged to be obedient
 children1 and faithful subjects to him 
all the  days of our lives4 ,and the    
articles of these national covenants are

  weighty1 for therein we engage to     
great things relating to the glory of   
,god1 and the good of our own and       
other's souls4 ,and1 partly1 this       
weightiness ariseth from the great      
danger and dreadful punishment of       
breaking the covenant2 which is         
threatened in many places of ,scripture4
  ,the same is also intimated to us in  
the customs both of the ,jews and       
,heathens1 in entering into covenant2   
particularly1 we find that the ,jews    
used to cut a calf1 or some other clean 
beast1 in twain1 and pass  between the  
parts of it--using this1 or the like    
form of speech1 as the  ,jewish doctors 
relate--,so ,god divide or separate me1 
if ,i keep not this  covenant4 ,jer4    
xxxiv4 #ah1 compared with verse #bj--;,i
 will give the men  into the hands of   
their enemies who have transgressed my  
covenant1 which  they had made before   
me1 when they cut the calf in twain1 and
 passed  between the parts thereof4     
,nehemiah also1 chap4 v4 #ab1 #ac1 when 

he took  an oath of the priests1 shook  
his lap and said--,so ,god shake out    
every  man from his house1 and from his 
labour1 that performeth not this        
promise1 c4 ,and all the covenanters    
said--,amen4    #d4 ,much tenderness and
 heart-melting is requisite to the right
  performing of this duty4 ,so it was   
with covenant-renewing ,israel and      
,judah1 who were weeping as they went to
 seek the ,lord their ,god1 and to  make
 a covenant never to be forgotten4 ,this
 brokenness of heart1 and               
tender-melting frame may arise1 both    
from the consideration of the many  sins
 and iniquities whereby persons have    
provoked the ,lord their ,god to  anger1
 whence they come to be like doves of   
the valley1 every one  mourning for his 
iniquity3 and likewise from the         
consideration of the  grace and mercy of
 ,god1 manifested in ,christ ,jesus1 his
 condescension to  enter into a covenant
 with sinful men1 and readiness1 upon   
his people's  repentance1 to pardon     

their former breaches2 from the         
consideration of  this transcendently   
free grace1 an humble and sincere       
covenanter will be  transported into an 
ecstacy of wonder and admiration2 as the
 church is1  ,mic4 vii4 #ah1 #ai1       
#bj--,who is a ,god like unto thee1 that
 pardoneth  iniquity1 and passeth by the
 transgression of the remnant of his    
heritage8 c4    #e4 ,dependency and     
recumbency upon the ,lord by faith1 for 
strength to  perform covenant           
engagements1 is requisite to right      
covenanting1 ,isa4  xxvii4 #e--,let him 
take hold of my strength1 that he may   
make peace with  me2 and he shall make  
peace with me4 ,this is to take hold of 
,god's  covenant1 ,isa4 lvi4 #d4    #f4 
,affection to ,god and the duties       
whereunto we engage1 is requisite to    
right covenanting1 and that in its      
flower and vigour1 height and           
supremacy4 ,thus1 #b ,chron4 xv4 #ab1   
#ae1 ,asa and the people entered into a 
covenant1 to seek the ,lord ,god of     

their fathers with all their heart1  and
 with all their soul3--,and all ,judah  
rejoiced at the oath2 for they  had     
sworn with all their heart1 and sought  
him with their whole desire4  ,they had 
an affection to the work1 and did it    
with complacency1 not in  dissimulation1
 so as not to design to perform it3 nor 
through  compulsion1 with an eye to     
secular profit or preferment1 as many in
  these lands did4    #g4 ,it is        
necessary1 in order to right            
covenanting1 that the work be  gone     
about with a firm purpose and resolution
 7through grace enabling  us7 to adhere 
to our covenant engagements1            
notwithstanding whatever  opposition and
 persecution we may meet with from the  
world for so doing1  and whatever       
difficulties and discouragements may    
arise from the  multitude of those1 who 
prove unsteadfast in1 or foully forsake 
their  covenant4 ,we must stand to our  
covenant1 as it is said of ,josiah1 #b  
,chron4 xxxiv4 #cb1 that he caused all  

that were present in ,judah and         
,benjamin1 to stand to the covenant1    
which implies as well a firm  resolution
 to perform1 as consent to engage1 as in
 the latter part of  the verse1 it is   
remarked1 that the inhabitants of       
,jerusalem did  according to the        
covenant of ,god1 the ,god of their     
fathers2 where  doing according to the  
covenant is exegetical of standing to   
it4  ,david also joins the resolution of
 performance with swearing2 ,psal4      
cxix4 #ajf4 ,i have sworn1 and ,i will  
perform1 that ,i will keep thy          
righteous judgments4    ,from the       
doctrine thus confirmed and explained1  
he drew this inference1  by way of      
information1 that seeing it is a        
people's duty1 who have  broken covenant
 with the ,lord1 to engage themselves   
again to him1 by  renewing their        
covenant1 that it is not arbitrary for  
us 7as many are  apt to think7 to renew1
 or not to renew our covenant2 but that 
there is  a plain and positive necessity

 for our repenting and returning again  
to  the ,lord1 by entering anew into    
covenant with him1 whether personal made
  in baptism1 or at the ,lord's table1  
or under affliction and trouble1 or     
national vows and covenants entered into
 by ourselves or our fathers4  ,and in a
 use of lamentation1 he bewailed the    
backwardness of these  lands1 and       
particularly of this nation1 to this    
duty2 in that1 now after  sixty years   
and upwards of great defections from1   
and grievous breaches  of our covenants 
by people of all ranks2 yet there       
appears so little  sense of either the  
obligations or breaches of them1 and of 
a  disposition to reviving them1 even   
amongst those who not only profess  some
 love to the reformation of religion1   
but even some belief of their  perpetual
 binding obligation2 and that           
notwithstanding1 as the ,prophet        
,isaiah saith1 concerning ,judah1 chap4 
xxiv4 #e1 ,the earth 7or the land7  is  
defiled under the inhabitants thereof1  

because they have transgressed  the     
laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the 
everlasting covenant2 our  land having  
been denied with ,popery and ,prelacy1  
and with a flood of  abomination and    
profanity1 the natural consequent of    
perfidy1 the  ordinances having been    
changed1 perverted and corrupted1 and   
the  covenant not only broken1 but burnt
 ignominiously1 and the adherence to  it
 made criminal2 yet1 for all this1 there
 has not been a time found for  renewing
 them these twenty-three years2 and that
 ministers1 at whose  door it chiefly   
lay to stir up the land to this work1   
have many of them  been as careless as  
others1 waiving and putting off a       
stumbled and  offended people1          
expressing some concernedness for this  
duty1 with these  and the like pretexts1
 that it was not a fit time1 nor the    
land in a  case for it 7too sad a       
truth71 but not laboring to get the land
 brought  to be in a case and           
disposition for it1 by pressing the     

obligation1 and  plainly discovering the
 violations thereof2 so that1 instead of
 being  brought to a fitter condition   
for this duty1 the covenants are almost 
forgotten and quite out of mind1 so that
 the succeeding generation is  scarce   
like to know that ever there was a      
covenant sworn in ,scotland4  ,and more 
particularly1 that the godly1 who are   
dissatisfied with1 and  dissent from the
 defections and corruptions of the      
times1 have  discovered so little       
concern about the work of reformation1  
and cause of  ,god1 which the covenants 
oblige us to own1 defend1 and promote4  
,all  which laxness and remissness is   
for a lamentation1 and ought to be      
lamented and mourned over by the people 
of ,god4    ,in the exhortation1 he     
pressed upon us who are embodied        
together to  renew our                  
covenant-engagements1 by giving an open 
and public testimony  of our adherence  
to the covenants1 national and solemn   
league1 that  we should labor to attain 

a suitable frame1 and serious           
consideration of  the weightiness1      
solemnity1 and awfulness of the work we 
were then  undertaking3 enforcing the   
same by several cogent motives1 as      
namely1  because in renewing these      
covenants we are called to remember our 
baptismal and personal vows1 whereby we 
had renounced the devil1 the  world and 
the flesh1 and devoted ourselves to the 
,lord to be his people2  which if they  
were slighted and forgotten1 there could
 be no right1  acceptable1 and          
comfortable entering into national      
covenants4 ,and  likewise because of the
 weightiness of the duties engaged to in
 our  national covenant1 and in the     
solemn league and covenant1 which  he   
proved to be a covenant that ought to be
 renewed by us in this nation  no less  
than our national covenant1 in regard it
 was a religious1  just1 and holy       
covenant made betwixt ,god and the three
 kingdoms1 though  it cannot now be     
taken in the same consideration and     

extent1 as at the  first framing it was1
 viz43 ,as a league betwixt us and the  
representative body of the kingdoms of  
,england and ,ireland3 where he  took   
occasion to go over the several articles
 of the covenant1 showing  the nature   
and weightiness of the duties4          
,beside these two more general doctrines
 which were chiefly insisted  upon1 he  
observed several others pertinently     
deducible from the words1  as first1    
,that unfaithful dealing in ,god's      
covenant will breed distance  and       
estrangement from ,god4 ,this is implied
 in the children of ,israel  and ,judah 
seeking the ,lord1 asking the way to    
,zion1 c42 their asking  the way to     
,zion1 importing that they had forgotten
 the right way of  worshipping ,god1 and
 that their sins had made a sad         
separation between  them and their ,god4
 ,secondly1 ,that it is necessary that  
persons become  sensible of their sin   
against ,god1 and of his anger against  
them1 and  lay these things to heart1   

that they may be concerned about        
reconciliation with ,god1 and reform    
their lives4 ,thirdly1 ,that the  kindly
 exercise of repentance in a backsliding
 people lamenting after  the ,lord1 and 
setting about to renew their covenant   
with him1 hath an  effectual influence  
to unite and cement the divided people  
of ,god3 thus  in the text the children 
of ,israel and ,judah1 whom their       
iniquities had  long and sadly divided1 
are uniting together in this desirable  
frame of  weeping and seeking the ,lord 
their ,god1 and making a perpetual      
covenant  with him4 ,this doctrine he   
proved and applied briefly as the time  
would  permit1 both because of its      
native result from the text1 and because
 of  his own1 and our sincere desire to 
see a holy union and communion1 in  the 
way of truth and duty effected by       
returning to the ,lord1 and  renewing   
the covenant with him1 as among all the 
godly1 so especially  among those that  
profess their dissent from1 and dislike 

of the corrupt  courses of the times4   
,sermon being ended1 after prayer1 the  
covenants were first read  according to 
the ,directory for renewing the solemn  
league and  covenant1 prescribed by the 
,act of the ,general ,assembly at       
,edinburgh1  #fth ,october1 #afdh1 post 
meridiem1 entitled1 ,act for renewing of
 the  ,solemn ,league and ,covenant2    
and1 thereafter1 the following          
,acknowledgment of ,sins was also read3 
after which1 prayer was made1           
containing a comprehensive confession of
 the more general heads of the  foresaid
 ,acknowledgement of ,sins2 and a part  
of the #ghth ,psalm1  beginning at the  
#cfth verse1 was sung2 and the minister 
dismissed the  congregation with a short
 reprehension and advice1 reproving them
 for  their unconcerned carriage and    
behaviour during the reading of the     
acknowledgment of the breaches of these 
covenants1 which had been first  entered
 into at the expense of so much blood   
and treasure1 and confirmed  and sealed 

with the blood of many honourable       
martyrs of all ranks in the  land2      
withal1 exhorting all present to labour 
after a heart-melting  frame for the    
right performance of the work in hand4  
,upon ,thursday1 ,july #bdth1 after     
singing a part of the #ajeth ,psalm1    
from  the #fth to the #abth verse1 and  
prayer--,mr4 ,john ,m',millan preached  
upon  ,isaiah1 xliv4 #e--,one shall say 
,i am the ,lord's3 and another shall    
call  himself by the name of ,jacob3 and
 another shall subscribe with his hand  
unto the ,lord1 and sirname himself by  
the name of ,israel4 ,whereupon1  after 
the unfolding of the context1 and       
explication of the words1  showing that 
they clearly contain an intimation of a 
covenant relation  betwixt ,god and a   
people1 and their avouching of the same 
upon their  part2 the words seeming to  
have a reference to the state of the    
,new  ,testament ,church1 and conversion
 of the ,gentiles1 who1 being allured by
  the great gospel blessings and mercies

 bestowed by ,god upon the ,jews1 to    
join themselves to the church1 should   
avouch their interest in the  ,messiah  
and covenant of grace1 by taking the    
,lord for their ,god1 and  owning       
themselves to be his people4 ,so that   
the words may be taken up as  an answer 
to such a presupposed question as this1 
,whose are you8 and  what is your name8 
,to which question1 one shall answer1 ,i
 am the  ,lord's2 another1 ,i am one of 
old ,jacob's family and offspring2      
another1 if you desiderate my name1 look
 the covenant subscriptions and  you    
will find it there2 another shall say1  
whatever my name was before1  my sirname
 now is an ,israelite4 ,so sweetly      
should a shower of gospel  grace engage 
the hearts of the ,new ,testament       
converts to avow their  covenant        
relation to the ,lord1 and glory in     
their union with his church  and        
covenanted people4 ,having taking up the
 sense of the words to this  effect1 he 
deduced from them these two             

observations3    #a4 ,that the ,lord is 
graciously pleased sometimes to         
privilege his  people with very         
remarkable tokens of his gracious       
presence4 ,this  doctrine is clear from 
the context1 verses #c;d and #dth--,for 
,i will pour  water upon him that is    
thirsty1 and floods upon the dry ground2
 ,i will  pour my ,spirit upon thy seed1
 and my blessing upon thine offspring4  
,and  they shall spring up as among the 
grass1 as willows by the  watercourses4 
,under this head of doctrine1 he gave   
the following marks to evidence  whether
 the present time of renewing our       
covenant with ,god was indeed to  us a  
time of the ,lord's privileging us with 
his gracious presence--#ast1  ,that a   
time of ,god's privileging his people   
with his gracious presence1  and with a 
shower of gospel grace1 is a very       
inviting and alluring time2  wherein1 as
 the ,lord invites his people to their  
duty1 by engaging their  hearts and     
souls1 through his ,spirit's gracious   

influences1 to fall in  love with him   
and his commandments1 so they mutually  
invite one another  to covenant with    
,god4 #b;d1 ,that such a time proves a  
soul-engaging and  taking time1 wherein 
souls are engaged to fall in love with  
the  covenant1 and with ,christ the     
,mediator of the covenant1 and are taken
 in  the net of the gospel4 #c;d1 ,that 
a time of the letting out of ,god's     
gracious presence is ordinarily a time  
of many sweet and excellent             
resolutions1 the people of ,god         
resolving to walk more accurately and   
circumspectly in the ways of new        
obedience4 #dth1 ,that this usually is a
  time of ridding marches1 and clearing 
of evidences4 #eth1 ,that it is a  time 
of many and special confirmations of    
,god's love to the soul4 #fth1  ,that   
this time of ,god's letting out much of 
his gracious presence to his  people1 is
 a very uniting and healing time to them
 amongst themselves4  ,having given     
these marks1 to show whether the ,lord  

were1 at the  occasion1 letting out his 
gracious presence1 he added1 by way of  
caution1 that seeing 7no doubt7 the     
people of ,god would be expecting       
something of all these1 upon the        
undertaking of so great a work2 if so   
be that they found it not1 they should  
not thence be induced to have  hard     
thoughts of the ,lord1 and to conclude  
that he keeps not his usual  method with
 his people1 or is not so good to them  
as formerly he hath  been3 for whatever 
defects there are upon his people's     
part1 there is  none upon the ,lord's1  
for he remains the same to them1        
providing they do  so to him2 the change
 of his dispensations towards his people
 being from  the change of his people's 
deportment towards him4    ,the ,second 
,doctrine1 resulting more directly from 
the words1 was1 ,that  the ,lord's      
,spirit poured out in plenty upon his   
people will quickly  bring them to an   
embracing of him1 and to a public       
acknowledgment and  avouching of the    

same4 ,thus it was with the people of   
,god in the  text--no sooner does the   
,lord pour water upon the thirsty1 and  
floods  upon the dry ground1 even his   
,spirit upon the spiritual seed of      
,israel1  but presently they are at     
covenanting work and subscribing work2  
,one  shall say1 ,i am the ,lord's1 etc4
 ,in prosecuting this doctrine he shewed
  first negatively that he was not for  
that occasion largely to treat of  the  
several ways that the ,spirit useth to  
manage this work of engaging  the hearts
 of his people to embrace ,christ1 and  
so to make a public  avouchment of the  
same2 whether he doth it by representing
 to their  views the sweet and precious 
promises made in the covenant of grace1 
thereby sweetly alluring and drawing    
them with the cords of love to  himself1
 or by holding forth to their           
consciences the terrors and             
threatenings of the law1 and thereby    
powerfully constraining them to fly  to 
him as to the city of refuge from the   

face of ,divine ,justice pursuing  them3
 for seeing the ,spirit is a free agent 
and blows both how and where  he        
listeth1 he may engage a soul to close  
with ,christ by either of these  ways1  
though most usually he doth it by a     
conjunction and concurrence of  both4   
,only this ought to satisfy us1 that    
what way soever the ,spirit  taketh in  
bringing a soul to embrace ,christ upon 
the gospel terms1 he so  manageth the   
work as that the end is effectually and 
infallibly  attained4    ,nor ,secondly1
 ,was he to enquire into the measure of 
the outpouring of  the ,spirit's graces 
and operations1 which is effectual for  
attaining the  end1 this being one of   
the deep things of ,god which the       
,spirit alone  searcheth1 and therefore 
is not necessary for us further to know1
 save  only that we understand so much  
to be needful as may serve to empty the 
creature of all confidence in or        
dependence upon itself1 or any other    
creature-helps whatsoever1 and bring it 

to rely upon ,christ alone1 for         
acceptance with ,god2 so much is        
necessary1 and less cannot be           
sufficient4    ,nor ,thirdly1 ,was he to
 handle the material differences between
 those who  are brought really and      
sincerely to accept1 embrace and        
acknowledge the  ,lord for their ,lord1 
and to avouch the same publicly1 which  
presupposeth  a mighty power of the     
,spirit manifested in the sweet         
impressions which  he maketh upon the   
soul1 moving them sweetly and readily to
 comply with  and yield to ,christ      
without any longer resistance1 and these
 who only in  semblance and shew profess
 to avouch ,christ to be their ,lord1   
and feign  submission to him1 not from  
the ,spirit's effectual and saving      
operations1 but either from carnal and  
external considerations1 or at  most    
from the ,spirit's common motions and   
convictions2 which differences  commonly
 arise from the different natures1      
motives1 manner or ends of  this their  

acknowledging and avouching ,christ for 
their ,lord1 and  covenanting with ,him4
    ,these things1 as not so immediately
 proper for the work in hand1 though    
natively involved in the doctrine1 being
 only cleared in transition2 he  came in
 the second place more positively to    
insist upon and handle the  following   
heads4 ,first1 ,more generally to       
propose some considerations  which make 
such a great work as renewing covenant  
with the ,lord a  weighty1 hard and     
difficult work4 ,and upon the other     
hand1 to lay down  some counterbalancing
 considerations which render such a work
 more easy  and light1 and may afford   
matter of encouragement toward the      
undertaking  of it4 ,secondly1 ,more    
particularly in application to ourselves
 and the  work in hand1 to lay before   
those who were resolved to enter into   
covenant with the ,lord1 what were the  
things that seemed to speak  against us 
in the work1 and might prove matter of  
discouragement in the  undertaking of   

it4 ,and what1 upon the other side1     
might speak for us1  and be ground of   
encouragement to us to go forward in    
humble and sincere  endeavors to renew  
our covenant with the ,lord4 ,thirdly1  
,to give some  advices and directions to
 such as were resolved upon the work4   
,as for  the first3 ,the considerations 
which make covenanting work weighty and 
difficult4 ,the first consideration was 
drawn from the greatness of the  party  
to be covenanted with1 the great and    
glorious ,jehovah1 the  ,creator of the 
ends of the earth1 who is a holy and    
jealous ,god1 and who  will not forgive 
the iniquity of such as are false       
hearted and  perfidious in his covenant1
 obstinately persisting in their false  
dealing2 so ,joshua premonisheth a      
people making very fair resolutions  and
 promises to serve the ,lord1 that it   
was a harder work than at the  first    
sight they apprehended2 ,that they could
 not serve the ,lord1 in  regard he is  
an holy ,god1 he is a jealous ,god1 and 

would not forgive  their transgressions 
nor their sins2 and that if they should 
forsake the  ,lord1 and serve strange   
gods1 then he would turn and do them    
hurt and  consume them1 after he had    
done them good1 ,josh4 xxiv4 #ai1 #bj4  
',tis a  part of his name1 ,exod4 xxxiv4
 #g4 ,that he will by no means clear the
  7obstinately and impenitently7 guilty4
    ,a second consideration that makes  
the work of covenanting with ,god to    
appear a hard and difficult work1 was   
taken from the nature of the work       
itself1 which is to serve the ,lord in a
 covenant way1 and in the  capacity of  
covenanted children1 this covenant      
relation involving in it  a walk and    
conversation in all things like the     
chosen of the ,lord2 and  'tis no small 
matter1 so to walk1 and so to behave as 
to be accounted  worthy of a covenanted 
union with the ,lord and interest in    
him1 this  covenant relation being      
confirmed with such awful sanctions1 as 
in  scripture we find1 ,neh4 x4 #bi4    

,they------entered into a curse and into
  an oath1 to walk in ,god's law1 c4    
,this consideration1 that covenanting   
work is weighty in its own nature1 was  
further illustrated and amplified  from 
the difficulty both of the things to be 
engaged against1 and of the  things to  
be engaged unto4 ,as for the former1 the
 things to be engaged  against1 which is
 sin in all its kinds and degrees1 and  
in all the  inducements to it1 both with
 reference to ourselves1 and also as to 
participation in the sins of others4    
,this must first be put away1 if one    
would be a right covenanter4 ,well did  
old ,jacob understand the necessity  of 
this1 who being resolved to go up to    
,bethel1 to renew his covenant  with    
,god1 that answered him in the day of   
his strait1 advises his family  first to
 put away the strange gods that were    
amongst them1 and to be  clean4 ,gen4   
xxxv4 #b4 ,so ,david assures us1 ,psal4 
xxxiv4 #ad1 that  departing from evil   
must precede doing of good4 ,a man that 

would lift up  his face without spot in 
renewing covenant with ,god1 must first 
put  iniquity far away1 and not suffer  
wickedness to dwell in his  tabernacles1
 as ,zophar advises ,job1 chap4 xi4 #ad1
 #ae4 ,they that would  take on with a  
new master must be fairly parted from   
the old1 there is  no way of pleasing   
both ,christ and mammon1 and therefore  
no possibility  of serving both2 whence 
the nature of covenanting work requires1
 that  there be an upright putting away 
of all sin2 for if the soul have any    
secret reserves in favor of a beloved   
sin1 it has no ground to think  that    
,christ will accept it1 as his          
covenanted spouse and bride4 ,nor is    
this all1 but #b;dly1 it must be mourned
 over and truly bewailed1  especially   
upon the account of the offence done to 
a gracious ,god  thereby2 which sorrow  
must not be of an ordinary sort1 but an 
extraordinary and most intense sorrow1  
for it cannot be an ordinary kind  of   
sorrow1 provided it be in any suitable  

measure proportioned to the  offence4   
,and #c;dly1 which follows upon the     
former1 there must be a  loathing of the
 person's self because of these its ways
 and doings that  have not been good in 
his sight1 ,ezek4 vi4 #i1 even to that  
degree as to  fill the soul with wonder 
and astonishment1 that ever it should   
have an  occasion of renewing covenant  
with ,god again4 #dthly1 ,there must be 
a  sincere and hearty resolving against 
all sins1 consequent upon this          
loathing2 the soul saying with a steady 
purpose1 if ,i have done  iniquity ,i   
will do so no more1 ,job xxxiv4 #cb4    
#b;dly1 ,as to the latter1 the things   
engaged unto render the nature of       
covenanting work difficult and weighty1 
which are duties of various  kinds1 such
 as1 #ast1 ,holiness towards ,god1 which
 is one special and  chief part of the  
covenant1 and that not for a time only1 
but for ever2  both in regard that ,god1
 the party covenanted with1 is holy and 
unchangeably so1 and calls his people to

 imitate him in this attribute          
especially2 and also in regard that the 
covenant itself is for its  nature holy1
 all the articles being morally good and
 consonant to the  royal law1 the       
scriptures of truth2 and for the extent 
of its duration1  of perpetual force and
 obligation4 ,this duty of holiness     
towards ,god1  engaged to in the        
covenant1 comprehends in it a zealous   
endeavor to  maintain the purity of the 
doctrine1 worship1 discipline and       
government  of his institution1 in      
opposition to all those who would       
corrupt it1 or  decline from it4 #b;d1  
,righteousness towards our neighbor1 and
 more  especially to our covenanted     
brother2 which righteousness should     
discover itself both in reference to sin
 and duty1 by reproving him for  sin2 or
 upon his rejecting reproof1 by         
withdrawing from him1 that he may  be   
ashamed1 and so come to be reclaimed    
from his evil course2 and by  affording 
him all that help and assistance to     

covenanted duties1 that  may be         
warrantably called for1 and generally by
 uprightness towards him  in all our    
transactions and dealings of any kind4  
#c;d1 ,faithfulness  towards our nation1
 which comprehends a constant endeavor  
to advance and  promote in our station  
the common good thereof2 and a stedfast 
opposition to the courses that tend to  
take away the privilege of the  same4   
#dth1 ,uprightness towards ourselves1 in
 everything relating to the  real good  
of our own souls and bodies2 by walking 
in all the duties of  soberness1        
temperance1 and moderation2 for as      
others are to have their  due1 so       
ourselves are not to be neglected4    ,a
 third consideration1 whereby the duty  
of renewing covenant with ,god  appears 
to be difficult and weighty1 was deduced
 from the manner and  way of engaging2  
whereunto several things of great       
difficulty to be  attained were showed  
to be absolutely necessary1 as1 #ast1   
,judgment1 to  know1 and in some measure

 comprehend1 the nature of the duties to
 be  engaged to1 and the advantages     
flowing from the right entering into1   
and  keeping of the covenant1 and the   
losses redounding to the breakers       
thereof4 #b;d1 ,seriousness1 which1 if  
ever it be in exercise1 will  certainly 
then be most lively1 when the soul is   
entering upon a work of  so high import1
 as making a covenant with ,god2 for    
then the creature has  one of two things
 to look for1 either covenant blessings1
 or covenant  curses1 according as it   
performs or not performs the tenor of   
the  covenant4 #c;d1 ,deliberation2     
rashness in covenanting is of dangerous 
consequence3 'tis not the example of    
others only1 nor raw flashes of         
conviction or love1 nor external        
considerations1 as gain1 honor1 men's   
approbation1 c41 that must induce to    
this duty2 but a fixed permanent        
purpose of heart and soul1 rationally   
and deliberately entered into4  #dth1   
,heart-integrity1 ,that it be done with 

all the heart1 #b ,chron4 xv4  #ae1 for 
the man brings himself under a curse1   
that having a male in his  flock1       
sacrificeth to the ,lord a corrupt      
thing4 ,mal4 i4 #ad4    ,a fourth       
consideration1 from whence the work of  
covenanting comes to  be a difficult and
 hard work1 was deduced from the way and
 manner of  performing the duties       
engaged to2 which is 7as 'tis expressed 
in the  covenant7 with sincerity1       
reality1 and constancy2 the difficulty  
of  attaining to these qualifications in
 the performance of covenant-duties1    
arising partly from the strength of     
corruption within1 the law of sin  and  
death1 which opposes the law of ,god2   
and partly from the strength of  snares 
and temptations from without2 which     
requires1 that 7as becomes  covenanted  
children7 there be a daily recourse to  
,jesus ,christ1 for  light to discover1 
and strength to overcome these          
corruptions and  temptations2 and life1 
that the soul turn not dead and         

insensible under  them4    ,a fifth     
consideration1 from whence the          
difficulty of covenanting with  ,god is 
sometimes heightened1 was taken from the
 meanness of such as  attempt the work4 
,when the great ones1 the nobles that   
are called the  shields of the earth1 do
 not afford their authority and         
patrociny1 as  an encouragement to the  
undertaking2 and when the wise and      
learned will  not employ their learning1
 parts1 and abilities for the           
facilitating  thereof2 but the mean and 
weakest are left to do the work alone4  
,this  was no small difficulty and      
discouragement to the ,tekoites1 in     
their  building and repairing the wall  
of ,jerusalem1 ,that their nobles put   
not  their necks to the work of their   
,lord4 ,neh4 iii4 #e4    ,a sixth       
consideration1 which may sometimes      
render such a work hard and  difficult1 
was drawn from the want of the          
concurrence of civil  authority2 and the
 opposition made thereunto by the laws  

of the land2  which1 when it happens to 
be the case of a people designing to    
renew  national engagements cannot but  
be a very difficult and discouraging    
ingredient amongst others in their cup4 
,on the other hand1 these               
counterbalancing considerations were    
adduced1  which are as so many props and
 pillars to support his people1 and to  
allay the difficulties of the duty of   
entering into covenant with ,god1  and  
to make it the more light and easy4     
#ast1 ,that the work is the  ,lord's1   
and he is greatly concerned in it2 and1 
therefore1 his people  may safely lean  
to him for help1 he having enacted no   
law against it1 as  men have4 #b;d1     
,that he looks not upon his people in   
such undertakings1  as in themselves1   
for then it were impossible for         
creatures1 having  the least sinful     
imperfection in them1 to covenant with  
their spotless  ,creator1 and come so   
near a jealous ,god1 who is a consuming 
fire to the  workers of iniquity2 but he

 considers his people in their          
covenanting  with him1 as in their head1
 ,christ1 his eternal ,son2 whence we   
may  safely say1 ,that our national     
covenant wants not a ,mediator more than
  the covenant of grace1 in this sense1 
as it is through him we have  access to 
make this covenant with ,god4 #c;d1     
,that the ,lord has promised  his       
presence to his own work2 thus we find  
through the whole of the  covenants     
made1 and renewed by the people of      
,israel and ,judah1 that the  ,lord     
discovered his gracious presence with   
them1 by some remarkable  effect of his 
goodness4 ,thus it is remarked of       
,hezekiah1 that after he  had entered   
into covenant1 ,that the ,lord was with 
him1 and he prospered  whithersoever he 
went forth1 #b ,kings xviii4 #g1        
compared with #b ,chron4  xxix4 #aj4    
#dth1 ,that the ,lord puts none of his  
people to any piece of  his work upon   
their own proper expense and charges1   
but upon his own2  and whatever         

complaints his people may have of want  
of necessary  charges1 he both has      
wherewith to supply them1 and has       
undertaken to  make it actually         
forthcoming for them1 having commanded  
his people to  open their mouths wide1  
and he has promised to fill them4 #eth1 
,that the  covenant has a greater entail
 of blessings1 than what will           
sufficiently  compensate whatever       
expense and pains a people may be at1 in
 undertaking  and performing it4 ,in    
regard1 that though a ,christian should 
lose all1  yea1 even life itself1 upon  
the account of it1 yet the covenant will
  bring in all with advantage to a      
hundred fold1 and glory to the          
overplus1 when it is duly observed4     
#fth1 ,that the undertakers have  ,god's
 call and commandment to set about it2  
this is that which1 above  all other    
considerations1 inspires a ,christian   
with undaunted courage  and alacrity in 
the undertaking of a duty1 when it is   
made clear that  the person has ,god's  

call and command for a warrant2         
otherwise the want  of this may make the
 duty to be heartlessly and doubtingly  
entered upon1  and lamely performed4    
,seeing1 therefore1 that sometimes a    
work may be the ,lord's1 and yet the    
,lord's call to such a particular       
person1 or people to undertake it1 may  
be wanting2 he came necessarily 7which  
was the second head proposed7  to       
enquire1 what were the several things   
that might seem to speak  against us1 as
 not having this call from the ,lord1   
and what were the  things that spake for
 us1 and might give us matter of        
encouragement in  undertaking the work  
before us4--,in solution of which the   
following  considerations were proposed4
    #ast1 ,as to the things that might  
seem to speak against us3 #ast1 ,our    
darkness1 not whether covenanting be a  
duty1 but in regard of the want  of     
right apprehensions of the nature and   
greatness of the duty1 which  cannot be 
a sufficient ground to neglect the duty1

 unless there were  some duties from    
which a ,christian is exeemed and that  
this is one of  them1 which indeed will 
not be found in the whole ,bible4 #b;d1 
,our want  of a frame suitable for the  
greatness and weightiness of the work1  
which speaks sadly against us1 but is   
not to be a ground to neglect the  duty1
 we being commanded to look to the ,god 
of the covenant for it4    ,upon the    
other hand1 the things which seemed to  
speak for us1 and yield  matter of      
encouragement1 that not only the work   
was the ,lord's1 but also  that we had  
his call to the same1 were1 #ast1 ,the  
many1 palpable1 plain1  and open        
breaches of these covenants1 are a loud 
call to renew them4 #b;d1  ,the         
undervaluing account that the nations   
have made of them1 is a call  to all    
such as have any respect to the sacred  
name of the ,lord invocated  in these   
covenants1 to do their utmost to        
vindicate them from that  disgrace1 by  
showing how high a price and value they 

put upon them4 #c;d1  ,the lands        
enacting the perpetual banishment of    
these covenants1 and  imposing oaths    
contrary and opposite to them2 which    
brings double  perjury upon the nation1 
both by disregarding and omitting the   
performance of this just1 lawful1 and   
commendable covenant1 and by  making    
unjust1 sinful and hateful covenants1   
for opposing the growth and  success of 
,christ's kingdom1 even the reformation 
of these many abuses  that have         
corrupted the holy religion of his      
institution3 ,and perjury  drawing wrath
 after it1 as a native and necessary    
fruit consequent2 they  that would stand
 in the gap1 to turn away national      
wrath1 cannot  otherwise make up the    
hedge1 that the land should not be      
destroyed1 but  by renewing and keeping 
national covenants4 #dth1 ,that so many 
are  speaking against them everywhere1  
accounting them a conspiracy against    
royal authority1 a popular combination  
for advancing private ends and          

interests under the cloak of religion1  
or at least unnecessary and             
unprofitable for the end intended by    
them1 binding to things of such a       
heterogeneous nature1 as renders the    
keeping of them1 and keeping within  the
 sphere of our own activity and station1
 inconsistent and impossible1  and such 
things as whereof we now have no        
occasion1 and the like2 which  is a loud
 call to us1 or any that retain other   
thoughts of their nature  and ends1 than
 the generality do1 to speak for them2  
which cannot be  done more fitly1       
honorably1 nor conspicuously any other  
way1 than by  renewing and observing    
them4 #eth1 ,the practice of the godly  
in such a  juncture of time1 as what    
ours appears to be1 is a call and       
encouraging  consideration to set us    
upon this work3 the godly usually in    
times of  great defection from the      
purity and power of religion1 and       
corruption of  the ordinances of ,god's 
worship1 set about renewing their       

covenant1  thereby to prevent covenant  
curses1 and procure covenant blessings2 
as  we find both in scripture record1 #b
 ,chron4 xv4 #ab1 #ac2 xxix4 #aj2 xxxiv4
  #cj1 #ca2 ,ezra x4 #c1 and in our own 
ecclesiastic history4 ,and the practice 
was justified by the success1 for the   
most part terminating in some  reviving 
and reformation4 #fth1 ,the time being  
come to such a crisis1  that such as    
would keep the word of ,christ's        
patience cannot any longer  do it in a  
distinguishing way from those that are  
covenant-breakers1 but  by renewing     
covenant1 and thereby making a test and 
trial of the  well-wishers to the       
covenanted interest in the land1 is a   
call to set  about this work3 in former 
times the godly held fast this their    
profession1 by suffering for their      
adherence to covenanted duties1         
resisting unto blood1 striving against  
the sin of covenant-breaking2  whereas  
now our call seems to be more clear to  
do it1 by renewing those                

covenant-obligations4 #gth1 ,the        
covenants themselves have1 as it were1 a
  loud voice to call us1 and all who own
 their obligation1 to set about         
renewing of them2 they call by the      
justness and intrinsic goodness of  the 
matter1 which is of binding force by    
virtue of the law of ,god1 prior  to any
 covenant-tie1 and by the holiness and  
excellency of the end1 to  wit1 the     
reformation and preservation of         
religion4 ,yea1 the covenant  seems to  
say to us1 and to every true hearted son
 of the church of  ,scotland1 as ,job   
said in another case1 ,have pity upon   
me1 ,o my  friends1 c4 ,so says the     
covenant3 ,have pity upon me1 all ye    
that have  any respect for me1 for      
church and state have forsaken me4      
,the third thing proposed was to give   
some advices and directions for  right  
managing the duty intended4 ,the scope  
and substance whereof  briefly follows3 
#ast1 ,such as would make a covenant    
with ,god aright1 so as the same may    

never be broken nor yet forgotten1 must 
labor to know if they be in good  terms 
with the ,god of the covenant1 and with 
the ,mediator of the  covenant2 if they 
sincerely closed with the terms1 and    
acquiesced to the  proposals of the     
covenant of grace2 this personal and    
particular  acceptance of ,christ in the
 new covenant being the only fountain of
  acceptable entering into national     
covenants4 ,hence it concerns all that  
would be right ,covenanters1 to search  
and see how it may be betwixt ,god  and 
them1 because 'tis but a profanation of 
the covenant to have the  hand and      
tongue at it1 and the heart from it3 a  
well informed head  without a reformed  
heart is not sufficient3 a good opinion 
and liking of  the covenant without a   
heart and affection to the covenant     
avails  nothing in ,god's sight4        
#b;d1 ,such as would rightly renew      
covenant with ,god1 must be well        
resolved  concerning the motives leading
 them to covenant2 which motives must   

neither arise wholly from without1 nor  
yet wholly from within1 for if  these   
motives arise wholly from without1 it   
discovers a great deal of  treachery in 
the persons covenanting1 as not         
beginning at the heart1 not  duly       
considering the inward case of the soul1
 but being moved from some  external    
considerations1 as a name amongst men1  
or affectation of zeal  for public      
concerns1 or such like2 if they arise   
wholly from within it  betrays much     
weakness and lowness of spirit1 as not  
being able at the  same time both to    
have a concern about the inward frame of
 the heart1  and eternal state and      
condition of the soul1 and likewise a   
zeal for the  public good of the nation1
 and thriving of the work of ,god and   
kingdom  of ,christ4 ,both which        
interests ought to be in their due      
proportion  before the eyes of a sound  
and real ,covenanter2 a right engager in
  covenant must be moved thereto1 both  
from a due sense of the strength  and   

power of corruption within1 and also    
from the consideration of the  lowness  
of ,god's work through defection        
without4    #c;d1 ,a right covenanter   
must be well resolved concerning the    
terms of  the covenant2 that it excludes
 all coming and going1 according to the 
revolutions of the times1 and the ebbing
 and flowing of worldly  interests3 ,one
 that has given up his name to the ,lord
 in covenant1 and  called himself by the
 name of ,israel1 must not1 like the    
,samaritans1 be  an ,israelite only in  
the time of ,israel's prosperity1 but he
 must be one  in adversity too3 ,the    
things engaged to in the covenant being 
of an  everlasting and permanent        
duration1 in their nature1 must be      
lasting  also in their observation4     
#dth1 ,a right renewer of covenant must 
be well resolved anent the cost  and    
expense of steadfast keeping of         
covenant4 ,this should be first  counted
 and deliberately resolved upon before  
engaging1 lest after  persons have      

engaged they want sufficiency to finish 
and fulfil the  undertaking2 and the    
,wise man assures us1 it is better not  
to vow1 than  to vow and not pay4 ,the  
covenant may come to require the cost   
both of  doing and suffering to finish  
it3 there must1 therefore1 be a         
resolving  upon both1 before engaging4  
#eth1 ,a right covenanter must be well  
resolved concerning the separating      
nature1 and the uniting tie and bond of 
the covenant1 for as it  distinguished  
between friends and foes1 so it unites  
covenanters amongst  themselves in      
duties1 interests1 and concerns4 ,so    
that they become one  society1 having an
 identity of common duties and          
privileges1 common  crosses and         
rejoicings2 and must rejoice together   
and weep together4    ,he closed the    
,sermon with a two-fold advice or       
exhortation1 to two sorts  of persons4  
#ast1 ,to those who had some good       
opinion of1 and some love for the       
covenant1 but yet were not resolved to  

join in covenant with us1 because  of   
many entanglements in a world2 some     
estate1 farm1 or place of  employment   
would be forfeited thereby2 and hence1  
though the covenant  be1 in their       
opinion1 a lawful and commendable       
engagement1 yet not for  them2 they are 
in a course inconsistent with it1 and   
could not be  otherwise without         
foregoing some worldly accommodation4   
,those he advised  to consider the      
matter duly2 not to engage without a    
resolution to  forsake all interests    
that might interfere with covenanted    
duties2 for  to engage in the covenant1 
and yet to walk in a course opposite to 
it1  would be exceedingly sinful2 but to
 labour rather after old ,jacob's       
spirit and disposition1 who looked to   
and trusted in the ,god of the  covenant
 when he had nothing else to look to--no
 outward encouragement1  ,gen4 xxxii4   
#aj--;,he had but his staff in his hand 
when he passed over  ,jordan1 and the   
,lord made him to return with two bands4

 ,for1 if a person  could attain        
,jacob's spirit1 name and sirname would 
be lovely in their  eyes1 covenant and  
covenanting4    #b;dly1 ,to those who   
had put their hands to many sinful      
covenants in  opposition to this        
covenant1 and such as being in a natural
 and  unrenewed state1 in league with   
sin and ,satan1 and in covenant with    
hell  and death4 ,those he advised and  
earnestly obtested to break all their   
sinful covenants1 to loathe and abhor   
them1 and be humbled for them3 and  to  
come and fall in with this covenant1 to 
say in sincerity that whereas  other    
lords have had too long dominion over   
them1 henceforth they would  make       
mention only of the name of the ,lord as
 their ,lord2 and that their  name      
should henceforth be ,jacob1 and their  
sirname ,israel1 and to  sign and seal  
the same with their oath and            
subscription4 ,this  exhortation he     
enforced by the several calls to the    
work mentioned  before1 and by the two  

following motives3 #ast1 ,because right 
entering  into1 and steadfast keeping of
 this covenant is the way to a holy     
life1  and a holy life tends to make a  
holy nation2 for1 if we would observe   
this covenant sincerely1 uniformly1 and 
constantly1 we could never be an        
unholy1 and consequently1 never an      
unhappy people2 but it should be        
written as a motto upon our walls and   
gates1 ,,jehovah ,,shammai1 the ,lord   
is there4 #b;d1 ,because the entering   
rightly into and due observance of  this
 covenant would be our strength in the  
midst of all perplexing  thoughts1      
whether arising from inward corruptions1
 or from outward  temptations or        
dangers2 the covenant yielded more      
satisfaction to ,david  when dying than 
a royal diadem1 a melodious harp1 a     
puissant army1  strong cities1 a        
numerous offspring1 or any earthly      
comforts could do1  when1 #b ,sam4      
xxiii4 #e1 he supports himself with     
this1 ,that though his  house was not so

 with ,god1 yet ,he had made with him an
 everlasting  covenant1 well-ordered in 
all things1 and sure4 ,the keeping of   
this  covenant had been to our nation a 
,samson's lock1 whereby we should have  
been able to oppose all our enemies2    
whereas the breach of it hath  opened a 
door to all sorts of enemies to creep in
 amongst us1 and hence  is verified that
 which the ,lord has threatened his     
people with for  their breach of        
covenant1 ,deut4 xxviii4 #dd1 that the  
enemy shall be the  head1 and his people
 the tail4    ,sermon being closed by   
prayer1 the ,acknowledgment of ,sins was
 again  read1 as preparative to the     
engaging part2 and the minister1 in the 
first place1 admonished all such as were
 guilty of such public steps of         
defection as are confessed in the       
,acknowledgment1 to make full and free  
confession thereof before the           
congregation1 with such a due sense of1 
and sorrow for these public sins1 as    
might evidence a hearty design of       

abandoning them and of adhering more    
closely to covenanted duties1 which     
accordingly many did1 both with respect 
to the perjurious oaths of the  late    
times and defections of the present4    
,because many have made a handle of     
this1 above any other part of the       
action1 to reproach and render the whole
 of the work contemptible1  calling it  
,jesuitic superstition1 enthusiasm1     
advancing our own  confessions into the 
room of ,christ's satisfaction1 and     
expecting pardon  upon the score of     
superficial public                      
acknowledgments3--therefore1 to         
vindicate this part of the work from    
such groundless calumny1 we desire  it  
may be adverted4 #ast1 ,that this is a  
commanded duty1 that such as  have      
violated the law and commandments of    
,god1 and being guilty of false  and    
unfaithful dealing in his covenant1     
should unfeignedly confess their        
iniquity1 which1 if they do1 ,god is    
faithful and just to forgive4 #b;d1     

,that according to the nature of the    
offence1 as the same has been acted     
secretly or publickly1 and is of a      
secret or public nature and concern1  so
 it ought to be confessed4 ,if the      
offence be in its nature and way of     
perpetration a secret sin1 known only to
 ,god and the person's own  conscience1 
secret repentance sufficeth3 nor can the
 church require any  thing else1 in     
regard such sins come not within the    
sphere of her  cognizance2--but if the  
sin be public and national1 or only     
personal1  but publickly acted1 so as   
the same has been stumbling1 scandalous1
 and  offensive to others2 then it is   
requisite1 for the glory of ,god and    
good  of offended brethren1 that the    
acknowledgment be equally public as the 
offence4 ,these are first principles    
that will not need to be proved1  but   
may be taken for granted4 ,but1 #c;dly1 
,to make it appear that it is  consonant
 to the practice of the godly to make   
public confession of  national          

backsliding1 we will advance two or     
three ,scripture instances4  ,joshua1   
chap4 vii4 #ai1 compared with verse #aa1
 commands ,achan1 who had  broken ,god's
 covenant which he commanded ,israel1   
and so brought upon the  whole nation   
the ,lord's anger1 that he would give   
glory to ,god1 by  making confession to 
him4 ,whence it appears1 that such sins 
as are  national in their consequences1 
and bring national judgments upon a     
people1 ought to be publickly confessed 
for turning away these  judgments1 and  
vindicating the honour of the ,supreme  
,lawgiver1 ,ezra x4  #a1b--,now when    
,ezra had prayed1 and when he had       
confessed1 weeping1 and  casting himself
 down before the house of ,god1 there   
assembled unto him  out of ,israel a    
very great congregation of men1 women1  
and children3 for  the people wept very 
sore4 ,verse #b;d1 ,and ,shechaniah the 
son of ,jehiel1  one of the sons of     
,elam1 answered and said unto ,ezra1 ,we
 have trespassed  against our ,god1 and 

have taken strange wives of the people  
of the land4  ,verse #c;d1 ,now         
therefore let us make a covenant with   
our ,god1 to put away  all the wives1   
and such as are born of them4 ,verse    
#aj1 ,and ,ezra the  priest stood up and
 said unto them1 ,ye have transgressed  
and taken  strange wives1 to increase   
the trespass of ,israel4 ,verse #aa1    
,now  therefore make confession unto the
 ,lord ,god of your fathers1 and do his 
pleasure4 ,verse #ab1 ,then all the     
congregation answered1 and said with a  
loud voice1 ,as thou hast said1 so must 
we do4 ,neh4 ix4 #a--,now1 in the       
twenty and fourth day of this month1 the
 children of ,israel were  assembled    
with fasting and with sackclothes1 and  
earth upon them4 ,verse  #b;d1 ,and the 
seed of ,israel separated themselves    
from all strangers1 and  stood and      
confessed their sins1 and the iniquities
 of their fathers4  ,verse #c;d1 ,and   
they stood up in their place1 and read  
in the book of the  law of the ,lord    

their ,god1 one fourth part of the day1 
and another  fourth part they confessed 
and worshipped the ,lord their ,god4    
,acts xix4  #ah--;,and many that        
believed came1 and confessed1 and showed
 their  deeds4    ,these ,scripture     
examples1 as we conceive1 do            
sufficiently evince1 that  such public  
confession1 for the substance of it1 is 
not only expedient1  but also necessary 
for such as would renew their covenant  
with ,god4 ,as  for some circumstances  
of the manner thereof1 neither are we to
  vindicate them1 nor can they justly be
 charged upon the whole of those  who   
made those confessions2 far less upon   
the minister1 who1 though he  exhorted  
such as were guilty of scandalous       
defection1 to glorify ,god by  a public 
confession1 yet obliged none thereunto  
authoritatively3 and  such as confessed 
the sin of their thoughts1 or any other 
sins not  scandalous or offensive to    
others2 he exhorted to be serious in    
mourning  over these things secretly    

before the ,lord2 but withal told them  
that  these things are not the subject  
matter of such a public acknowledgment4 
,such as were unconcerned in their      
confessions1 and seemed rather to do  it
 from the examples of others1 than from 
a real and deep sense of their          
guiltiness before ,god 7as it must not  
be dissembled1 there were too  many17 he
 exhorted to attain a sense of the      
things confessed1 and posed  their      
consciences1 whether they were convinced
 of what they pretended to  confess4 ,if
 any was so ignorant and weak in their  
apprehensions of the  nature of right   
repentance and justification1 as to put 
their  acknowledgment of sin in the room
 of ,christ's satisfaction1 and to rely 
thereupon for peace and acceptance with 
,god1 as it is alleged they did1  it    
must be owned that they wofully erred in
 a matter of the highest  consequence3  
but to affix this either upon all in    
general1 or upon any  particular person 
by name1 is against the law of charity1 

and a judging  of the heart1 which is   
not obvious to man1 but only to ,god1   
and so an  usurping of ,god's           
prerogative2 wherefore it appears1 that 
the objecting  of these and other such  
like things against this duty1 is the   
effect of  an impotent malice1 and      
passion against the whole design of the 
work1  which is too shrewd an evidence  
of a malignant spirit4    ,whereas1 some
 have taken occasion to pass injurious  
reflections upon the  minister1 because 
he made confession and acknowledgment of
 his own  personal miscarriage2 as      
though he did it with design to please  
the  people1 and to excite them to make 
confession of the things whereof they   
had no due sense1 and that he should    
have proposed himself1 as an  example to
 the people2 therefore1 to discover the 
falsehood of such  reports1 we must     
declare plain matter of fact upon this  
head4 ,the  minister did indeed         
acknowledge his own iniquities in       
general1 with  others1 and also         

particularly at the entry of the work2  
but without any  design to please party 
or person2 but only for the glory of    
,god as  himself declared1 which if any 
shall say was but hypocritical          
self-seeking1 we must remit them to the 
apostle's interrogation1 to  prepare an 
answer1 ,who art thou1 ,o man1 that     
judgest8 ,neither did he  say that he   
did it to be an example to others1      
though1 even in that  case1 he had not  
been to be blamed1 seeing the best of   
,god's saints1 in  public employment in 
church and state1 have done the like in 
public  assemblies1 as ,josiah1 ,ezra1  
,nehemiah1 in sacred record1 and in our 
church history1 the ,rev4 ,john         
,davidson1 who1 at the renewing of the  
covenant1 ,march #cjth1 #aeif1 not only 
exhorted the brethren of the  ministry  
to a serious confession of their sins1  
but did also make  confession of his    
own1 and excited the rest by his        
example1 as is  related by ,mr4         
,calderwood in his history of the church

 of ,scotland1 page  #cag4 ,wherefore1  
seeing he has the command of ,god1 and  
the most eminent  of his saints for his 
warrant and precedent1 he may be        
perfectly  unconcerned1 what are the    
constructions that such persons as are  
indifferent either about national sins  
or judgments do put upon this  action1  
,the ,acknowledgment of ,sins being     
read1 the minister prayed1 confessing   
therein the sins which had been publicly
 confessed in the said  ,acknowledgment1
 and begging assistance to know and do  
the duties engaged  unto1 then the      
,engagement to ,duties was likewise read
 in the audience of  the congregation2  
where he showed that the design of these
 engagements  was to accommodate the    
covenants to our case and circumstances4
 ,and  advised the mixed multitude to   
beware of entering into the covenant1   
unless they were duly resolved          
concerning the performing of the same1  
according as our fathers understood it1 
as the same was explained and  applied  

to the present condition of things in   
these engagements4 ,after  which the    
minister having prayed for the gracious 
presence and  assistance of the divine  
,spirit1 to enable us both to engage and
  perform2 commanding those who were to 
renew their covenant to stand  upright1 
and hold up their right hands1 he       
proceeded to the  administration of the 
oath1 causing the people to elevate     
their hands at  the end of each article4
 ,the covenants being renewed1 the      
minister  addressed himself to those    
that had entered into covenant to this  
purpose4 ,now1 you who have renewed your
 covenant with ,god must not  imagine   
that you may sit down upon your         
performance and rest yourselves  as     
though your work was perfected and      
finished2 nay1 but you must  consider   
with yourselves that now it is but      
beginning2 your race is  before you1 the
 greatest1 part of the work is before   
your hand3  covenanting is relative to  
performing2 you must1 therefore1        

meditate  upon1 and ponder your         
engagements more now than before2 for   
now you have  put a new bond upon your  
souls1 to walk with ,god in all the ways
 of new  obedience4 ,in order therefore 
to your performing1 as you have         
undertaken1 ,i would put you in mind of 
several particulars1 which you  must    
have much and frequently upon your      
hearts1 and before your eyes4    #ast1  
,you must know that a holy life is what 
becomes ,covenanters2 it is  not        
holiness in name1 show and appearance1  
but holiness in reality1 in  truth and  
substance1 that must be interwoven with 
all your actions and  duties2 though    
others should not look to conscience1   
yet you must2  though others slight and 
neglect religion1 you must by no means  
do it2  you must put on a ,joshua's     
generous and holy resolution1 ,that     
whatever  others do1 you and your house 
will serve the ,lord4 ,you must consider
  upon it1 that well-set speeches       
concerning the covenant1 is not what you

  are principally to study1 but well-set
 hearts2 you must shake off  laziness as
 well as hypocrisy4    #b;d4 ,you must  
be very regular in your walk2 an uniform
 conversation in  the way of holiness is
 that which greatly adorns a ,christian1
 and  consequently1 a ,covenanter4 ,and 
if you endeavor such a regular course of
  life1 you will not shape yourselves   
according to the company you fall  into4
 ,as some have a religion for every     
company1 so they have one for  man and  
another for ,god1 and will be more      
careful and afraid lest their  hypocrisy
 be discovered by men1 than they are    
afraid to be made manifest  to the      
,lord4 ,but so it must not be with you  
who have renewed your  covenant with the
 ,lord3 you must be the same in the     
closet as in the  public assembly1 and  
have a greater regard to the eye of     
,jehovah1 and  the answer of a good     
conscience1 than the approbation of     
fellow  creatures4    #c;d1 ,you mast be
 careful to perform all things which you

 have engaged to1  within your sphere   
and station1 but must not go without it3
 ,god is a  ,god of order1 and as he    
hath placed the stars in their proper   
orbs for  the order and ornament of the 
universe1 so hath he assigned to        
,christians their diverse stations1 for 
the beauty1 order1 and union of  the    
,church2 ,christ1 the ,captain of       
salvation1 hath marshalled his  soldiers
 into rank and file1 and it were a      
disordering of his army if  any should  
break their ranks4    #dth1 ,you must   
slight no opportunity of pursuing the   
ends of your  covenant2 whatever it may 
cost you when the occasion offers1      
suffering  must not deter you from it2  
and if the times be such now as spare   
both  your persons and purses1 yet you  
must not be sparing in your prayers for 
the reviving of the work of ,god in the 
land1 which is the very end of          
covenanting4    #eth1 ,you must be      
careful that you do not forget the      
covenant2 forgetting  7as you heard     

before7 is a step towards forsaking1    
and1 therefore1 you  must endeavour to  
have the covenant nearer to you than the
 ,israelites  had it--they had it       
written upon the posts of their doors1  
you must have  it written upon the      
tables of your hearts4    #fth1 ,you    
must evidence a great deal of           
cheerfulness and patience under  your   
crosses1 which may occur to you for your
 adherence to this your  covenant2 you  
must neither weaken your own hands in   
the discharge of  covenanted duties1 by 
drooping and discouragement under these 
crosses1  nor stumble others1 by        
repining at these losses1 or by any     
carriage and  deportment under them that
 may import your repenting of what you  
have  now done4 ,and because you are    
impotent and weak in yourselves1        
therefore1    #gth1 ,you must see that  
faith be in exercise in all your        
performances of  covenanted duties4 ,if 
this be wanting you will perform nothing
 to  purpose1 for without faith it is   

impossible to please ,god4 ,by this     
grace you must keep up acquaintance with
 ,christ1 and have frequent  recourse to
 him1 both for cleansing you from your  
defilements1 when you  break the        
covenant1 and for strength to perform   
what you are obliged to  by covenant2   
both for recovering grace1 to raise you 
up when fallen1 and  for preventing     
grace1 to preserve you from falling or  
relapsing again4    #hth1 ,that you may 
be the more active and vigilant in      
keeping covenant1  you must labor to    
maintain a constant fear of breaking it1
 and have a  fixed impression of the    
tremendous threatening denounced against
  covenant-breakers2 and you must know  
that all are such in ,god's account1    
who satisfy themselves with the form of 
godliness1 denying the power  thereof4  
,for this end read and ponder these and 
the like scriptures4    ,lev4 xxvi4 #be1
 ,and ,i will bring a sword upon you1   
that shall avenge the  quarrel of my    
covenant1 and when ye are gathered      

together within your  cities1 ,i will   
send the pestilence among you3 and ye   
shall be delivered  into the hand of the
 enemy4 ,neh4 v4 #ac--,so ,god shall    
shake out every  man from his house1 and
 from his labor1 that performeth not    
this  promise2 even thus be he shaken   
out and emptied4 ,jer4 xi4 #c1 ,cursed  
be  the man that obeyeth not the words  
of this covenant1 which ,i commanded    
your fathers in the day that ,i brought 
them forth from the iron  furnace4      
,ezek4 xvii4 #ae1 ,shall he prosper8    
shall he escape that doth  such things8 
or shall he break the covenant and be   
delivered8 ,verse #ah1  ,seeing he hath 
despised the oath1 by breaking the      
covenant1 when lo1 he  had given his    
hand1 and hath done all these things1 he
 shall not  escape4 ,verse #aith1       
,therefore1 thus saith the ,lord ,god1  
as ,i live1  surely mine oath that he   
hath despised and my covenant that he   
hath  broken1 even it will ,i recompense
 upon his own head4    ,the minister    

having given these exhortations1 closed 
the day's work with  prayer1 and singing
 a part of the ciii4 ,psalm from the    
#agth to the #aith  verse4 ,and having  
intimated the time of meeting for more  
immediate  preparation for the holy     
communion1 putting the people in mind to
 be  preparing for the work1 by fervent 
prayer and supplication1 joined with    
serious and upright self-examination1 he
 dismissed the congregation  after the  
usual form4    ,this true and unbiassed 
account of the work in its design1      
progress and  issue we have given1 not  
to pre-occupy false reports only1 which 
we  cannot rationally suppose an entire 
freedom from1 unless we fall in with    
the opposers of our covenanted          
reformation1 and to purchase the good   
opinion and commendation of men at the  
rate of losing the favor of ,god4  ,the 
main end of relating some of the more   
material heads1 scope and  argument of  
the sermons is because there are some   
things handled in  them which behoved to

 have been inserted in this preface1 to 
clear up  our motives and call to the   
work1 which could not be better done    
than as  the same was cleared then to   
the people4 ,and this brief relation1   
though falling short of the matter then 
delivered1 may serve to bring  things to
 the memories of those that found sweet 
satisfaction in hearing  them in the    
public4 ,as for what may be the         
observations of censorious  critics1    
either of the sermons in particular1 or 
of the work in  general1 we are         
perfectly unconcerned about them1 seeing
 we equally  value their approbation or 
disapprobation2 providing true matter of
 fact  be not misrepresented1 and so    
truth injuriously wronged4 ,nor are we  
willing here to make any observation of 
our own concerning the issue and        
on-carrying of the work1 though all the 
godly there present ought to  observe   
the ,lord's gracious assistance and     
favor 7so far as they found  the same   
afforded to themselves1 or displayed in 

others71 lest we may  either be in      
danger to diminish the grace of ,god by 
complaining1 or  incur the suspicion of 
self-flatterers by commending1 but shall
 leave it  to the judgment of such as   
were then present1 and the candid       
interpretation of others that may read  
this preceding account thereof4         
,there have been many objections made   
against the design1 matter and  form of 
the covenants3 more against subjects    
covenanting to defend  the purity and   
promote the reformation of religion1    
without the royal  concurrence of their 
sovereign princes2 most of all against  
private  persons entering into covenant1
 or renewing thereof1 for the said end  
without the general concurrence of the  
representative body of the church  and  
state4 ,those which concern the former  
two1 have been fully answered  by the   
greatest of our reformers1 whose piety  
and learning set them  sufficiently     
above the snarling censures of          
whatsoever cavilling pens or  tongues3  

,as for what are made against the last1 
they are also answered  better than we  
can pretend to1 in the analysis upon the
 #aith chapter of  ,deuteronomy1        
prefixed to the ,national and ,solemn   
,league and ,covenant  renewed at       
,lesmahago1 whereunto we refer the      
reader4 ,only because that  book may not
 be at hand to every one that would     
desire these objections  solved1 we     
shall here transcribe the answers to two
 or three of the most  material of these
 objections1 making but small1 if any1  
variation from  the author's words4     
,object4 #a4 ,in all the national       
covenants whereof we read in  scripture1
 there was still the concurrence of     
either the sovereign  authority then in 
being1 or at least of the ,captains1    
,elders1 ,officers1  and ,heads of the  
tribes2 ,and1 therefore1 it cannot be   
done by private  subjects1 without      
either royal or parliamentary authority4
    ,ans4 ,certainly the obligations of 
the ,covenant1 held forth ,deut4 xxix4  

#aj1 #aa1 #ab1 being so extensive as to 
reach all the members of church and     
commonwealth1 of all qualities1 ranks1  
vocations1 ages1 sexes2 is to be        
understood positively1 that all these   
are obliged to enter into  covenant1 but
 not negatively1 that without any of    
these the covenant  should not be       
entered into4 ,the motives mentioned are
 to the small as  well as to the great2 
and without them as well as with them2  
the  articles of it1 and the keeping and
 doing them1 are common to both  alike3 
,the relation that the small and meaner 
sort of people have to ,god  7the other 
contracting party7 is the same that the 
nobles and great ones  have1 and the    
privileges of it1 to be established as a
 people unto  himself and to have him   
for their ,god1 do no more belong to the
 one than  the other2 ,and consequently 
the small may renew it1 as well as the  
great2 but not nationally to bind the   
whole nation formally1 to which  indeed 
the concurrence of the representatives  

is necessary4 ,as for  precedents of    
this practice1 see them above1 in the   
narrative of the  sermons1 p4 #i4       
,object4 #b4 ,this covenant having been 
disclaimed by the political  father1 and
 made void by law1 never again revived  
by authority of  parliament1 nor the law
 rescinded by which it was declared not 
obligatory2 is therefore of no binding  
force upon us1 who have never           
personally sworn it2 and to renew it1   
and bring ourselves under the bond  of  
it1 when we are free1 without the       
concurring or imposing authority of  our
 rulers1 is high presumption in private 
subjects4    ,ans4 ,if any engagements  
can be supposed binding to posterity1   
certainly national covenants to keep the
 commandments of ,god1 and to  adhere to
 his institutions1 must be of that      
nature4 ,it cannot be denied1  that     
several obligations do bind to          
posterity2 such as public promises  with
 annexation of curses to breakers1 ,neh4
 v4 #ab1 #ac4 ,thus ,joshua's           

adjuration did oblige all posterity     
never to build ,jericho1 ,josh4 vi4     
#bf4 ,and the breach of it did bring the
 curse upon ,hiel the ,bethelite1 in    
the days of ,ahab4 #b;dly1 ,public vows3
 ,jacob's vow1 ,gen4 xxviii4 #ba1 did   
oblige all his posterity1 virtually     
comprehended in him1 ,hos4 xii4 #d4     
,the ,rechabites found themselves       
obliged to observe the vow of their     
forefather ,jonadab1 ,jer4 xxxv4 #f1    
#ad1 for which they were rewarded and   
commended4 ,public oaths do oblige      
posterity3 ,joseph took an oath of the  
children of ,israel1 to carry up his    
bones to ,canaan1 ,gen4 i4 #be1 which   
did oblige posterity some hundred years 
after4 ,exod4 xiii #ai4 ,josh4  xxiv4   
#cb4 ,national covenants with men before
 ,god1 do oblige posterity1  as         
,israel's covenant with the ,gibeonites1
 ,josh4 ix4 #ae1 #ai4 ,the breach       
whereof was punished in the days of     
,david1 #b ,sam4 xxi4 #a4 ,especially   
,national ,covenants with ,god1 before  

men1 about things moral and  objectively
 obliging1 are perpetual2 and yet more  
especially 7as ,grotius  observes7 when 
they are of an hereditary nature1 i4e4  
when the subject  is permanent1 the     
matter moral1 the end good1 and in the  
form there is  a clause expressing their
 perpetuity4    ,all which ingredients  
of perpetual obligations are clear in   
,scotland's  ,covenants1 which are      
national promises1 adjuring all ranks of
 persons1  under a curse1 to preserve   
and promote reformation according to the
 word  of ,god1 and extirpate the       
opposite thereof4 ,national vows1       
devoting  the then engaging1 and        
succeeding generations to be the ,lord's
 people1  and walk in his ways4         
,national oaths1 solemnly sworn by all  
ranks1  never to admit of innovations1  
or submit to usurpations1 contradictory 
to the word of ,god4 ,national          
covenants1 wherein the king1 parliament 
and people did covenant with each other1
 to perform their respective  duties1 in

 their several places and stations1     
inviolably to preserve  religion and    
liberty3 ,yea1 more1 national laws1     
solemnly ratified by  the king and      
parliament1 and made the foundation of  
the people's compact  with the king1 at 
his inauguration3 ,and1 finally1 they   
are national  covenants with ,god1 as   
party contracting1 to keep all the words
 of his  covenant4 ,the subject or      
parties contracting are permanent1 to   
wit1 the  unchangeable ,god and the     
kingdom of ,scotland1 7the same may be  
said of  ,england and ,ireland17 which1 
whilst it remains a kingdom1 is still   
under  the obligation of these          
covenants4 ,the matter is moral1        
antecedently  and eternally binding1    
albeit there had been no formal         
covenant3 the  ends of them perpetually 
good1 to wit1 the defence of the true   
reformed religion1 and the maintenance  
of the ,king's ,majesty's person  and   
estate1 7as is expressed in the         
,national ,covenant17 the glory of      

,god1 the advancement of the kingdom of 
our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 the honor  and
 happiness of the ,king's ,majesty and  
his posterity1 and the public  liberty1 
safety1 and peace of the kingdoms1 as it
 is expressed in the  ,solemn ,league4  
,and in the form of them there are      
clauses expressing  their perpetuity4   
,in the ,national covenant it is said1  
that the present  and succeeding        
generations in this land are bound to   
keep the foresaid  ,national ,oath and  
,subscription inviolable4 ,and in the   
,solemn ,league1  ,article #a1 ,that we 
and our posterity after us1 may1 as     
brethren1 live  in faith and love4 ,and 
,art4 #e1 ,that they may remain         
conjoined in a  firm peace and union to 
all posterity4    ,we may add also the  
sanctions of rewards and punishments    
descending to  posterity1 prove the     
obligation perpetual3 ,which is1 alas6  
too visible  in our case as to the      
punishments inflicted for the breach of 
our  covenants1 and like to be further  

inflicted1 if repentance prevent not2   
so that as we have been a taunting      
proverb1 and an hissing1 for the  guilt1
 we may look to be made a curse and an  
execration for the  punishment of it4   
,the distinction which some make use of 
to elude this  obligation1 ,that suppose
 they be materially bound1 yet seeing   
they have  not sworn the covenants      
personally1 they are not formally bound1
 is  both false and frivolous2 for our  
father's oath having all the aforesaid  
qualifications1 binds us formally as an 
oath1 though we have but  virtually     
sworn it2 and whether the obligation be 
material or formal1  implicit or        
explicit1 it is all one in ,god's sight1
 if it be real1  seeing even virtual    
obligations have frequently brought     
rewards and  punishments upon the head  
of the observers or breakers of them1 as
 well  as formal4 ,seeing1 then1 the    
obligation of the covenant upon us is   
evident to a demonstration1 it cannot1  
in justness1 be called a  rebellious    

action against lawful authority1 to     
declare in our station  that we believe 
so much and resolve to practice         
accordingly4 ,it is  indeed too true    
that the wicked laws enacting the       
perpetual breaches of  these covenants  
have never been rescinded2 but seeing   
they are wicked  and opposite to the    
commandment and covenant of the ,lord1  
the supreme  legislator1 they are       
naturally void and null1 and have been  
still so  esteemed by us4    ,object4   
#c4 ,albeit the ,national ,covenant     
should be granted to be  binding upon us
 the people of ,scotland1 and1          
therefore1 may be renewed3  yet1 to     
renew the ,solemn ,league with ,england 
and ,ireland1 as matters now  stand1 is 
ridiculous and impossible4    ,ans4     
,this objection is partly answered      
before in the ,sermons1 page  #ad1 and  
may be further cleared1 if we consider1 
that the ,solemn ,league  and ,covenant 
may be taken under different respects1  
either as a league  amongst men or a    

covenant between ,god and men3 in the   
former sense1  as it notes a league     
offensive and defensive made betwixt the
  collective bodies of these kingdoms1  
it is certain it cannot be taken by  us1
 who are but a poor insignificant       
handful of people1 far from any         
authority1 or influence in church or    
commonwealth2 the collective and        
representative body of the three        
kingdoms having basely abandoned their  
covenant with ,god1 and united in a     
sinful compact opposite thereto1 so     
that to make a league with ,england or  
,ireland in this sense1 were to  enter  
into a sinful confederacy with apostate 
covenant breakers2 but in  the latter   
acceptation1 as it is a covenant with   
,god1 not as a witness  only1 but also  
as a party contracting1 there is no     
absurdity or  impossibility why         
,scotland1 or any part thereof1 may not 
renew it1  obliging themselves by a     
solemn vow to perform what they are     
bound to  antecedently by the law of    

,god4 ,and if it be considered as an    
association1 it respects those only who 
now do1 or hereafter shall1  adhere unto
 it1 whether here or in the other two   
kingdoms4 ,hence1 the  words in the     
preamble of the ,solemn ,league and     
,covenant1 expressing the  several ranks
 and the extent of the ,covenanters1    
were not read at the  renewing of it at 
,douglass1 because we own ourselves to  
be under a  league with none but such as
 own the covenanted ,reformation2 these1
 and  these only1 we heartily embrace as
 our colleagues1 into the nearest and   
dearest bonds of ,christian union and   
fellowship1 according to this  ,league  
and ,covenant4    ,as the revolt of the 
ten tribes from the true religion and   
covenant of  the ,lord their ,god1      
hindered not the godly of ,judah1 nor   
the small party  that joined in the     
sincere worship of ,god1 out of ,ephraim
 and ,manasseh1  to renew their covenant
 under the auspicious reigns of ,asa1   
,hezekiah1  ,josiah2 ,nor did the horrid

 apostacy of the ,sectarian party in    
,england  impede our ancestors to renew 
this ,solemn ,league and ,covenant in   
,scotland1 ,anno1 #afdi4 ,so neither can
 the defection of the generality of  the
 three kingdoms1 which is to be         
bewailed1 if possible1 with tears of    
blood1 hinder us from testifying our    
adherence to the covenant1 or           
invalidate what we have done therein4   
,object4 #d4 ,albeit the action should  
be granted to be for the main1  lawful  
and right1 yet it was most unseasonable 
to undertake it at such a  time1 when   
the parliament and ministry is composed 
of a set of men that  evidence no good  
affection to the present established    
church in  ,scotland1 who will be ready 
to interpret the action of a few        
immoderately and unseasonably zealous   
people1 as the deed of the whole        
,presbyterians in ,scotland1 and to make
 a handle thereof against them1 to      
impose upon them some new burdens2 or to
 take such measures as will  effectually

 put a stop to the more general         
renovation thereof throughout  the land4
    ,in answer to this objection1 we    
shall only desire the gentlemen that    
made it to remember1 ,that now for the  
space of #bd years they have been       
crying1 the time is not come wherein we 
should set about  covenant-renewing2 one
 while they have pretended that the time
 was not  seasonable1 because such as   
were in authority were friends to the   
church2 and it would look like a        
suspecting of their integrity1 to enter 
into covenant for defence and           
reformation of religion1 as if they     
would  not show themselves active enough
 for these ends1 and prove an           
irritation to them to turn enemies to   
,presbyterian government2 it would      
cause them to think the ,presbyterians  
to be a people of indiscreet and        
ungovernable zeal1 and so disgust them  
at the establishment4 ,another1  while  
they excuse themselves from this duty1  
because these in authority  are         

unfriendly to the ,presbyterian         
establishment1 they must walk           
cautiously now and manage prudently1    
lest they give any umbrage to           
,jacobites and ,episcopalians to        
represent them ill at court1 and so     
occasion the overthrow of the great     
security founded in the ,union  ,treaty4
 ,formerly they needed not renew the    
covenant1 because religion  was not in  
danger2 now they dare not attempt to do 
it because it is2  they must wait till a
 well-affected parliament and good      
counsellors set  it out of danger again1
 and then they will not need to covenant
 for its  safety4 ,these shifts are too 
shrewd discoveries of neutrality in this
  cause4 ,it is to be feared that the   
godly have too long been hoodwinked     
with such frivolous pretexts2 and it is 
high time for every one that  has the   
low case of the work of ,god in the land
 at heart1 to be awakened  to renew     
their covenant with ,god and keep the   
same4 ,the motives and  calls to the    

work above mentioned will sufficiently1 
we hope1  demonstrate the seasonableness
 of it4 ,but if there was a defect as to
  the seasonableness1 it was not because
 it was so soon set about1 but  because 
it was no sooner4    ,we shall not dwell
 any longer upon these and the like     
objections2 there  will not want        
mountains of difficulties in the way    
till such time as the  ,lord1 coming by 
his ,spirit in a day of his power1 shall
 be pleased to  level them and say1 ,who
 art thou1 ,o great mountain8 before    
,zerubabel  thou shalt become a plain4  
,in that day 7we doubt not7 there shall 
be a  willing people to enter covenant  
with the ,lord1 even a perpetual        
covenant that shall not be forgotten2   
but1 in the mean time1 they would  do   
well to consider the hazard they bring  
themselves into who wilfully  raise     
objections against the covenant1 because
 they are unwilling to  enter into it1  
or be bound by it4    ,it may be some   
will desiderate an account of the other 

solemn holy  action that followed upon  
the back of this1 in regard there were  
some  circumstances in it not so        
ordinary in this church in former times1
  because of the paucity of public      
instruments2 but neither do we think it 
needful to give any large account of it1
 nor will it fall so properly  into this
 preface1 which concerneth only national
 covenanting1 and1 it  is likely the    
reader's patience is too far            
transgressed upon already2  nor was     
there any substantial or formal         
difference betwixt it and the  comely   
order of the ,church of ,scotland       
observed in our purest times of         
reformation in the celebration of that  
sacred ordinance1 except what in  the   
form arose from the circumstances we    
were in1 and the reason now  mentioned4 
,the work was awful and great1 the      
persons employed about it  few1         
insignificant in their own eyes1 as well
 as mean in the eyes of  others2 and    
hence the ,lord's power and grace was   

the more conspicuous1  who 7we must not 
dissemble it7 was present to the        
sensible experience of  many1 sealing   
instruction upon the hearts of some1 and
 granting1  strengthening1 and          
confirming grace to others1 for which he
 ought to  have all the glory4    ,but  
because there has been1 as we are       
informed1 no small clamor raised  anent 
some expressions used in debarring the  
ignorant and scandalous  from the holy  
table of the ,lord2 ,that the ,minister 
should have  unreasonably and           
presumptuously excommunicated the ,queen
 and ,parliament1  and the whole        
,ministers of the established church of 
,scotland2  ,therefore1 we shall here   
insert the very words relating to that  
affair1  as they were uttered by him    
without any alteration4 ,in warning the 
ignorant1 scandalous and profane to     
beware of presuming to approach to  the 
holy table of the ,lord1 the minister   
observed 7as the manner is7 the  order  
of the decalogue1 where1 in the sins    

forbidden in the second  commandment1 as
 they are enumerated by the very        
,reverend the ,assembly of  ,divines    
sitting at ,westminster1 in their humble
 advice concerning a  ,larger           
,catechism1 we find these amongst       
others--,all devising1  counseling1     
commanding1 using1 and any ways         
approving any religious  worship not    
instituted by ,god himself1 tolerating a
 false religion4----  ,all superstitious
 devices1 corrupting the worship of     
,god1 adding to it1  taking from it1    
whether invented and taken up of        
ourselves1 or received  by tradition    
from others1 though under the title of  
antiquity1 custom1  devotion1 good      
intent1 or any other pretence           
whatsoever4 ,hence1 he  expressed       
himself in these words--,i excommunicate
 and debar from this  holy table of the 
,lord1 all devisers1 commanders1 users1 
or approvers of  any religious worship  
not instituted by ,god in his ,word1 all
 tolerators  and countenancers thereof2 

and by consequence ,i debar and         
excommunicate  from this holy table of  
the ,lord1 ,queen and ,parliament1 and  
all under  them1 who spread and         
propagate or tolerate a false           
superstitious  worship1 ay and until    
they repent1 ,and in relation to the    
opposing of  the covenants and work of  
reformation1 he had these words--,i     
excommunicate and debar all who are     
opposers of our covenants and           
covenanted ,reformation1 and all that   
have taken oaths contrary to our        
covenants1 and such particularly as are 
takers of the ,oath of  ,abjuration1    
whether ,ministers or others1 until they
 repent4    ,that this was no           
presumptuous and rebellious arrogance is
 evident1  because the sins for which he
 debarred ,queen and ,parliament1 and   
all  others guilty of them1 are proven  
from ,scripture to be gross breaches of 
,god's law1 and every violation thereof 
persisted in without repentance1  is a  
sufficient cause 7in the opinion of     

,protestant ,divines7 to debar  and     
exclude from the ,lord's table4 ,now1 it
 is certain that even those  ministers  
of the established church who make such 
obloquy against the  work for this      
particular1 do the same thing in effect 
every time that  they administrate this 
ordinance1 for 7as can be proved if they
 please  to require it1 or do deny it17 
they excommunicate from the table all   
guilty of such sins as are forbidden in 
the second commandment1  according as   
they are specified in the forsaid       
,catechism2 and so1 by an  infallible   
consequence1 they excommunicate the     
,queen and ,parliament1 who  are grossly
 guilty of the most of them1 only they  
have not the courage  ingenuously and   
freely to own and express the           
consequence1 but that it  follows       
natively and necessarily from the       
premises1 even according to  their own  
principles1 they will never be able to  
disprove4    ,now1 ,reader1 thou hast a 
just and true account as far as was     

necessary1  of our poor and weak        
endeavours in this matter1 which we hope
 will1 at  least1 stand as a witness and
 testimony 7without arrogance we desire 
to  speak it7 against the apostacy of   
some and indifferency of others1 who    
should have been to us as the he-goats  
before the flock in paving our  way to  
,zion1 but are rather making to         
themselves captains to carry us  back to
 ,babylon1 and pollute our land with    
idolatry and superstition2  and1 as a   
pledge to posterity that the ,lord has  
not yet utterly deserted  the land1     
though we rather wish17if so it may     
consist with his holy  purpose1 who is  
wonderful in counsel and excellent in   
working7 that it  might tend to excite1 
some to bethink whence they have fallen1
 and  repent1 and to do their first     
works1 lest the ,lord come quickly1 and 
utterly remove his candlestick from us3 
and engage them to renew these          
covenants in a more public way1 and     
prosecute the ends of them with more    

zeal1 fidelity1 and constancy1 that the 
,lord may yet delight to dwell  amongst 
us1 make our judges peace1 and our      
exactors righteousness1 and  make us to 
be called ,hephzibah1 and our land      
,beulah4    ,the reader may please to   
cast his eye upon the following         
passages1  quoted from the writings of  
some of the ablest divines1 wherewith   
these  kingdoms have been blessed1 since
 the first reformation from ,popery2    
wherein he will see1 how far different  
an opinion they have entertained  of the
 ,covenant1 from what are the thoughts  
of the learned  ,latitudinarians of our 
age4    ,a ,testimony to the truth of   
,,jesus ,,christ and to our ,solemn     
,league  and ,covenant1 c41 subscribed  
by the ,ministers of ,christ1 within the
  province of ,london1 ,december #ad1   
#afdi ,head ,,iv4    ,in order unto     
reformation and defence of religion     
within these three  kingdoms1 we shall  
never forget1 how solemnly and          
cheerfully the ,solemn  ,league and     

,covenant was sworn with hands lifted up
 to the most high  ,god4--,we were1 and 
are abundantly satisfied1 that our      
,solemn ,league and  ,covenant of       
,september #bg1 #afdc1 is not only      
warrantable for the matter  of it and   
manner of entering into it1 but also of 
such excellency and  importance1--,that 
it will be very hard in all points to   
parallel it2  and1 therefore1 as we did 
sincerely swear this covenant with ,god1
 with  all our heart1 and with all our  
soul1 much rejoicing at the oath with a 
true intention to perform it1 and not   
for promoting any politic design2  so we
 do believe and profess to the world    
that we still stand as firmly  engaged  
to the real performance of it1 and that 
it is not in the power  of any person or
 persons on earth to dispense with it or
 absolve from  it4    ,the harmonious   
consent of the ,ministers of the county 
,palatine  ,lancaster with their        
,reverend ,brethren the ,ministers of   
the province of  ,london4 ,head ,v4     

,we shall never forget how solemn it    
7the ,solemn ,league and ,covenant7  was
 sworn1 and what rejoicing there was at 
the oath1 sundry at the  taking of it   
weeping for joy2 and when the ,covenant 
was thus taken1 we  thought with        
ourselves1 that surely now the crown is 
set upon ,england's  head3 ,we judged   
the day of entering into this ,covenant 
to be ,england's  coronation-day1 as it 
was the day of the gladness of our      
hearts4    ,mr4 ,philip ,nye's          
,exhortation at the taking of the       
,covenant1 ,september  #bith1 #afdi1 p4 
#b4    ,this ,oath is such1 and in the  
matter and consequence of it of such    
concernment1 as ,i can truly say1 it is 
worthy of us1 yea1 of all the  kingdoms 
of the world2 for it is swearing fealty 
and allegiance to  ,christ the ,king of 
kings1 and giving up of all these       
kingdoms which are  his inheritance1 to 
be subdued more to his throne1 and ruled
 more by his  sceptre1 upon whose       
shoulders the government is laid4       

99       99       99       99       99  
,,the ,,national ,,covenant1 ,,or ,,the 
,,confession ,,of ,,faith ,,of ,,the    
,,kirk ,,of  ,,scotland2                
,subscribed at first by the ,king's     
,majesty and his ,household1 in the year
  of ,god #aehj2 ,thereafter1 by persons
 of all ranks1 in the year #aeha2 ,by   
,ordinance of the ,lords of the ,secret 
,council1 and ,acts of the ,general     
,assembly4 ,subscribed again by all     
sorts of persons in the year #aeij1 by  
a new ,ordinance of ,council1 at the    
desire of the ,general ,assembly1 with  
a ,band for the maintenance of the true 
religion1 and the ,king's person3  ,and 
subscribed in the year #afch1 by the    
,noblemen1 ,barons1 ,gentlemen1         
,burgesses1 ,ministers and ,commons1    
then under-subscribing2 together with   
their resolution and promises for the   
causes after specified1 to  maintain the
 ,true ,religion1 and the ,king's       
,majesty1 according to the  ,confession 
aforesaid and ,acts of ,parliament2 ,and

 upon the supplication  of the ,general 
,assembly to his ,majesty's ,high       
,commissioner1 and the  ,lords of his   
,majesty's honorable ,privy ,council4   
,subscribed again in the  year #afci1 by
 ,ordinance of ,council1 and ,acts of   
,general ,assembly1 c41  c4 ,the ,tenor 
whereof here followeth4    ,we all1 and 
every one of us underwritten1 protest1  
that after long and  due examination of 
our own consciences in matters of true  
and false  religion1 we are now         
thoroughly resolved in the truth by the 
,word and  ,spirit of ,god3 ,and1       
therefore1 we believe with our hearts1  
confess with  our mouths1 subscribe with
 our hands and constantly affirm before 
,god  and the whole world1 that this    
only is the true ,christian faith and   
religion pleasing ,god1 revealed to the 
world by the preaching of the  blessed  
evangel2 and is received1 believed1 and 
defended by many and  sundry notable    
kirks and realms1 but chiefly by the    
,kirk of ,scotland1  and sometimes by   

the ,king's ,majesty1 and the three     
estates of this  realm1 as ,god's       
eternal truth and only ground of our    
salvation1 as more  particularly is     
expressed in the ,confession of our     
,faith1 established  and publickly      
confirmed by sundry ,acts of            
,parliaments1 and now of a long  time   
have been openly professed by the       
,king's ,majesty1 and whole body of     
this realm1 both in burgh and land4 ,to 
the which ,confession and form of       
religion1 we willingly agree in our own 
consciences1 in all points1 as  unto    
,god's undoubted truth and verity1      
grounded only upon his written  word4   
,and1 therefore1 we abhor and detest all
 contrary religion and  doctrine2 but   
chiefly all kind of ,papistry in        
general1 and particular  heads1 even as 
they are now damned and confuted by the 
word of ,god1 and  ,kirk of ,scotland4  
,but in special we detest and refuse the
 usurped  authority of that ,roman      
,antichrist upon the ,scriptures of     

,god1 upon the  ,kirk1 the civil        
,magistrate1 and consciences of men3    
,all his tyrranous  laws made upon      
indifferent things against our          
,christian liberty3 ,his  erroneous     
doctrine against the sufficiency of the 
written word1 the  perfection of the    
law1 the offices of ,christ1 and his    
blessed evangel3  ,his corrupted        
doctrine concerning original sin1 our   
natural inability  and rebellion to     
,god's law1 our justification by faith  
only1 our  imperfect sanctification and 
obedience to the law2 the nature1       
number1  and use of the holy sacraments3
 ,his five bastard sacraments2 with all 
his rites1 ceremonies1 and false        
doctrine1 added to the ministration of  
the true sacraments1 without the ,word  
of ,god3 ,his cruel judgment against    
infants departing without the sacrament3
 ,his absolute necessity of  baptism3   
,his blasphemous opinion of             
transubstantiation1 or real presence  of
 ,christ's body in the elements1 and    

receiving of the same by the  wicked1 or
 bodies of men3 ,his dispensations with 
solemn oaths1  perjuries1 and degrees of
 marriage forbidden in the ,word2 ,his  
cruelty  against the innocent divorced3 
,his devilish mass3 ,his blasphemous    
priesthood3 ,his profane sacrifice for  
the sins of the dead and the  quick3    
,his canonization of men2 calling upon  
angels or saints departed2  worshipping 
of imagery1 relics and crosses2         
dedicating of kirks1 altars1  days2     
,vows to creatures3 ,his purgatory1     
prayers for the dead2 praying or        
speaking in a strange language2 with his
 processions and blasphemous  litany1   
and multitude of advocates or mediators3
 ,his manifold orders1  auricular       
confession3 ,his desperate and uncertain
 repentance2 ,his  general and doubtsome
 faith3 ,his satisfactions of men for   
their sins3  ,his justification by      
works1 opus operatum1 works of          
supererogation1  merits1 pardons1       
peregrinations and stations3 ,his holy  

water1 baptizing  of bells1 conjuring of
 spirits1 crossing1 earning1 anointing1 
conjuring1  hallowing of ,god's good    
creatures1 with the superstitious       
opinion joined  therewith3 ,his worldly 
monarchy1 and wicked hierarchy3 ,his    
three solemn  vows1 with all his        
shavellings of sundry sorts3 ,his       
erroneous and bloody  decrees made at   
,trent1 with all the subscribers and    
approvers of that  cruel and bloody     
bond1 conjured against the ,kirk of     
,god4    ,and finally1 we detest all his
 vain allegories1 rites1 signs1 and     
traditions brought into the ,kirk1      
without or against the ,word of ,god and
  doctrine of this true reformed ,kirk2 
to the which we join ourselves          
willingly1 in doctrine1 faith1 religion1
 discipline1 and use of the holy        
sacraments1 as lively members of the    
same in ,christ our head3 ,promising    
and swearing by the ,great ,name of the 
,lord our ,god1 that we shall  continue 
in the obedience of the doctrine and    

discipline of this kirk1  and shall     
defend the same according to our        
vocation and power1 all the  days of our
 lives1 under the pains continued in the
 law and danger both  of body and soul1 
in the day of ,god's fearful judgment4  
,and1 seeing that  many are stirred up  
by ,satan and that ,roman ,antichrist1  
to promise1  swear1 subscribe1 and for a
 time use the holy sacraments in the    
,kirk  deceitfully against their own    
consciences1 minding thereby1 first1    
under  the external cloak of religion1  
to corrupt and subvert secretly ,god's  
true religion within the ,kirk1 and     
afterwards1 when the time may serve1  to
 become open enemies and persecutors of 
the same1 under vain hope of  the       
,pope's dispensation devised against the
 ,word of ,god1 to his greater          
confusion1 and their double condemnation
 in the day of the ,lord ,jesus4    ,we1
 therefore1 willing to take away all    
suspicion of hypocrisy1 and of  such    
double dealing with ,god and his ,kirk1 

protest1 and call the  ,searcher of all 
hearts for witness1 that our minds and  
hearts do fully  agree with this our    
,confession1 ,promise1 ,oath1 and       
,subscription1 so  that we are not moved
 with any worldly respect1 but are      
persuaded only  in our own consciences1 
through the knowledge and love of ,god's
 true  religion1 imprinted in our hearts
 by the ,holy ,spirit1 as we shall      
answer  to him in the day when the      
secrets of all hearts shall be          
disclosed4  ,and because we perceive    
that the quietness and stability of our 
religion  and kirk1 doth depend upon the
 safety and good behaviour of the#e     
,king's ,majesty1 as upon a comfortable 
instrument of ,god's mercy1  granted to 
this country1 for the maintaining of    
this kirk1 and  ministration of justice 
amongst us1 we protest and promise with 
our  hearts1 under the same oath1       
hand-write1 and pains1 that we shall    
defend  his#f person and authority1 with
 our goods1 bodies1 and lives1 in  the  

defence of ,christ's evangel1 liberties 
of our country1 ministration  of        
justice1 and punishment of iniquity1    
against all enemies within this  realm1 
or without1 we desire our ,god to be a  
strong and merciful  defender to us in  
the day of our death1 and coming of our 
,lord ,jesus  ,christ4 ,to whom with the
 ,father1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 be all 
honour and  glory eternally4 ,amen4     
,likeas1 many ,acts of ,parliament not  
only in general do abrogate1 annul1  and
 rescind all laws1 statutes1 acts1      
constitutions2 canons1 civil or         
municipal1 with all other ordinances and
 practique penalties whatsoever1  made  
in prejudice of the true religion and   
professors thereof2 or of the  true     
kirk-discipline1 jurisdiction and       
freedom thereof2 or in favor of         
idolatry and superstition2 or of the    
,papistical kirk2 as ,act4 #c1 ,act4    
#ca1 ,parl4 #a2 ,act4 #bc1 ,parl4 #aa2  
,act4 #aad1 ,parl4 #ab1 of ,king ,james 
,,vi4  that ,papistry and superstition  

may be utterly suppressed1 according to 
the intention of the ,acts of           
,parliament1 repeated in the #eth ,act1 
,parl4  #bj1 ,king ,james ,,vi4 ,and to 
that end they ordain all ,papists and   
priests  to be punished with manifold   
civil and ecclesiastical pains1 as      
adversaries to ,god's true religion1    
preached1 and by law established  within
 this realm1 ,act #bd1 ,parl4 #aa1 ,king
 ,james ,,vi42 as common enemies  to all
 ,christian government1 ,act #ah ,parl4 
#af1 ,king ,james ,,vi42 as  rebellers  
and gainstanders of our sovereign       
,lord's authority1 ,act #dg  ,parl4 #h1 
,king ,james ,,vi42 and as idolaters1   
,act #ajd1 ,parl4 #g1 ,king ,james      
,,vi4 ,but also in particular1 by and   
attour the ,confession of ,faith1 do    
abolish and condemn the ,pope's         
authority and jurisdiction out of this  
land1 and ordain the maintainers thereof
 to be punished1 ,act #b1 ,parl4 #a2    
,act #ea ,parl4 #c2 ,act #ajf1 ,parl4   
#g2 ,act #aad1 ,parl4 #ab1 ,king ,james 

,,vi41 do  condemn the ,pope's erroneous
 doctrine1 or any other erroneous       
doctrine  repugnant to any of the       
articles of the true and ,christian     
religion1  publickly preached1 and by   
law established in this realm2 and      
ordain the  spreaders and makers of     
books1 or libels1 or letters1 or writs  
of that  nature1 to be punished1 ,acts  
#df1 ,parl4 #c2 ,act #ajf1 ,parl4 #g2   
,act #bd1 ,par4  #aa1 ,k4 ,james ,,vi4  
do condemn all baptism conform to the   
,pope's kirk1 and  the idolatry of the  
mass2 and ordains all sayers1 wilful    
hearers1  concealers of the mass1 the   
maintainers and resetters of the        
priests1  ,jesuits1 trafficking         
,papists1 to be punished without any    
exception or  restriction1 ,act #e1     
,parl4 #a2 ,act #abj1 ,parl4 #ab2 ,act  
#acd1 ,parl4 #ac2 ,act  #aci1 ,parl4    
,act #a1 ,parl4 #ai2 ,act #e1 ,parl4    
#bj1 ,king ,james ,,vi41 do condemn  all
 erroneous books and writs1 containing  
erroneous doctrine against the  religion

 presently professed or containing      
superstitious rites and  ceremonies     
,papistical1 whereby the people are     
greatly abused2 and  ordains the        
home-bringers of them to be punished1   
,act #be1 ,parl4 #aa1 ,king  ,james     
,,vi41 do condemn the monuments and     
dregs of the bygone idolatry1 as  going 
to crosses1 observing the festival days 
of ,saints and other  superstitious and 
,papistical rites1 to the dishonour of  
,god1 contempt of  true religion1 and   
fostering of great error among the      
people2 and  ordains the users of them  
to be punished for the second fault as  
idolaters1 ,act #ajd1 ,parl4 #g1 ,king  
,james ,,vi4    ,likeas1 many acts of   
parliament are conceived for maintenance
 of ,god's  true ,christian religion1   
and the purity thereof in doctrine and  
sacraments of the true church of ,god1  
the liberty and freedom thereof in  her 
national synodical assemblies1          
,presbyteries1 sessions1 policy1        
discipline1 and jurisdiction thereof1 as

 that purity of religion and  liberty of
 the church was used1 professed1        
exercised1 preached1 and  confessed     
according to the reformation of religion
 in this realm4 ,as for  instance1 the  
#iith ,act1 ,parl4 #g1 ,act #bc1 ,parl4 
#aa2 ,act #aad1 ,parl4 #ab2  ,act #afj1 
,parl4 #ac1 ,king ,james ,,vi41 ratified
 by the #dth ,act of ,king  ,charles4   
,so that the #fth ,act1 ,parl4 #a1 and  
#fhth ,act1 ,parl4 #f1 of ,king  ,james 
,,vi41 in the year of ,god #aegi1       
declares the ministers of the  blessed  
evangel1 whom ,god of his mercy had     
raised up1 or hereafter  should raise1  
agreeing with them that then lived in   
doctrine and  administration of the     
sacraments1 and the people that         
professed ,christ  as he was then       
offered in the evangel and doth         
communicate with the holy  sacraments1  
7as in the reformed kirks of this realm 
they were publickly  administrate7      
according to the ,confession of ,faith1 
to be the true and  holy kirk of ,christ

 ,jesus within this realm1 and decerns  
and declares  all and sundry who either 
gainsay the word of the evangel1        
received and  approved as the heads of  
the ,confession of ,faith1 professed in 
parliament in the year of ,god #aefj1   
specified also in the first  ,parliament
 of ,king ,james ,,vi1 and ratified in  
this present parliament2  more          
particularly do specify1 or that refuse 
the administration of the  holy         
sacraments as they were then            
administered1 to be no members of the   
said kirk within this realm1 and true   
religion presently professed1 so  long  
as they keep themselves so divided from 
the society of ,christ's  body2 and the 
subsequent ,act #fi1 ,parl4 #f4 of ,king
 ,james ,,vi4 declares1  that there is  
none other face of kirk1 nor other face 
of religion1 than  was presently at that
 time by the favour of ,god established 
within this  realm1 which therefore is  
ever styled1 ,god's true                
religion--,christ's  true religion--the 

true and ,christian religion--and a     
perfect religion2  which1 by manifold   
acts of parliament1 all within this     
realm are bound  to subscribe the       
articles thereof1 the ,confession of    
,faith1 to recant  all doctrine and     
errors repugnant to any of the said     
articles1 ,act #d and  #i1 ,parl4 #a2   
,act #de1 #df1 #dg1 ,parl4 #c2 ,act #ga1
 ,parl4 #f2 ,act #ajf1 ,parl4 #g2  ,act 
#bd1 ,parl4 #aa2 ,act #abc1 ,parl4 #ab2 
,act #aid and #aig1 ,parl4 #ad1 of ,king
  ,james ,,vi4 ,and all magistrates1    
sheriffs1 c4 on the one part1 are       
ordained to search1 apprehend1 and      
punish all contraveners2 for  instance1 
,act #e1 ,parl4 #a2 ,act #ajd1 ,parl4   
#g2 ,act #be1 ,parl4 #aa1 ,king ,james  
,,vi42 and that notwithstanding of the  
,king's ,majesty's licence to the       
contrary1 which are discharged and      
declared to be of no force1 in so far   
as they tend in any ways to the         
prejudice and hinder of the execution of
  the acts of parliament against        

,papists and adversaries of true        
religion1  ,act #ajf1 ,parl4 #g1 ,king  
,james ,,vi4 ,on the other part1 in the 
#dgth ,act1  ,parl4 #c1 of ,king ,james 
,,vi4 it is declared and ordained1      
seeing the cause  of ,god's true        
religion and his highness' authority are
 so joined1 as the  hurt of the one is  
common to both2 and that none shall be  
reputed as  loyal and faithful subjects 
to our sovereign lord or his authority1 
but  be punishable as rebellers and     
gainstanders of the same1 who shall not 
give their confession1 and make their   
profession of the said true  religion1  
and that they who1 after defection1     
shall give the confession  of their     
faith of new1 they shall promise to     
continue therein in time  coming1 to    
maintain our sovereign lord's authority1
 and at the uttermost  of their power to
 fortify1 assist1 and maintain the true 
preachers and  professors of ,christ's  
evangel against whatsoever enemies and  
gainstanders of the same2 and namely1   

against all such 7of whatsoever  nation1
 estate1 or degree they be17 that have  
joined and bound  themselves1 or have   
assisted1 or assist to set forward1 and 
execute the  cruel decrees of ,trent1   
contrary to the preachers and true      
professors of  the ,word of ,god1 which 
is repeated1 word by word1 in the       
articles of  pacification at ,perth1 the
 #bcrd of ,february1 #aegb2 approved by 
,parliament1 the last of ,april1 #aegc2 
ratified in ,parliament1 #aehg2 and     
related1 ,act #abc1 ,parl4 #ab1 of ,king
 ,james ,,vi41 with this addition1 that 
they are bound to resist all treasonable
 uproars and hostilities that  are      
raised against the true religion1 the   
,king's ,majesty1 and the true          
professors4    ,likeas all lieges are   
bound to maintain the ,king's ,majesty's
 royal  person1 and authority1 the      
authority of ,parliaments1 without the  
which  neither any laws1 or lawful      
judicatories can be established1 ,act   
#acj1  ,act #aca1 ,parl4 #h1 ,k4 ,james 

,,vi4 and the subjects' liberties1 who  
ought  only to live and be governed by  
the ,king's laws1 the common laws of    
this  realm allenarly1 ,act #dh1 ,parl4 
#c1 ,k4 ,james ,i4 ,act #gi1 ,parl4 #f1 
,k4 ,james  ,,iv4 repeated in the ,act  
#aca1 ,parl4 #h1 ,k4 ,james ,,vi4       
,which1 if they be  innovated or        
prejudged1 the commission anent the     
union of the two  kingdoms of ,scotland 
and ,england1 which is the sole ,act of 
the #ag ,parl4  of ,k4 ,james ,,vi4     
declares such confusion would ensue1 as 
this realm could  be no more a free     
monarchy1 because by the fundamental    
laws1 ancient  privileges1 offices and  
liberties of this kingdom1 not only the 
princely  authority of his ,majesty's   
royal descent hath been these many ages 
maintained1 but also the people's       
security of their lands1 livings1       
rights1 offices1 liberties1 and         
dignities preserved1 and therefore for  
the preservation of the said true       
religion1 laws and liberties of this    

kingdom1 it is statute by the #h ,act1  
,parl4 #a1 repeated in the #ii ,act1    
,parl4 #g1 ratified in the #bc ,act1    
,parl4 #aa1 and #aad ,act1 ,parl4 #ab1  
of ,k4  ,james ,,vi4 and #d ,act ,k4    
,charles ,i4 ,that all kings and princes
 at their  coronation and reception of  
their princely authority1 shall make    
their  faithful promise by their solemn 
oath in the presence of the eternal     
,god1 that enduring the whole time of   
their lives2 they shall serve the  same 
eternal ,god to the uttermost of their  
power1 according as he hath  required in
 his most holy word1 contained in the   
,old and ,new ,testaments4  ,and        
according to the same word1 shall       
maintain the true religion of  ,christ  
,jesus1 the preaching of his holy word1 
the due and right  ministration of the  
sacraments now received and preached    
within this  realm 7according to the    
,confession of ,faith7 and shall abolish
 and  gainstand all false religion      
contrary to the same1 and shall rule the

  people committed to their charge1     
according to the will and command of    
,god1 revealed in his foresaid word1 and
 according to the laudable laws  and    
constitutions received in this realm1 no
 ways repugnant to the said  will of the
 eternal ,god2 and shall procure1 to the
 uttermost of their  power1 to the kirk 
of ,god and whole ,christian people1    
true and perfect  peace in all time     
coming2 and that they shall be careful  
to root out of  their empire all        
heretics1 and enemies to the true       
worship of ,god1 who  shall be convicted
 by the true kirk of ,god1 for the      
foresaid crimes1  which was also        
observed by his ,majesty#g at his       
coronation in  ,edinburgh1 #afcc1 as may
 be seen in the order of the coronation4
    ,in obedience to the commandment of 
,god1 conform to the practice of the    
godly in former times1 and according to 
the laudable example of our  worthy and 
religious progenitors1----which was     
warranted also by ,act of  ,council1    

commanding a general bond to be made and
 subscribed by his  ,majesty's subjects 
of all ranks1 for two causes3 one was1  
for defending  the true religion as it  
was then reformed1 and is expressed in  
the  ,confession of faith               
above-mentioned1 and a former large     
,confession  established by sundry acts 
of lawful ,general ,assemblies1 and of  
,parliament1 unto which it hath         
relation1 set down in public            
,catechisms1  and which had been for    
many years 7with a blessing from heaven7
 preached  and professed in this kirk   
and kingdom as ,god's undoubted truth1  
grounded only upon his written ,word4   
,the other cause was1 for  maintaining  
the ,king's ,majesty1 his person1 and   
estate2 the true worship  of ,god and   
the ,king's authority being so straitly 
joined as that they  had the same       
friends and common enemies and did stand
 and fall together2  and finally1 being 
convinced in our minds1 and confessing  
with our  mouths1 that the present and  

succeeding generations in this land are 
bound to keep the foresaid national oath
 and subscription inviolable4           
,we1------------under subscribing1      
considering divers times before1 and    
especially at this time1 the danger of  
the true reformed religion  --------1   
and of the public peace of the kingdom2 
by the manifold  innovations and evils  
generally contained and particularly    
mentioned1  in supplications1           
complaints1 and protestations1#h do     
hereby  profess1 and before ,god1 his   
angels1 and the world1 solemnly declare1
  that with our whole hearts we agree   
and resolve1 all the days of our  life1 
constantly to adhere unto and defend the
 foresaid true religion2  and           
7forbearing the practice of all         
novations already introduced in the     
matters of the worship of ,god1 or      
approbation of the corruptions of the   
public government of the kirk1 or civil 
places and power of kirkmen1#i  till    
they be tried and allowed in free       

assemblies and in ,parliaments17  to    
labor by all means lawful to recover the
 purity and liberty of the  gospel1 as  
it was established and professed before 
the foresaid  novations2 and because1   
after due examination1 we plainly       
perceive1 and  undoubtedly believe1 that
 the evils contained in our             
supplications1  complaints1 and         
protestations1#aj have no warrant of the
 ,word of ,god2  are contrary to the    
articles of the foresaid ,confessions1  
to the  intention and meaning of the    
blessed reformers of religion in this   
land1  to the above-written ,acts of    
,parliament1 and do sensibly tend to the
  re-establishing of the ,popish        
religion and tyranny1 and to the        
subversion and ruin of the true reformed
 religion1 and of our liberties1  laws  
and estates4 ,we also declare1 that the 
foresaid confessions are to  be         
interpreted1 and ought to be understood 
of the foresaid novations and  evils1 no
 less than if every one of them had been

 expressed in the  foresaid             
,confessions1 and that we are obliged to
 detest and abhor them1  amongst other  
particular heads of ,papistry abjured   
therein2 and1  therefore1 from the      
knowledge and conscience of our duty to 
,god1 to our  ,king and country1#aa     
without any worldly respect or          
inducement1 so far  as human infirmity  
will suffer1 wishing a further measure  
of the grace  of ,god for this effect1  
we promise and swear by the great name  
of the  ,lord our ,god1 to continue in  
the profession and obedience of the     
foresaid religion2 that we shall defend 
the same1 and resist all these  contrary
 errors and corruptions1 according to   
our vocation1 and to the  uttermost of  
that power that ,god hath put in our    
hands1 all the days of  our life2 and1  
in like manner1 with the same heart1 we 
declare before  ,god and men1 that we   
have no intention nor desire to attempt 
any thing  that may turn to the         
dishonour of ,god1 or to the diminution 

of the  ,king's#ab greatness and        
authority2 but on the contrary1 we      
promise and  swear1 that we shall1 to   
the uttermost of our power1 with our    
means and  lives1 and to the defence of 
our dread sovereign1 the ,king's        
,majesty1  his person and authority#ac  
in the defence and preservation of the  
foresaid true religion1 liberties1 and  
laws of the kingdom2 as also1 to  the   
mutual defence and assistance every one 
of us of another1 in the  same cause of 
maintaining the true religion his       
,majesty's#ad  authority1 with our best 
counsel1 our bodies1 means1 and whole   
power1  against all sorts of persons    
whatsoever4 ,so that whatsoever shall be
  done to the least of us for that      
cause1 shall be taken as done to us all 
in general1 and to every one of us in   
particular2 that we shall1 neither      
directly nor indirectly1 suffer         
ourselves to be divided or withdrawn1 by
  whatsoever suggestion1 allurement1 or 
terror1 from this blessed and  loyal    

conjunction2 nor shall cast in any let  
or impediment that may stay  or hinder  
any such resolution1 as by common       
consent shall be found to  conduce for  
so good ends2--but1 on the contrary1    
shall1 by all lawful  means labour to   
further and promote the same1 and if any
 such dangerous  and divisive motions be
 made to us by word or write1 we1 and   
every one  of us1 shall either suppress 
it1 or if need be1 shall incontinent    
make  the same known that it may be     
timeously obviated2 neither do we fear  
the  foul aspersions of rebellion1      
combination1 or what else our           
adversaries  from their craft and malice
 would put upon us1 seeing what we do is
 so  well warranted1 and ariseth from an
 unfeigned desire to maintain the  true 
worship of ,god1 the majesty of #ae our 
,king1 and peace of the  kingdom1 for   
the common happiness of ourselves and   
the posterity4    ,and because we cannot
 look for a blessing from ,god upon our 
proceedings1  except with our profession

 and subscription1 we join such a life  
and  conversation as beseemeth          
,christians who have renewed their      
covenant  with ,god3 ,we1 therefore1    
faithfully promise1 for ourselves1 our  
followers1 and all other under us1 both 
in public1 in our particular  families  
and personal carriage1 to endeavor to   
keep ourselves within the  bounds of    
,christian liberty1 and to be good      
examples to others of all  godliness1   
soberness and righteousness1 and of     
every duty we owe to ,god  and man4 ,and
 that this our union and conjunction may
 be observed without  violation1 we call
 the living ,god1 the searcher of our   
hearts1 to  witness1 who knoweth this to
 be our sincere desire and unfeigned    
resolution1 as we shall answer to ,jesus
 ,christ1 in the great day1 and  under  
the pain of ,god's everlasting wrath and
 of infamy1 and loss of all  honour and 
respect in this world3 ,most humbly     
beseeching the ,lord to  strengthen us  
by his ,holy ,spirit for this end1 and  

to bless our desires  and proceedings   
with a happy success1 that religion and 
righteousness  may nourish in the land1 
to the glory of ,god1 the honour of our 
,king#af and peace and comfort of us    
all4 ,in witness whereof we have        
subscribed with our hands all the       
premises1 c4    ,the article of this    
covenant1 which was at first            
subscription  referred#ag to the        
determination of the ,general ,assembly1
 being now  determined1 and thereby the 
five articles of ,perth1 the government 
of  the ,kirk by ,bishops1 the civil    
places and power of kirkmen upon the    
reasons and grounds contained in the    
,acts of the ,general ,assembly1        
declared to be unlawful within this     
kirk1 we subscribe according to the     
determination foresaid4           99    
99       99       99       99    ,,the  
,,solemn ,,league ,,and ,,covenant1     
,,for ,,reformation ,,and ,,defence ,,of
  ,,religion1 ,,etc4      ,we1 having   
before our eyes the glory of ,god1 and  

the advancement of the  kingdom of our  
,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 the  
honour and happiness  of the#ah ,king's 
,majesty and his posterity and the true 
public  liberty1 safety1 and peace of   
the kingdoms1 wherein every one's       
private  condition is included2 and     
calling to mind the treacherous and     
bloody  plots1 conspiracies1 attempts   
and practices of the enemies of ,god    
against the true religion and professors
 thereof in all places1  especially in  
these three kingdoms1 ever since the    
reformation of  religion2 and how much  
their rage1 power1 and presumption are  
of late1  and at this time increased and
 exercised1 whereof the deplorable      
estate  of the church and kingdom of    
,ireland1 the distressed estate of the  
church and kingdom of ,england1 and the 
dangerous estate of the church  and     
kingdom of ,scotland1 are present and   
public testimonies4 ,we have now  at    
last #ai after other means of           
supplication1 remonstrance1             

protestation and suffering for the      
preservation of ourselves and our       
religion from utter ruin and            
destruction1 according to the           
commendable  practice of these kingdoms 
in former times1 and the example of     
,god's  people in other nations1 after  
mature deliberation1 resolved and       
determined to enter into a mutual and   
,solemn ,league and ,covenant3  ,wherein
 we all subscribe1 and each one of us   
for himself1 with our hands  lifted up  
to the ,most ,high ,god1 do swear--     
#a4 ,that we shall sincerely1 really1   
and constantly1 through the grace of    
,god1 endeavour in our several places   
and callings1 the preservation of  the  
reformed religion in the church of      
,scotland1 in doctrine1 worship1        
discipline1 and government1 against our 
common enemies2 the reformation  of     
religion in the kingdoms of ,england and
 ,ireland1 in doctrine1  worship1       
discipline and government1 according to 
the ,word of ,god1 and  the example of  

the best reformed churches2 and shall   
endeavour to bring  the churches of ,god
 in the three kingdoms1 to the nearest  
conjunction  and uniformity in religion1
 ,confession of ,faith1 ,form of        
,church-government1 ,directory for      
,worship and ,catechizing2 that we and  
our posterity after us1 may1 as         
brethren1 live in faith and love1 and   
the ,lord may delight to dwell in the   
midst of us4    #b4 ,that we shall1 in  
like manner1 without respect of persons1
 endeavor  the extirpation of ,popery1  
,prelacy 7that is1 church government by 
arch-bishops1 bishops1 their chancellors
 and commissaries1 deans1 deans  and    
chapters1 archdeacons1 and all other    
ecclesiastical officers  depending on   
that hierarchy71 superstition1 heresy1  
schism1 profaneness1  and whatsoever    
shall be found to be contrary to sound  
doctrine and the  power of godliness2   
lest we partake in other men's sins1 and
 thereby be  in danger to receive of    
their plagues2 and that the ,lord may be

 one1  and his name one in the three    
kingdoms4    #c4 ,we shall1 with the    
same sincerity1 reality and constancy1  
in our  several vocations1 endeavor with
 our estates and lives mutually to      
preserve the rights and privileges of   
the parliaments#bj and the  liberties of
 the kingdoms2 and to preserve and      
defend the ,king's#ba  ,majesty's person
 and authority1 in the preservation and 
defence of the  true religion and       
liberties of the kingdoms2 that the     
world may bear  witness with our        
consciences of our loyalty1 and that we 
have no  thoughts or intentions to      
diminish his#bb ,majesty's just power   
and  greatness4    #d4 ,we shall also   
with all faithfulness endeavor the      
discovery of all  such as have been1 or 
shall be1 incendiaries1 malignants1 or  
evil  instruments1 by hindering the     
reformation of religion1 dividing the#bc
  ,king from his people1 or one of the  
kingdoms from another1 or making  any   
faction or parties amongst the people1  

contrary to this ,league and  ,covenant1
 that they may be brought to public     
trial1 and receive condign  punishment1 
as the degree of their offences shall   
require or deserve1 or  the supreme     
judicatories of both kingdoms           
respectively1 or others having  power   
from them for that effect1 shall judge  
convenient4    #e4 ,and whereas the     
happiness of a blessed peace between    
these kingdoms1  denied in former times 
to our progenitors1 was by the good     
providence of  ,god granted unto #bdus  
and--concluded1 and settled by both     
parliaments1 ,we shall1 each one of us1 
according to our place and  interest1   
endeavor that they may be and remain    
conjoined#be in a firm  peace and union 
to all posterity1 and that justice may  
be done upon the  wilful opposers       
thereof1 in manner expressed in the     
precedent article4    #f4 ,we shall also
 according to our places and callings   
this common cause  of religion1 liberty 
and peace of the kingdoms1 assist and   

defend all  those that enter into this  
league and covenant1 in the maintaining 
and  pursuing thereof2 and shall not    
suffer ourselves1 directly or           
indirectly1 by whatsoever combination1  
persuasion or terror1 to be  divided and
 withdrawn from this blessed union and  
conjunction1 whether  to make defection 
to the contrary part1 or to give        
ourselves to a  detestable indifferency 
or neutrality in this cause which so    
much  concerneth the glory of ,god1 the 
good of the kingdoms1 and honor of      
the#bf ,king2 but shall all the days of 
our lives zealously and  constantly     
continue therein1 against all           
opposition1 and promote the  same       
according to our power1 against all lets
 and impediments  whatsoever2 and what  
we are not able ourselves to suppress or
 overcome1  we shall reveal and make    
known1 that it may be timely prevented  
or  removed2 all of which we shall do as
 in the sight of ,god4    ,and because  
these kingdoms are guilty of many sins1 

and provocations  against ,god and his  
,son ,jesus ,christ1 as is too manifest 
by our present  distresses and dangers1 
the fruits thereof2 we profess and      
declare  before ,god and the world1 our 
unfeigned desire to be humbled for our  
own  sins1 and for the sins of these    
kingdoms1 especially that we have not1  
as we ought1 valued the inestimable     
benefit of the gospel1 that we have  not
 labored for the purity and power       
thereof1 and that we have not           
endeavored to receive ,christ in our    
hearts1 nor to walk worthy of him in    
our lives1 which are the causes of other
 sins and transgressions so much        
abounding amongst us2 and our true and  
unfeigned purpose1 desire and  endeavor 
for ourselves1 and all others under our 
power and charge1 both  in public and   
private1 in all duties we owe to ,god   
and man1 to amend our  lives1 and each  
one to go before another in the example 
of a real  reformation2 that the ,lord  
may turn away his wrath1 and heavy      

indignation1 and establish these        
churches and kingdoms in truth and      
peace4 ,and this ,covenant we make in   
the presence of ,almighty ,god1 the     
searcher of all hearts1 with a true     
intention to perform the same1 as we    
shall answer at the great day1 when the 
secrets of all hearts shall be          
disclosed2 most humbly beseeching the   
,lord to strengthen us by his ,holy     
,spirit for this end1 and to bless our  
desires and proceedings with such       
success as may be deliverance and safety
 to his people1 and  encouragement to   
other ,christian churches that may be   
groaning under1 or  in danger of1 the   
yoke of ,antichristian tyranny1 to join 
in the same1  or like association and   
,covenant to the glory of ,god1 the     
enlargement of  the kingdom of ,jesus   
,christ1 and the peace and tranquility  
of ,christian  kingdoms and             
commonwealths4    ,n4,b4--,these        
,covenants above-written1 formerly      
nationally taken and  renewed1 and still

 nationally binding1 ,we1 in our private
 station only1  swear and subscribe in  
their genuine sense1 conform to the     
,explication  and ,application thereof1 
in our present ,acknowledgment of the   
public  ,sins and ,breaches of the same1
 and ,engagement to the ,duties         
contained  therein1 which do in a       
special way relate to the present times1
 and are  proper for our capacities     
therein4           99       99       99 
99       99    ,a ,,solemn              
,,acknowledgment ,,of ,,public ,,sins1  
,,and ,,breaches ,,of ,,the ,,national  
,,covenant ,,and ,,solemn ,,league ,,and
 ,,covenant4      ,we all and every one 
of us--being by the good hand of our    
,god upon us1  now1 after a long and due
 deliberation1 determined to testify to 
the  world1 for the glory of ,god1 and  
the exoneration of our consciences1 in  
the matter of our duty1 our adherance to
 the whole of our attained              
,reformation1 by renewing these our vows
 and ,covenant-engagements with  ,god1  

and knowing that it is a necessary      
preparative for the right  performance  
of that so great and solemn a duty1 that
 we be duly sensible  of1 and deeply    
humbled for the many heinous breaches   
thereof1 which  these nations1 and we   
ourselves in particular are guilty of2  
do  therefore1 with that measure of     
sorrow and repentance which ,god of his 
mercy shall be pleased to grant us1     
desire to acknowledge and confess  our  
own sins and violations of these vows1  
and the sins and  transgressions of our 
fathers2 to which we have also an       
example left us  by the ,cloud of       
witnesses1 which through faith and      
patience have  inherited the promises1  
ever since the ,lord had a visible      
national  church upon earth1 and more   
especially by our progenitors in this   
nation2 as1 for instance1 in the year   
#aeif1 ,wherein the ,general  ,assembly1
 and all the kirk judicatories1 with the
 concurrence of many of  the nobility1  
gentry and burgesses1 did with many     

tears acknowledge the  breach of the    
,national ,covenant1 and engaged        
themselves into a  reformation1 even as 
our predecessors1 and theirs1 had done  
in the  ,general ,assembly and          
,convention of ,estates in the year     
#aefg4 ,as also  the more recent        
practice of the godly renewing the      
,national ,covenant1  and acknowledging 
the breaches of it1 both before they    
obtained the  concurrence of civil      
authority1 in the year #afch1 and again1
 by  authority1 in the year #afci4 ,and 
that noble precedent of that ,national  
,solemn acknowledgment of ,public ,sins 
and ,breaches of the ,solemn ,league    
and ,covenant1 and ,solemn ,engagement  
to all the duties contained  therein1   
7which we are here taking for our       
pattern1 and enlarging the  same as the 
sad sins and transgressions since that  
time committed1 and  the circumstances  
of time give occasion7 condescended     
upon1 by the  ,commission of the        
,general ,assembly1 and approven by the 

,committee of  ,estates1 and publickly  
owned in all the churches1 at the       
renewing of the  ,solemn ,league1 ,anno 
#afdh1 and #afdi1 together with that    
solemn renovation  thereof accompanied  
with such confession of sins as did best
 suit that  time1 by that small company 
of the ,lord's people at ,lanark1 before
 their  discomfiture at ,pentland hills4
 ,and perceiving by the foresaid        
instances1 that this duty1 when gone    
about out of conscience1 hath very      
often been attended with a reviving out 
of troubles--or at least out of         
deadness1 security1 and formality1 under
 which we and the land are at  present  
sinking1 and with a blessing and success
 from heaven2--',we do  humbly and      
sincerely1 as in ,his sight who is the  
searcher of hearts1  acknowledge the    
many sins and great transgressions of   
the land2 we have  done wickedly1 our   
kings1 our princes1 our nobles1 our     
judges1 our  officers1 our teachers1 and
 our people4 ,albeit the ,lord hath long

 and  clearly spoken unto us1 we have   
not hearkened to his voice4 ,albeit he  
hath followed us with tender mercies1 we
 have not been allured to wait  upon him
 and walk in his way4 ,and though he    
hath sticken us1 yet we have  not       
grieved3 nay1 though he hath consumed   
us1 we have refused to receive          
correction4 ,we have not remembered to  
render unto the ,lord according to  his 
goodness1 and according to our vows and 
promises2 but have gone away  backward1 
by a perpetual backsliding1 and have    
most sinfully and  shamefully broken the
 ,national ,covenant1 and all the       
articles of the  ,solemn ,league and    
,covenant1 which our fathers sware      
before ,god1 angels  and men4' ,albeit  
there has been in the land1 ever since  
the reformation  of religion1 some of   
all ranks who have been for a testimony 
unto the  truth1 and for a name of joy  
and praise unto the ,lord1 by living    
godly1  studying to keep their garments 
pure1 and being steadfast in the        

covenant and cause of ,god2 and there   
yet continues to be some1 though        
reduced to a very small number1         
destitute of outward power and ability1 
and other helps fit for the right       
managing of a testimony1 wanting the    
countenance of civil authority1 and     
having few to feed or lead them2 who    
are1 notwithstanding all these          
difficulties1 labouring in the strength 
of ,christ to keep the good old way of  
these faithful witnesses who are  gone  
before1 in bearing testimony to the     
truths of ,christ4 ,yet we have  reason 
to acknowledge1 that most of us in this 
land have not endeavoured  with that    
reality1 sincerity1 and constancy that  
did become us1 to  preserve the work of 
reformation in the ,kirk of ,scotland1  
as we are  obliged by the first article 
of the ,solemn ,league1 and by the      
,national  ,covenant2 wherein we promise
 and swear by the great name of the     
,lord our  ,god1 that we shall continue 
in the obedience of the doctrine and    

discipline of this kirk1 and shall      
defend the same according to our        
vocation and power all the days of our  
lives1 under the pains contained  in the
 law1 and danger both of body and soul  
in the day of ,god's fearful  judgment1 
and resist all contrary error and       
corruptions1 according to  our          
vocations1 and the utmost of that power 
,god hath put in our hands  all the days
 of our life--according to these        
,scriptures4    ,ezra ix4 #aj1 #aa1 ,and
 now1 ,o our ,god1 what shall we say    
after this8 for  we have forsaken thy   
commandments4 ,verse #aa4 ,which thou   
hast commanded  by thy servants the     
prophets1 c4 ,isaiah xxiv4 #e1 ,the     
earth also is  defiled under the        
inhabitants thereof1 because they have  
transgressed  the laws1 changed the     
ordinances1 broken the everlasting      
covenant4  ,jeremiah ix4 #ac1 ,and the  
,lord saith1 because they have forsaken 
my law1  which ,i set before them1 and  
have not obeyed my voice1 neither walked

  therein4 ,verse #ae4 ,therefore1 thus 
saith the ,lord of hosts1 the ,god of   
,israel1 behold ,i will feed them1 even 
this people1 with wormwood1 and  give   
them water of gall to drink4 ,daniel    
vii4 #be1 ,and he shall speak  great    
words against the ,most ,high1 and shall
 wear out the saints of the  ,most      
,high1 and think to change times and    
laws4 ,galatians v4 #a1 ,stand  fast    
therefore in the liberty wherewith      
,christ hath made us free1 and be  not  
entangled again with the yoke of        
bondage4 ,i ,timothy iv4 #af1 ,take     
heed unto thyself1 and unto the         
doctrine3 continue in them3 for in doing
  this1 thou shalt both save thyself1   
and them that hear thee4 #b ,timothy  i4
 #ac1 ,hold fast the form of sound      
words1 which thou hast heard of me1  in 
faith1 and love1 which is in ,christ    
,jesus4 ,revelation in4 #aj1 #aa1       
,because thou hast kept the word of my  
patience1 ,i will also keep thee  from  
the hour of temptation1 which shall come

 upon all the world1 to try  them that  
dwell upon the earth4 ,behold ,i come   
quickly2 hold fast that  which thou     
hast1 that no man take thy crown4       
,but we have been so far from such      
endeavours1 that there hath been a      
stupid submission to our rulers and     
great ones1 breaking down and  ruining  
the whole work of reformation1 razing   
the bulwarks thereof1  rescinding the   
laws in favour of the same1 and not only
 breaking but  burning the covenants for
 preserving it1 enacting the breaches   
thereof1  and declaring the obligation  
thereof void and criminal to be1 owned2 
and1 upon the ruins thereof1 setting up 
abjured ,diocesan ,erastian  ,prelacy1  
with its concomitant bondage of         
patronages--a blasphemous and           
sacrilegious supremacy and arbitrary    
power in magistrate over church and     
state4 ,there was little conscience made
 of constant endeavours to  preserve the
 reformation1 when there was not a      
seasonable testimony  exhibited against 

these audacious and heaven-daring       
attempts2 when our  ministers were by a 
wicked edict ejected from their charges1
 both they  and the people too easily   
complied with it4 ,albeit1 in the       
,national  ,covenant1 the land is       
obliged to defend the reformation1 and  
to labour  by all means lawful to       
recover the purity and liberty of the   
gospel1 by  forbearing the practice of  
all novations introduced in the worship 
of  ,god1 or approbation of the         
corruptions of the public government of 
the  kirk3 yet was there given all the  
approbation required by law of the      
novation and corruption of ,prelacy by  
hearing the ,prelatic curates4 ,both    
ministers and people1 in a great measure
 complied with1 submitted unto1  and    
connived at the encroachments of the    
supremacy and absolute power1  both in  
accepting and countenancing the former  
indulgences and later  toleration2 the  
generalty took and subscribed oaths and 
bonds imposed  during the reigns of     

these tyrants1 ,charles ,,ii4 and ,james
 ,duke of ,york1  pressing conformity   
with the then establishments of church  
and state1  most contrary to the        
reformation which the nation had sworn  
to preserve2  some of these oaths and   
bonds restraining the takers from all   
endeavours  to preserve it1 as those    
that renounced the privilege of         
defensive arms2  some of them abjuring  
the covenants expressly1 and condemning 
the  prosecution of the ends of them as 
rebellion1 viz41 the declaration and    
test2 the most part did1 ,issachar like1
 crouch beneath all the burthens  of    
maintaining and defending an arbitrary  
power and absolute tyranny1  wholly     
employed and applied for the destruction
 of reformation1 and paid  such         
subsidies and supplies as were          
declaredly imposed for upholding the    
tyrant's usurpations1 and suppressing   
all endeavours to preserve the          
reformation4    ,and after the ,lord was
 pleased in mercy to break the rod of   

oppression1  and burst the bands of that
 horrid tyranny from off his people's   
necks1  and to allow us a time of peace 
and ease2 yet have we not made          
conscience of keeping this our oath2 but
 instead of all lawful means to         
preserve the discipline and government  
of this church1 there have been         
frequent invasions made thereupon by the
 civil powers1 exercising an  ,erastian 
supremacy over her assemblies1 by       
indicting1 prorogueing1 and  dissolving 
them at their pleasure1 and in their    
name and authority2  whereby ,christ's  
supremacy and kingly dignity was highly 
injured4 ,and as  the state for their   
part have1 contrary to this article1    
made these  usurpations upon the        
government of the church1 so have       
backslidden  ministers in their stations
 shamefully succumbed to1 been silent   
at1 and  pleaded in defence of these    
usurpations1 and have not zealously and 
faithfully asserted their ,master's     
prerogatives1 and the privileges of  his

 church1 sacrilegiously encroached upon 
by the magistrate4 ,and people  likewise
 have1 in their stations1 been          
unconcerned about these wrongs  and     
injuries done to ,christ1 and have not  
used all lawful endeavour with  their   
superiors 7which they own as such17     
whether of church or state1 in  order to
 reformation thereof1 nor made faithful 
protestations against  them1 when they  
could not obtain redress--and as the    
government of the  church has not been  
duly preserved2 so there has been a want
 of constant  endeavours to preserve    
pure the doctrine of this reformed      
church2 and  that ever since that fatal 
distraction of public resolution        
principles  began to creep into the     
church1 which corrupted people in that  
doctrine  of abstaining from association
 with malignants and enemies to truth   
and  godliness1 and so far prevailed    
that the avowed enemies of religion were
  brought into places of greatest trust 
and authority4 ,and these  associations 

have not been made only with the haters 
of religion at  home1 but are also      
entered into with the enemies to the    
,protestant  religion abroad2 and many  
backsliding ministers in the late times 
of  tyranny were very faulty in this    
point of not labouring to preserve the  
purity of doctrine1 either by express   
condemning of some important  truths    
then persecuted1 or at least in being   
silent and not asserting  them1 nor     
applying their doctrine to the time's   
corruptions2 whereby  many of the people
 were left to be overcome by            
snares--,and so laid open  to seek out  
other principles to justify their       
practices of compliance1  or            
extravagances on the right or left hand1
 not consistent with the  doctrine and  
rules of the ,church of ,scotland1      
others were not constant  in confessing 
those doctrines before men when called  
to suffer for1 and  avouch them4        
,neither are there at this day1 nor has 
there been all  along during these years

 of peace and quiet1 suitable endeavours
 for  suppressing all sorts of unsound  
doctrine1 or purging the land of the    
leaven of erroneous principles4         
,although there have been many laws made
  against ,popery1 yet how have they    
been put to execution1 when ,papists    
are so rife and ,popery prevalent8--the 
idolatrous mass being set up in  several
 places of the kingdom2 the maintainers 
and promoters of  ,quakerism1           
,bourignianism1 ,arminianism1 c1 are not
 punished1 but  protected by the state1 
and connived at by the church4 ,and     
whereas1 the  right endeavouring of     
maintaining sound doctrine1 doth require
  uprightness and sincerity in the      
profession and belief thereof1 and a    
suitable practice accompanying that     
belief2 we have it to lament that  the  
most part of us in this land are but    
hypocritical in the professing  of the  
doctrines of the gospel1 and want a     
suitable practice and  conversation     
becoming the gospel1 cause1 and cross of

 ,christ4 ,many are  grossly ignorant of
 the fundamental doctrines of           
,christianity1 or study  the            
circumstantial and controverted more    
than the fundamental truths4  ,there has
 also been great short coming of real1  
sincere and constant  endeavors to      
preserve the worship of ,god1 public and
 private4 ,in times  of hazard1 many    
ministers left off preaching1 and the   
people hearing4 ,we  have been negligent
 and remiss in family worship2 and1     
instead of  preserving1 many have done  
much to discourage and hinder it3 ,and  
in  secret we have been formal and      
careless3 ,many have satisfied          
themselves  with the purity of the      
ordinances1 neglecting the power        
thereof1 yea1  some have turned aside to
 crooked ways destructive to both4      
,neither  have we been careful to       
preserve the discipline1 church censures
 being  laid aside1 and not impartially 
exercised against scandals1 personal and
  public4 ,scandalous persons being     

admitted to hold up their children to   
baptism1 and to partake of the ,lord's  
table and other privileges of the       
church1 without respect to the rules of 
,christ4 ,the discipline of the  church 
hath also been circumscribed1 limited1  
and bounded by ,acts of  ,parliament1   
and is now rendered ineffectual by the  
late ,act of the  ,british ,parliament1 
entitled1 ,act for preventing the       
,disturbing of  those of the ,episcopal 
,communion in that part of ,great       
,britain called  ,scotland4 ,so that    
ministers could not without             
transgressing these ,acts  7which they  
too punctually observe7 draw out the    
sword of discipline  against many       
covenant-breakers2 perjured             
hireling-curates being allowed  to enjoy
 churches and benefices without censure 
or molestation1 if  subject to the civil
 government1 as is evident from the     
#bgth ,act of the  fifth ,session of    
,william's first ,parliament1 entitled1 
,act concerning  the ,church4 ,ministers

 have neglected to draw out the sword of
  discipline1 duly and impartially      
against scandalous persons of every     
rank and quality2 so that many gross    
offenders have been passed over  without
 censure1 as1 namely1 such as shed the  
blood of the ,lord's  people1 complied  
with the tyrants and usurpers in the    
times of  persecution1 by testing1      
bonding1 hearing of curates1 paying of  
cess and  other taxations1              
intelligencers1 and informers against   
the people of  ,god1 accepters of       
indulgences and toleration1 and such as 
preached under  the covert of remissions
 and indemnities bought by sums of money
 from  the council1 such as had been    
lack and negligent in testifying against
  the corruptions of the times1 were not
 brought to an acknowledgment of  it2   
but1 upon the contrary1 encouraged as   
well-doers1 and advanced to  office and 
public employment in the church without 
evident signs of  repentance4 ,and many 
other scandalous persons are daily      

connived at and  superficially past1    
without sufficient discoveries of their 
repentance  and amendment3 ,many also   
have been overlooked because of their   
eminency  in the world1 or past over for
 pecuniary mulcts4 ,and1 whereas1 in the
  same first ,article of the ,solemn    
,league1 we are bound to endeavor the   
promoting and propagating of the        
,reformation and uniformity of religion1
  ,confession of ,faith1 ,form of       
,church-government 7which as it was     
primarily understood1 so still we own to
 be only ,presbyterial7 ,directory  for 
,worship and ,catechising4 ,according to
 the ,scriptures4    ,isa4 xix4 #ah4 ,in
 that day shall five cities in the land 
of ,egypt speak  the language of        
,canaan1 and swear to the ,lord of      
,hosts4 ,jer4 xxxii4 #ci4  ,and ,i will 
give them one heart and one way1 that   
they may fear me for  ever1 for the good
 of them and of their children after    
them4 ,zech4 xiv4  #i4 ,and the ,lord   
shall be ,king over all the earth3 in   

that day there  shall be one ,lord1 and 
his name one4 ,acts ii4 #df4 ,and they  
continuing  daily with one accord in the
 temple1 and breaking bread1 from house 
to  house1 did eat their meat with      
gladness and singleness of heart4 ,acts 
iv4 #cb4 ,and the multitude of them that
 believed were of one heart1 and  one   
soul4 ,i ,cor4 vii4 #ag4 ,but as ,god   
hath distributed to every man1 as  the  
,lord hath called every one1 so let him 
walk2 and so ordain ,i in all  churches4
 ,gal4 vi4 #af4 ,and as many as walk    
according to this rule1  peace be on    
them1 and mercy1 and upon the ,israel of
 ,god4 ,phil4 iii4 #af4  ,nevertheless1 
whereto we have already attained2 let us
 walk by the same  rule2 let us mind the
 same thing4    ,yet as our fathers had 
reason to complain1 that the profane1   
loose1 and  insolent carriage of many in
 their armies1 who went to the          
assistance of  their brethren in        
,england1 and the tampering and         
unstraight dealings of  some            

commissioners and others of our nation1 
in ,london1 the ,isle of  ,wight1 and   
other places1 had proved great lets to  
the work of  reformation and settling of
 kirk government there1 whereby error   
and  schism in the land had been greatly
 increased1 and sectaries hardened in   
their way2 so much more during the time 
of the late persecution1 the  offensive 
carriage of many who went to ,england is
 to be bewailed1 who  proved very       
stumbling to the ,sectarians there4     
,there hath been little zeal or         
endeavour for such a uniformity1 little 
praying for it1 or mourning over the    
obstructions of it2 but1 upon the       
contrary1 a toleration was embraced1    
introductive of a sectarian             
multiformity of religion without a      
testimony against the toleration even   
of ,popery itself1 under the usurper    
,james1 ,duke of ,york2 and since the   
,revolution the land hath done exceeding
 much to harden them4 #ast1 ,by         
accepting such persons to the royal     

dignity over this realm as had sworn  to
 maintain the ,antichristian hierarchy  
of ,prelacy1 with all the  superstitions
 and ceremonies of the ,church of       
,england1 and who  countenance a        
multiformity in the worship of ,god and 
government of the  church1 and do not   
suppress such as are unsound and        
heterodox in the  fundamental articles  
of the ,christian faith4 ,and1 next1 to 
put a full  stop to all endeavours of   
uniformity and union in the ,lord's way1
 and to  bring the nation under an      
indespensible necessity of covenant     
breaking1  this nation hath entered into
 an incorporating union with ,england in
  such terms1 and upon such conditions  
as formally and explicitly  established 
,prelacy as the ,church-government there
 to all succeeding  generations2 and    
that while1 in the meantime1 all manner 
of ,sectarian  errors are there         
encouraged1 maintained1 and supported by
 means of a  toleration4 ,by the        
concluding of which union1 this land    

hath said upon  the matter that there is
 no obligation upon us to tender the    
advancement  of religion in that nation1
 or to study such means and methods as  
might  tend to bring them to a sense of 
their breach of covenant1 or reduce     
them to a performance of the duties     
whereunto they are engaged2 and thus    
this land hath hardened them in their   
sinful ways and courses1 contrary  to   
this ,solemn ,league1 and given them    
ground to think that we look upon  the  
obligation thereof to be loosed4 ,this  
land hath been wanting in  compassion to
 them as brethren1 in not labouring to  
show them their sin  and danger1 while  
persisting in a professed violation of  
their vows1 and  refusing them help in  
their need1 when supplication was made  
by some of  them to the first ,assembly 
after the ,revolution for ministers to  
preach  the gospel4 ,and though this    
land hath sought out methods how to     
entertain amity and friendship with     
them1 yet have they not endeavoured  to 

have it such as that the ,lord should1  
upon that account1 delight to  dwell    
amongst us3 nay1 upon the contrary1     
unless these methods be  repented of and
 forsaken1 it is impossible that        
reformation should ever  amount to that 
degree of perfection in these kingdoms1 
to which1 through  the mercy of ,god1 it
 once arrived2 so that instead of living
 together  in peace and love1 we and our
 posterity after us1 are like to live in
 a  joint defection from our covenant   
engagements made to the ,most ,high     
,god4    ,in the second ,article of the 
,solemn ,league and ,covenant1 we swear1
 ,that  we shall1 without respect of    
persons1 endeavour the extirpation of   
,popery1 ,prelacy1 ,superstition1       
,heresy1 ,schism1 ,profaneness1 and     
whatsoever shall be found to be contrary
 to sound doctrine and the power  of    
godliness4 ,and in the ,national        
,covenant to abhor and detest the       
,antichristian wicked ,hierarchy1 c4    
,according to the ,scriptures4    ,exod4

 xxiii4 #cb1 #cc4 ,thou shalt make no   
covenant with them1 nor with  their     
gods4 ,they shall not dwell in thy land1
 lest they make thee sin  against me3   
for if thou serve their gods1 it surely 
will be a snare unto  thee4 ,exod4      
xxxiv4 #ab1 #ac4 ,take heed to thyself1 
lest thou make a  covenant with the     
inhabitants of the land whither thou    
goest1 lest it be  for a snare in the   
midst of thee3 ,but ye shall destroy    
their altars1  break their images1 and  
cut down their groves4 ,deut4 xiii4     
chapter  throughout4 ,judges ii4 #b4    
,and ye shall make no league with the   
inhabitants of this land2 you shall     
throw down their altars1 c4 ,zech4      
xiii4 #b1 #c4 ,and it shall come to pass
 in that day saith the ,lord of  ,hosts1
 that ,i will cut off the names of idols
 out of the land1 and also  ,i will     
cause the prophets and the unclean      
spirits to pass out of the  land4 ,and  
it shall come to pass1 that when any    
shall yet prophesy1 then  his father and

 his mother that begat him1 shall say   
unto him1 ,thou shalt  not live2 for    
thou speakest lies in the name of the   
,lord3 and his  father1 and his mother1 
that begat him1 shall thrust him        
through1 when  he prophesieth4 ,i ,tim4 
iv4 #a1 #b1 #c4 ,now the ,spirit        
speaketh expressly1  that in the latter 
times some shall depart from the faith1 
giving heed  to seducing spirits and    
doctrines of devils3 ,speaking lies in  
hypocrisy1  having their conscience     
seared with a hot iron3 ,forbidding to  
marry1 and  commanding to abstain from  
meats1 which ,god hath created to be    
received  with thanksgiving of them     
which believe1 and know the truth4 ,rev4
 xvii4  #e4 ,and upon her forehead was a
 name written1 ,,mystery1 ,,babylon     
,,the  ,,great1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of     
,,harlots1 ,,and ,,abominations ,,of    
,,the ,,earth4 ,verse #af4  ,and the ten
 horns which thou sawest upon the beast1
 these shall hate the  whore1 and shall 
make her desolate and naked1 and shall  

eat her flesh1  and burn her with fire4 
,compared with ,rev4 xviii4 #d1 #e1 #f4 
,a ,i heard  another voice from heaven1 
saying1 ,come out of her1 my people1    
that ye  be not partakers of her sins1  
and that ye receive not of her plagues3 
,for her sins have reached unto heaven1 
and ,god hath remembered her            
iniquities4 ,reward her even as she     
rewarded you1 and double unto her       
double according to her works3 in the   
cup which she hath filled1 fill to  her 
double4    ,yet1 alas6 so far has the   
land been defective in this1 that upon  
the  contrary1 it hath been polluted    
with idolatrous masses2 altars1 and     
other monuments of idolatry were        
suffered again to be erected2 the penal 
statutes were disabled1 stopped1 and    
suspended by an absolute arbitrary      
power by means of a toleration in its   
own nature tending1 and in its  design  
intending to introduce ,popery and      
slavery1 which yet was accepted  and    
addressed for by many backslidden       

ministers1 who to this day have  made no
 public acknowledgement of the sin of so
 doing1 notwithstanding  all the        
reformation which is bragged of1 and was
 countenanced1 complied1  and concurred 
with by many people without a testimony 
or endeavour to  withstand it4 ,yea1 the
 administration of the government and   
the greatest  offices of power and trust
 were committed into1 and permitted to  
abide  in the hands of ,papists2 and the
 head of them and great pillar and      
promoter of ,popery1 ,james the ,,vii1  
was owned as ,king1 contrary to the     
laws of ,god and man and covenant       
obligations1 without respect of persons 
to extirpate ,popery and ,papists2 and  
few during that time evinced any  just  
zeal or indignation against1 or fear of 
the manifest appearances of  the coming 
in of ,popery and intended establishment
 of it in the land4  ,and not only then1
 but even to this day1 there is too much
 conniving at  ,papists2 the laws are   
not put in execution against them in    

their full  extent and latitude3 ,and   
albeit this land1 yea1 whole ,britain   
and  ,ireland1 were purged of ,popery1  
yet cannot we be said to have made      
conscience of performing this part of   
the oath of ,god1 while there is a      
confederating with ,papists abroad and  
fighting in their quarrel1 and  that1   
whilst in the meantime they are         
persecuting1 with the height of  rigour 
and severity1 all such as profess any   
thing of the reformed  religion in their
 dominions4 ,and as there hath been     
great failures in  respect of           
extirpating ,popery1 so especially in   
the performance of that  part of the    
covenant which binds us to the          
extirpation of  ,prelacy--i4e4 ,church  
government by arch-bishops1 bishops1    
their  chancellors and commissaries1    
deans1 deans and chapters1 archdeacons1 
and all other officers depending upon   
that hierarchy3 there hath been a  most 
wilful and palpable violation of the    
oath of ,god1 though it be most  clearly

 our duty prescribed in his word4       
,matt4 xx4 #be1 #bf4 ,but ,jesus called 
them unto him1 and said1 ye know  that  
the ,princes of the ,gentiles exercise  
dominion over them1 and they  that are  
great exercise authority upon them3 ,but
 it shall not be so  among you3 but     
whosoever will be great among you1 let  
him be your  minister4 ,luke xxii4 #be1 
#bf4 ,and he said unto them the ,kings  
of the  ,gentiles exercise lordship over
 them1 c4 ,acts xx3 #ag4 ,and from      
,miletus he sent to ,ephesus1 and called
 the elders of the church4  ,compared   
with verse #bh4 ,take heed therefore    
unto yourselves1 and to all  the flock1 
over which the ,holy ,ghost hath made   
you observers 7bishops7  to feed the    
church of ,god1 which he hath purchased 
with his own blood4  ,i ,peter v4 #c4   
,neither as being lords over ,god's     
heritage3 but being  ensamples to the   
flock4 #c ,john verse #i4 ,i wrote unto 
the church2 but  ,diotrepehes1 who      
loveth to have the pre-eminence among   

them1 receiveth  us not4    ,and these  
breaches of it were not only made during
 the tunes of  persecution1 when        
,charles the ,,ii4 by an arbitrary      
power1 granted him by  a parasitical    
,parliament1 did overturn ,presbyterian 
government1 and  introduce ,prelacy1 to 
which change the greatest part of the   
ministry did  perfidiously yield1 and   
became vassals to the bishops2 such as  
were not  willing to conform1 were      
pressed to it by confinement1           
banishment1  imprisonment1 confiscation 
of goods1 all manner of tortures1 and1  
finally1 death itself4    ,during which 
hour and power of darkness1 many        
complied with the enemy1  by taking     
oaths and bonds1 indulgencies and       
toleration1 and because so  remiss in   
this matter1 that it was all one to them
 which government had  the ascendant1 so
 they might enjoy their worldly         
accommodations4 ,and  not only then1    
while ,satan was let loose in his       
members and emissaries  to persecute and

 waste the ,church of ,christ1 but since
 peace and  quietness are obtained1 this
 duty continues to be greatly slighted2 
yea1  in place of extirpating ,prelacy1 
have there not been courses taken       
effectually to establish it8 ,to        
instance a few--the accepting of        
,william  and ,mary1 and after them the 
present possessor of the ,crown1 to be  
supreme ,magistrates1 while they are    
knownly and professedly ,prelatical  in 
their judgment1 and engaged by oath at  
their coronation to maintain  the same2 
the swearing oaths of allegiance to them
 without security for  their preserving 
of the true reformed religion--yea1     
without any  limitation or qualification
 whatsoever2 as also1 the taking an oath
 of  adjuration1 wherein1 by            
consequence1 the takers engaged to do to
 the  utmost of their power to procure  
that the ,kings or ,queens of these     
kingdoms shall be of the communion of   
the ,prelatical ,church1 and so that    
they shall contribute to the support of 

,prelacy4    ,again1 the ,episcopal     
clergy who subjected to it during the   
time of its  legal establishment1 have  
not been therefore prosecuted by the    
discipline of the church2 but such as   
did1 and yet do profess it as  their    
principle1 are allowed equal            
encouragement with the ,presbyterians1  
only providing they evidence good       
affection to the civil government4 ,and 
now1 since the late incorporating union 
with ,england1 we of this  nation have  
consented that ,prelacy shall be        
established there to all  succeeding    
generations1 7as was observed in the    
first article72 and1  moreover1 have    
given into the hands of the ,prelatics  
in ,england1 the  power of making laws  
which must become binding upon this     
land1 they  being members of the        
,british ,parliament and council2 which 
power has  been already improved1 to    
establish a liberty and protection for  
the  whole rabble of the ,episcopal     
,clergy in the free exercise of the     

,popish  ceremonies of the ,church of   
,england1 without any provision against 
the  grossest heretical opinions that   
they please to broach1 excepting only   
the denying of the doctrine of the      
blessed ,trinity4 ,where1 then1 are our 
endeavours for the extirpation of the   
wicked hierarchy8--where is the         
abhorrence and detestation of it1 sworn 
and engaged to in these                 
,covenants8--,do not many who profess   
themselves to be ,presbyterians show    
themselves so indifferent in this point1
 that they can join with  either1 as may
 suit their interest8--instance the     
,sacramental ,testers4  ,few mourn over 
and pray earnestly for the subversion of
 that hierarchy4  ,few doctrinally      
discover the evils of such a government1
 and how  contrary it is to ,god's      
,word--or labour to bring their hearers 
into a  dislike and detestation of it1  
and the sad fruits which result from it4
  ,few study to convince others of the  
evil of such a principle1 and  following

 such a course by the ,apostle's rule1  
avoiding all unnecessary  company with  
them1 that they may be ashamed2 but1    
upon the contrary1  many ,presbyterians 
too familiar and unnecessary converse   
with them1  encourage and harden them2  
and1 particularly1 ministers are to be  
blamed  herein1 who preach one half of  
the ,lord's day in the church1 and allow
  the curate the other half4 ,few       
impartially reprove and warn them of    
their sin and danger2 but1 upon the     
other hand1 many professed              
,presbyterians1 by their untender and   
unchristian walk and conversation1  or  
by their lukewarmness and indifferency  
in ,christ's matters1 now  called       
moderation1 and by their walking        
contrary to covenant  engagements1 do   
exceedingly harden them in their evil   
way1 and  scandalize them at their duty4
 ,instead of endeavours to extirpate    
superstition and heresy1 as we are bound
 by the same article of the  ,solemn    
,league1 and by the ,national ,covenant 

to detest all superstition  and heresy1 
without or against the ,word of ,god1   
and doctrine of this  reformed kirk1    
according to the ,scripture4    ,duet4  
xii4 #cj1 #ca1 #cb--,take heed to       
thyself1 that thou be not snared by     
following them1 after that they be      
destroyed from before thee1 and that    
thou inquire not after their gods1      
saying1 ,how did these nations serve    
their gods8 even so will ,i do likewise4
 ,thou shalt not do so unto the  ,lord  
thy ,god2 for every abomination to the  
,lord which he hateth1 have  they done  
unto their gods3 for even their sons and
 their daughters they  have burnt in the
 fire to their gods4 ,what thing soever 
,i command you1  observe to do it3 thou 
shalt not add thereto nor diminish from 
it4 ,acts  xvii4 #bb--,then ,paul stood 
in the midst of ,mar's-hill1 and        
said--,ye men  of ,athens1 ,i perceive  
that in all things ye are too           
superstitious4 ,gal4  iv4 #aj--,ye      
observe days1 and months1 and times1 and

 years4 ,gal4 v4  #bj--;,idolatry1      
witchcraft1 hatred1 variance1 emulation1
 wrath1 strife1  seditions1 heresies4   
,col4 ii4 #bj--,wherefore1 if ye be dead
 with ,christ  from the rudiments of the
 world2 why as though living in the     
world1 are  ye subject to ordinances8   
verse #ba1 ,touch not1 taste not1 handle
 not3  verse #bc1 ,which things have    
indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship1
 and  humility1 and neglecting of the   
body1 not in any honour to the          
satisfying of the flesh4 ,tit4 iii4     
#aj--;,a man that is an heretic1 after  
the first and second admonition1 reject4
    ,yet1 in the darkness of the times  
of persecution1 many dregs of ,popish   
superstition were observed1 many omens  
and freets too much looked to2  ,popish 
festival days--as ,pasche1 ,yule1       
,fastings-even1 c1 have been kept  by   
many2 and ,prelatical anniversary days1 
and festivities devised of  their own   
heart1 appointed for commemorating the  
,king's and ,queen's  birthdays1 7as    

,may #bith1 ,october #acth1 ,february   
#fth17 who were born as a  scourge to   
this realm1 were complied with by many4 
,yes1 some have  superstitiously made   
use of the ,scriptures as a fortune     
book1 looking to  that which first cast 
up to them1 or to impressions borne in  
upon their  minds from such and such    
places of ,scripture as ,divine         
responses1  without a due search of them
 as the ,lord hath commanded4 ,and many 
wavering and unstable souls have been   
seduced unto damnable and  pernicious   
heresies1 as ,quakers1 and delirious    
delusions1 as those that  followed ,john
 ,gib4 ,all which have been breaches of 
,covenant1 as well as  of ,divine       
commands4 ,yea1 even to this very day1  
the same superstitions  are observed and
 practised1 as abstaining from labouring
 upon the  foresaid festivities1 and    
observing presages of good or tad       
fortune 7as  it is called17 upon them   
and other times2 as likewise1 many      
practisers  of enchantments and users of

 charms--yea1 such as are in actual     
compact  with the devil1 are not        
carefully sought out1 nor accurately    
tried1 in  order to be brought to       
punishment1 but overlooked and          
protected4    ,there has been also since
 the revolution1 as well as before1 a   
great  deluge of errors through these   
covenanted lands1 which1 to this day1   
continue and increase3 that might be    
sufficient to convince us that  there   
have not been proper measures taken to  
suppress them1 as this  article obliges 
us to do2--nay1 instead thereof1 they   
are tolerated1  maintained1 and         
protected by authority1 as appears both 
from the late  ,act of ,parliament1 and 
from the liberty allowed to that        
pestilent  generation of ,quakers1 who  
keep their general meetings yearly in   
,edinburgh1 being guarded by a company  
of the town guards4 ,and as the  state  
do not prosecute the promoters and      
abettors of these heresies with  civil  
pains1 as is the duty of such as call   

themselves ,god's  vicegerents1 and own 
themselves to be intrusted with keeping 
of both  tables of the law2 so the      
church is nothing speedier or more      
active in  drawing out their            
ecclesiastical sword to cut off these   
luxurant  branches1 and to take the     
little foxes which spoil the wines4     
,many  whose duty1 by virtue of their   
office1 is to give warning from ,zion's 
walls1 as watchmen entrusted with the   
city of ,god1 neglect to discover1  and 
from the scriptures to confute these    
errors1 or to show their flocks  by     
doctrine or writing the danger of being 
tainted with them4 ,and as  suitable    
endeavours have been wanting effectually
 to extirpate heresy  and error1 so     
schism1 its inseparable companion1 and  
necessary  consequent1 has exceedingly  
grown and increased1 to the great damage
 of  the church of ,christ in these     
kingdoms1 and utter subversion of that  
most pleasant fabric of uniformity in   
religion1 which the ,league and         

,covenant binds us to endeavour4 ,the   
word of ,god makes schism a very  great 
sin1 as is evident from ,rom4 xvi4 #ag2 
#a ,cor4 xi4 #ah1 xii4 #be2 ,heb4  x4   
#be2 ,jude #ai4    ,and all the nation  
are to be reputed guilty of it who      
depart from the  doctrine and laudable  
constitutions delivered by ,christ and  
his  apostles1 and adhered unto by the  
church of ,scotland in her purest times 
of ,reformation4 ,and if we consider    
schism under this notion1 as we ought   
to do1 then will we find that the       
greatest part of the land is guilty of  
it4 ,few are firmly and constantly      
adhering to the attained ,reformation2  
but many upon the left hand1 have turned
 aside to compliance with  ,prelacy and 
,erastianism1 and so have by their      
defection broken the  church's beauty   
and bands1 order and union1 in making a 
faction  repugnant to her established   
order1 and1 censurable by all her       
standing  acts1 in bringing innovations 
in the government1 and making a rent in 

the bowels of the church2 by causing    
divisions and offences contrary to  the 
doctrine of the church2 whereby they    
have made themselves guilty of  schism2 
and some have fallen into delusions and 
dotages upon the right  hand1 who1 in   
seeking to be religious above what is   
commanded1 have come  short of the truth
 of religion1 and made a faction        
repugnant to this  covenant4 ,some1     
being private persons1 have pretended an
 immediate  commission to preach the    
word1 and administer the sacraments4    
,others1  being stumbled with the       
defection of the time1 have turned aside
 to  independency4 ,some upon slender   
and insufficient grounds1 have and do   
separate both from faithful ministers   
and ,christian societies and  families1 
because of difference in judgment and   
incident debates1  wherein the testimony
 of ,christ is not much concerned2 or   
because of  personal offences easily    
removed1 not observing the rules of     
,christ for  removing of them1 not      

having respect to his great commands of 
charity1  forbearance1 forgiving one    
another1 or condescendency4 ,and among  
divided  parties1 which in our day have 
been long biting and devouring one      
another1 there hath been too much both  
of sinful union and confederacy  in     
terms prejudicial to truth2 as our      
joinings in the ,angus regiment1  at the
 ,revolution1 and our guarding and      
supplicating that corrupt  ,convention  
of ,estates1 which consisted mostly of  
such as had been  directly or indirectly
 guilty of the murder of the ,lord's    
people2 and  upon the other hand1 there 
hath been too much of sinful heats1     
animosities1 and jealousies1 pride1     
passion1 and prejudice1 grieving the    
,spirit of the ,lord1 and eating out the
 power and life1 and much  hindering the
 holy practice and spiritual exercise of
 religion4    ,we have been so far from 
endeavouring to extirpate profaneness1  
another  evil engaged against in the    
covenant1 and condemned in the ,word of 

,god4  ,deut4 xxix4 #ai2 ,job xxi4 #ad2 
,jer4 xxiii4 #ae2 ,ezek4 xxii4 #bf2     
,hos4 iv4  #a-c2 ,heb4 vii4 #ae4        
,that profanity hath been much winked   
at1 and profane persons much            
countenanced1 and many times employed1  
till iniquity and ungodliness  have gone
 over the land as a flood2 and          
profanity1 beginning at the  court1 hath
 spread itself through every rank and   
quality in the land3 so  that           
immoralities and sins against every     
precept of both tables are  greatly     
abounding4 ,as1 namely1 great contempt  
of ,god and godliness1  ignorance1      
atheism and irreligion1 unsuitable      
walking to the knowledge  of him and his
 perfections which we have1 and not     
labouring in the use  of means to attain
 more4 ,much neglect of pressing after  
peace and  reconciliation with him1     
through a ,mediator1 and of living up to
 the  profession which we make of him4  
,despising of his holy ordinances and   
means of worship2 deafness and stupidity

 under the calls of his ,word4          
,profanation of his holy sacraments1    
neglect of secret prayer 7wherein  much 
of the life of religion lies71 and of   
prayer in families1 or a  negligent1    
careless and superficial performance    
thereof2 many using a  formality of     
words and expressions learned by custom4
 ,some using our  blessed ,lord's prayer
 as a set form1 which ought to be used  
as a rule of  direction in all our      
prayers1 and not as a dead form of      
words3 many  seeking more to be seen of 
men in this and all other duties1 than  
to  approve themselves to ,god1 and more
 careful to come by apposite words  and 
expressions1 when praying with others1  
than to attain and entertain  the       
breathings and influences of the ,spirit
 of ,god4 ,much neglect of  propagating 
,christian knowledge in congregations   
and families2 ministers  and masters of 
families not making diligent search into
 the knowledge of  the flocks and       
families under their charge1 and        

instructing them  suitably4 ,much       
swearing and profanation of ,god's name1
 by loose and vain  oaths in common     
discourse3 yea1 swearing by the         
creatures--as1 soul1  faith1 conscience1
 and the like1 thereby sacrilegiously   
attributing to  them divine honour2 as  
also1 by imposing upon all persons in   
any public  trust the unlimited and     
unlawful oath of allegiance1 together   
with the  bond of assurance1 and the    
oath of abjuration1 contrary to the oath
 of  the covenant1 thereby debauching   
people's consciences1 and involving     
them in the guilt of perjury4 ,great    
profanation of the holy ,sabbath1 and   
neglect or careless performance of the  
duties therein required2 breaking  it by
 unnecessary feasting1 walking1 idle1   
vain and impertinent  discourse1 and    
such like recreations2 yea1 by hunting1 
hawking1 riding  and going of journeys1 
sounding trumpets before their lords of 
,justiciary when going to church1       
reading of proclamations wholly         

irrelative to religion1 and making      
publications not necessary nor          
expedient to be made upon that day4     
,much disobedience to parents1 and      
undue carriage of persons of all ranks  
and relations towards each other4       
,great murder and bloodshed1 so that the
 land is defiled with blood1 and  that  
not only the blood of the ,lord's       
people1 who1 in the times of            
persecution1 were led forth like sheep  
to the slaughter1 because of  their     
adherence to their duty1 and refusing   
conformity with wicked  courses and     
subjection to wicked laws1 eversive of  
their covenant  engagements1 not yet    
mourned over1 nor purged away by the    
blood of those  that shed it2 but       
likewise many through the land are      
murdered  frequently1 and the murderers 
are not prosecuted with due severity3   
nay1  such are the methods that are now 
taken to embolden the wicked in that    
and all other crimes1 that whatever     
presumptions of guilt may be had1 or    

how ample confession soever be made1 if 
it be extrajudicial1 and the  very fact 
not proved by witnesses1 the delinquent 
is passed over and  absolved as a       
well-doer1 and many actually convicted  
of murder are  indemnified and let pass 
unpunished4    ,much uncleanness and    
filthiness1 adultery1 fornication1      
incest1  bestiality1 sodomy1            
lasciviousness1 promiscuous dancing1    
stage plays1  excessive drinking1 vanity
 in apparel1 and the like abominable    
unchastity and incentives to it4 ,much  
stealing1 robbery and oppression1       
grinding the faces of the poor by unjust
 taxations and heavy  impositions1 and  
by hindering the poor from begging1 for 
the support of  their lives in times of 
scarcity1 by a wicked edict4 ,perverting
 of  justice in law suits2 lawyers and  
advocates finding means1 for their own  
gain and worldly advantage1 to obtain   
decisive sentences in favor of the      
rich1 contrary to justice and equity2   
much cheating and deceiving in          

bargaining2 forestalling of markets in  
times of scarcity2 depriving the  poor  
of their habitations and livelihoods by 
building of parks and  in-closures2     
tenants taking leases over their        
neighbor's head1 and the  like4 ,it is1 
moreover1 to be bewailed that many      
ministers1 who should be  examples of   
charity and good works1 are ringleaders 
in this sin of  oppression4 ,much lying 
and bearing of false witness1 defaming  
one  another's good name1 reproaching   
persons for their adherence to the      
truths and cause of ,christ1 or for     
discovering any piece of zeal and       
affection that way4 ,much covetousness  
and worldly-mindedness1 repining1       
murmuring and discontentment with ,god's
 dispensations2 revenge1 wrath1  malice1
 envy1 bitterness and innumerable sins1 
both against the precepts  of the moral 
law1 and the offers of ,christ in the   
,gospel1 which plainly  says that we    
have not used the endeavours which in   
this ,article we  promise1 for ,rooting 

up profaneness and whatsoever is found  
contrary to  sound doctrine and the     
power of godliness1 lest we partake of  
other  men's sins1 and so be in danger  
to receive of their plagues4 ,nay1 hath 
not much unsound doctrine been          
maintained in the arguments which have  
been used for defending the lawfulness  
of the courses of compliance with       
,prelacy and ,erastianism8 and these1   
amongst other unsound notions1 have     
been entertained amongst us--,that      
lesser and circumstantial truths are    
not to be suffered for2 that confession 
of these truths hath not been  called   
for in our day2 that people are not in  
hazard of the sins of  others1          
especially of magistrates and ministers1
 if they do not directly  act the same  
sins themselves2 that sins of bypast    
times 7if they be not  presently        
practiced7 are not to be confessed1 nor 
the persons guilty to  be stood at a    
distance from1 till they give evident   
documents of their  repentance2 contrary

 to express and plain ,scripture4    #b 
,sam4 xxi4 #a2 #b ,sam4 xxiv4 #ag2 #b   
,kings xxi4 #aa1 #ab2 ,isa4 xliii4 #bg1 
#bh2  ,jer4 xiv4 #ae1af2 ,mic4 iii4 #aa1
 #ab4    ,whence both ministers and     
people have been involved in the sins of
  ,prelacy1 ,indulgence1 ,toleration1   
,erastianism1 subjecting the government 
of the church to the secular and civil  
authority2 while they thought  these    
only to be the sins of ,prelates1 or of 
wicked and usurping rulers2  they in the
 meantime yielding all the conformity   
with1 submission unto1  and approbation 
of them1 that was by wicked laws        
required4 ,on the other  hand1 many of  
us have rested too much in a            
non-compliance with these1  and having a
 form of godliness1 but denying the     
power thereof4    ,in the third         
,article1 whereas we are bound1 in our  
several vocations1  mutually to preserve
 the rights and privileges of           
,parliaments1 and  liberties of the     
kingdoms2 meaning the true1 real and    

righteous  privileges and               
liberties--consonant to the ,word of    
,god4    ,deut4 i4 #ac2 ,deut4 xvi4 #ah2
 ,isa4 i4 #bf4    ,likeas1 all lieges   
are bound by the laws of the land       
inserted in the  ,national ,covenant1 to
 maintain the authority of ,parliaments1
 without  which neither any laws nor    
lawful judicatories can be established4 
,yet  as our fathers had reason to      
complain that neither had the privileges
  of the ,parliament nor liberties of   
the subject been duly tendered2 but     
some amongst them had laboured to put   
into the hands of the king an  arbitrary
 and unlimited power destructive to     
both2 and many of them had  been        
accessory to those means and ways       
whereby the freedom and  privileges of  
,parliaments had been encroached upon1  
and the subjects  oppressed in their    
consciences1 persons and estates2 so    
afterwards1 all  alongst the tract of   
tyranny and persecution1 they had rather
 the name  and show than the real power 

and privileges of lawfully constituted  
,parliaments2 having advanced the royal 
prerogative to such a boundless  pitch  
of arbitrariness1 and being so          
corrupted1 that faithful men and  honest
 and honourable patriots were excluded1 
and those admitted who by  the law of   
,god and man should have been debarred2 
and so prelimited that  the members     
behoved to take such oaths 7for         
instance1 the declaration  and test1    
abjuring and condemning the ,covenants7 
as engaged them to be  perjured and     
conjured enemies both to our religion   
and liberty1 which  both the electors of
 ,members of ,parliament and the elected
 did sinfully  comply with2 neither did 
the body of the land make conscience of 
recovering these rights and privileges  
thus perverted and polluted2 but  in    
stupid subjection did own those for     
representatives who betrayed  their     
liberties1 and made laws to enslave the 
nation and entail slavery  upon1        
posterity4 ,on the other hand1 they that

 disowned them did not make  conscience 
of preserving those rights and          
privileges of supreme  judicatories1    
when inadvertently and unadvisedly they 
put in such  expressions and styles in  
some of their declarations as do not    
belong to  private persons1 but only to 
such judicatories4 ,and not only then1  
but  since the ,revolution1 have there  
been many ways taken for corrupting and 
depriving the ,members of ,parliament2  
as that all members and electors of     
members have been obliged to take the   
oath of allegiance1 with the  assurance 
to such as did1 and do1 in their        
dominions1 support ,prelacy  and        
exercise an ,erastian supremacy over the
 church of ,christ4    ,and now1 last of
 all1 by the means of this fatal ,union 
with ,england1 in  terms and upon       
conditions inconsistent with our        
covenanted ,union1  engaged to in the   
,league and ,covenant2 the nation's     
sovereignty and  independency are given 
up1 the rights of ,parliament entirely  

lost1 or  vanished into a shadow1 little
 preferable to no ,parliament2 so few   
being to represent this nation in the   
,parliament of ,great ,britain1 as  can 
never be able to prevent1 by their      
number of voices1 any act which  it     
shall please the ,english to make1 how  
destructive soever the same be  to our  
sacred or civil concerns4 ,which treaty 
of ,union was concluded in  a           
,parliament as manifestly prelimited1 as
 any which ever was seen in  ,scotland2 
the members were corrupted with bribes  
and preferment1 and so  engaged to act  
contrary to the will and mind of those  
whome they did  represent1 and to comply
 with that stratagem hatched by the     
,english1 for  enslaving this poor      
nation1 and denuded it of its           
privileges1 as well  sacred as civil4   
,and alas6 how insignificant were the   
endeavours then  used to prevent that   
course1 and preserve the privileges of  
the  ,parliament and liberties of this  
kingdom8 only some faint addresses1 all 

other attempts being laid aside at their
 ,queen's command1 by her  proclamation1
 as treasonable convocation of the      
lieges4    ,again1 the subject's        
liberties1 both as men and as           
,christian1 which the  scriptures allow1
 we should preserve1    ,i ,sam4 xiv4   
#be2 ,acts xxii4 #be1bh2 xxv4 #aa1af1bg2
 ,gal4 v4 #a4    ,have been miserably   
encroached upon by arbitrary government1
 whereby the  subjects have been        
oppressed in their consciences1 persons 
and estates1  by all the oaths and bonds
 pressing conformity with the           
corruptions1  novations1 and usurpations
 the government of church and state1 and
  persecutions for recusancy1 and by    
impositions of the freedom of secret    
thoughts1 which no law of men can reach1
 which yet in the time of the  late     
persecution were extorted1 by           
threatening of death and manifold       
tortures2 the church's liberties have   
also been invaded by the  ecclesiastical
 supremacy1 declared by a blasphemous   

law inherent to the  crown1 which law1  
though it be not now in force1 is yet   
still kept up in  practice by the       
indiction1 prorogation1 and dissolution 
of ,assemblies1  and prescribing diets  
and causes of fasting and thanksgiving  
in the  magistrate's name and authority1
 to which ecclesiastical supremacy1     
usurped by the magistrate1 this         
backslidden church hath always          
subjected1 and now to discover to the   
world that they are not ashamed of  this
 surrendering of our ,lord's prerogative
 to his enemies they have1 in  their    
,assembly1 holden at ,edinburgh1 ,anno  
#agaj1 most explicitly and  fully       
subscribed to this ecclesiastical       
supremacy1 in their ,act for            
observation of fasts1 wherein they      
affirm1 that it is much for the  honor  
of ,god that fasts whether appointed' by
 the church1 or the civil  magistrate1  
be duly observed4    ,in that same third
 ,article1 we are likewise bound to     
defend ,the supreme  magistrate's person

 and authority1 in the preservation and 
defence of  the true religion and       
liberties of the kingdom3 as in the     
,national  ,covenant is expressed3      
likewise1 to defend his person and      
authority1 in  the defence of ,christ   
his evangel1 liberties of our country1  
ministration of justice1 and punishment 
of iniquity2 and to stand to his        
defence1 in the defence of the true     
religion1 liberties and laws of the     
kingdom2 as the duty is qualified in    
scripture4    ,,ii ,sam4 v4 #c42 ,,ii   
,kings xi4 #ag2 ,,ii ,chron4 xxvi4 #af1 
#ag1 #ah1 #ba2 ,rom4  xiii4 #c1 #d1 #f2 
,i ,pet4 ii4 #ac1 #ad4    ,as our       
fathers in their acknowledgments had    
reason to say1 ,neither hath  it been   
our care to avoid these things which    
might harden the king in  his evil way2 
but1 upon the contrary he hath not only 
been permitted1  but many of us have    
been instrumental to make him exercise  
his power in  many things tending to the
 prejudice of religion1 and of the      

,covenant1  and of the peace and safety 
of these kingdoms2 which is so far from 
the  right way of preserving his        
,majesty's person and authority that it 
cannot but provoke the ,lord against him
 unto the hazard of both4 ,nay1  under a
 pretence of relieving and doing for the
 king1 whilst he refuses  to do what was
 necessary for the house of ,god1 some  
have ranversed and  violated most of all
 the ,articles of the ,covenant4    ,so1
 during the unhappy days of the late    
tyranny1 it was the land's sin  and     
shame1 and ought to be our sorrow1 that 
men were mounted upon a  throne of      
iniquity whose main design and practice 
was to subvert  religion and persecute  
it1 to introduce ,popery itself and     
slavery1 to  destroy the nation's       
liberties1 suppress the evangel1 and    
oppress its  professors2 who enacted and
 executed manifest injustice1 stopped   
the  ministration of justice against    
idolaters1 adulterers1 murderers1 and   
other malefactors1 and punished equity  

and duty1 instead of iniquity2          
arrogated and obtained a monstrous      
prerogative above all rights and        
privileges of ,parliaments1 all laws1   
all liberties2 a power to tyrannize  as 
they pleased without control4 ,but1 as  
it was their sin who  inaugurated       
,charles ,,ii4 after such discoveries of
 his hypocritical  enmity to religion   
and liberty1 upon his subscription to   
the ,covenants1  so when he burned and  
buried that ,covenant1 and degenerated  
into  manifest tyranny1 and had razed   
the very foundation upon which both his 
right to govern1 and the people's       
allegiance were founded1 and remitted   
the subjects' allegiance by annulling   
the bond of it3 it was the land's  sin  
that they continued still to own his    
authority when opposite to1 and         
destructive of religion and liberty2 and
 of those who appeared in arms  at      
,pentland and ,bothwell ,bridge1 that   
they put in his interest 7with          
application of the words of the         

,covenant to him1 though stated in      
opposition to it7 into the state of the 
quarrel1 in their declaration  of war1  
for which 7so far as the godly could    
discern7 the ,lord put them  to shame1  
and went not forth with their armies4   
,it was likewise the sin  of the land1  
and a great breach of ,covenant1 when   
the ,duke of ,york was  admitted to the 
exercise of the royal office against the
 laws of ,god and  man2 being incapable 
of the ,covenant qualifications of a    
magistrate1 and  being a ,papist1 and so
 incapable of taking the oath of        
coronation to  maintain the true        
,protestant religion1 and gainstand and 
abolish  ,popery2 which1 for the        
preservation of the true religion1 laws1
 and  liberties of this kingdom1 is     
stated by the #hth ,act of ,parliament1 
,i  ,king ,james ,,vi1 ,that all kings1 
at the reception of their princely      
authority1 shall take and swear2 yet    
this authority1 though  inconsistent    
with1 and declaredly opposite to        

religion and liberty1 was  owned and    
upheld1 by paying cess and supplies1    
expressly exacted for  upholding tyranny
 in the destruction of religion and     
liberty2 and though  the ,lord did1 for 
a long time1 by the tyranny of ,charles 
,,ii4 and ,james  ,,vii41 chastise these
 covenanted lands1 yet there has not    
been a turning  to him that smiteth3 but
 these lands have again transgressed the
 ,lord's  commandments1 and broken this 
part of the ,covenant of the ,lord1 by  
receiving1 admitting1 supporting and    
subjecting to such1 for ,kings and      
,queens over these realms as want the   
qualifications required in ,god's  word1
 and enacted by the righteous and       
laudable laws of the land to be  in     
magistrates1 superior and inferior3     
which were not brought under  ,covenant 
ties and obligations1 to be for ,god and
 religion in their own  persons and     
families1 and to advance and preserve   
the same allenarly in  their dominions2 
but in place thereof have come under    

oath and  obligation to countenance1    
protect end advance the ,romish         
superstitions  and innovations in the   
worship of ,god and government of the   
,church1  which the ,covenant binds     
these kingdoms to suppress and          
extirpate1 and  in consequence of1 and  
in conformity to1 these obligations1 do 
maintain  and defend1 or tolerate and   
allow ,prelacy and ,sectarian errors in 
their  dominions1 contrary to the true  
religion and sound doctrine1 contrary to
  justice and equity2 yea1 contrary to  
that trust especially committed to  the 
hands of ,christian ,magistrates1 who   
for that end have the sword  given them1
 that they may be a terror to evil      
doers1 preserve and  defend the true    
religion and professors thereof1 and    
punish and  extirpate false religion and
 heresies1 and bring the wheel over the 
broachers1 maintainers and abettors     
thereof2 which did1 and do exercise  an 
,erastian supremacy over the church1 in 
proroguing1 and dissolving  ,general    

,assemblies1 appointing diets and causes
 of fasts and  thanksgivings2 and by    
their civil authority causing them to be
 kept and  observed2 which do not       
impartially execute justice upon all    
offenders1  witness the frequent        
indemnities and remissions granted to   
murderers2 as  particularly1 the passing
 without punishment the persons which   
perpetrated the inhuman1 barbarous and  
lawless action of the massacre of       
,glencoe4 ,which waste and destroy the  
kingdom1 by levying men and raising     
money for maintaining a long and        
expensive war1 undertaken neither for   
the advancement of the true religion1   
nor for the advantage and safety  of the
 nation2 but in favour of the house of  
,austria1 which hath been1  and yet     
continues to be1 one of the strong      
pillars of ,antichrist's  kingdom1 and  
inplacable enemies to the true reformed 
religion1 as  appears by the persecution
 of the ,protestants in ,silesia1       
,hungary1 c4  ,and yet notwithstanding  

of all this1 many in the land of all    
ranks have  sworn to bear true and      
faithful allegiance to them1 without any
  conditional restriction or limitation2
 so that it is not possible for  them1  
in a consistency with their oath1 to    
disown their authority1 and  deny them  
subjection1 or refuse to defend their   
persons and government1  albeit they    
should proceed to the greatest pitch of 
arbitrariness2 which  is very far from  
the defence promised to ,magistrates in 
the ,covenant3  the whole land 7almost7 
hath complied with them in all the      
forementioned particulars so            
diametrically opposite to the           
,covenants1  and supported1 strengthened
 and encouraged them in these evil      
courses1  by paying them cess and other 
subsidies2 and ministers have minded so 
much to be loyal to their government1   
that they have forgotten to be  faithful
 to their souls1 in that they have not  
discovered to them the  sin and danger  
of patronising ,prelacy1 and exercising 

,erastianism over  the church2 but in   
order to obtain their favor1 have       
clapped their hands  in these sins1     
which certainly is most opposite to that
 loyalty which we  ought to maintain    
towards ,princes1 and tends rather to   
diminish their  just power and          
greatness1 than to increase and preserve
 it2 and1 instead  of being a proper way
 of defending their persons and         
authority1 is  rather a mean to bring   
the wrath of a just and jealous ,god    
upon them1  and those who defend or     
connive at them in these unlawful       
courses4    ,our own consciences within1
 and ,god's judgment upon us without1 do
  convince us of the manifold1 wilful1  
renewed breaches of the fourth          
,article1 which concerneth the discovery
 of malignants1 consonant to the        
,scriptures4    #b ,sam4 xxiii4 #f2     
,esther vii4 #e4 #f2 ,psalm xxvi4 #e2   
,psalm ci4 #h2 ,prov4  xxv4 #e4    ,for 
their crimes have not only been connived
 at1 but dispensed with and  pardoned1  

and themselves received into intimate   
fellowship1 intrusted  with counsels1   
admitted into parliaments1 and put in   
places of power and  authority for      
managing the public affairs of the      
kingdom2 whereby1 in  ,god's justice1   
they got at last into their hands the   
whole power and  strength of the        
kingdom1 both in judicatories and       
armies1 and did employ  the same unto   
the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful
 engagement in war  against the kingdom 
of ,england1 notwithstanding the dissent
 of many  considerable members of       
parliament1 who had given constant proof
 of  their integrity in the cause from  
the beginning2 of many faithful         
testimonies and free warnings of the    
servants of ,god2 of the  supplications 
of many synods1 presbyteries1 and       
shires2 and the  declaration of the     
,general ,assembly and their            
,commissioners to the  contrary2 which  
engagement1 as it was the cause of much 
sin1 so also of  much misery and        

calamity unto this land1 and held forth 
the grievousness  of our sin1 in        
complying with malignants in the        
greatness of our  judgment1 that we may 
be taught never to split again upon the 
same rock1  upon which the ,lord hath   
set so remarkable a beacon4 ,and1 after 
all that  is come to pass unto us1      
because of this our trespass1 and after 
that  grace hath been showed unto our   
fathers and us once and again from the  
,lord our ,god1 by breaking these men's 
yoke from off their and our  necks1 and 
sometimes delivering our fathers so far 
from their  insultings1 that he put them
 in a capacity to act for the good of   
religion1 their own safety1 and the     
peace and safety of the kingdoms1       
should they and we again break the      
commandment and covenant of the ,lord1  
by joining once more with the people of 
these abominations1 and taking  unto our
 bosom these serpents which had formerly
 stung us almost unto  death2 this1 as  
it would argue great madness and folly  

upon our part1 so  no doubt1 if it be   
not avoided1 will provoke the ,lord     
against us1 to  consume us until there  
is no remnant nor escaping in the land8 
many  times have we been warned of the  
sin of complying with malignants1 both  
by faithful ministers1 and fatherly     
corrections from the ,lord2--yet1  after
 all these punishments1 we have again   
joined with the people of  these        
abominations2 the ,lord is righteous1   
for we remain yet escaped as  it is this
 day2 behold1 we are before him in our  
trespass1 we cannot  stand before him   
because of this4    ,these incendiaries1
 malignants1 and evil instruments1 made 
many grievous  encroachments1 and       
prevailed much in the days of our       
fathers--yet not  without dissent1      
testimonies1 warnings1 and declarations2
 but more  especially in the dismal days
 of persecution and tyranny1 they were  
suffered1 yea1 encouraged1 without any  
significant joint testimony1 not  only  
to hinder the reformation of religion1  

but to overturn the whole  work of      
reformation1 to burn and bury the       
covenants for it1 to  re-establish      
abjured ,prelacy1 erect a monstrous     
,christ-exauctorating and               
church-enslaving supremacy1 attempt the 
introduction of ,popery and  slavery at 
the gate of an anti-,christian          
toleration1 and to persecute  and       
destroy the godly1 who durst not in     
conscience comply with them2 and  not   
only to divide the ,king from his       
people1 or one of the kingdoms  from    
another--but first1 to divide the bulk  
and body of both kingdoms1  and make    
them pursue divided interests from the  
interest and cause of  ,christ1 and then
 to divide the remnant of such as       
adhered to it amongst  themselves1 by   
indulgences and other bonds of          
contention1 in order to  get them more  
easily destroyed2 and at length to      
engage the ,king into  such a division  
from the people1 as to make him1 instead
 of their  protector1 their declared    

destroyer2 and not only to make parties 
among  the people contrary to his league
 and covenant1 but to draw and divide   
the whole people into a party with      
perjuries4 ,the generality1             
notwithstanding1 did own allegiance to  
the head of these incendiaries  and     
malignants1 yea1 a ,popish incendiary1  
because he wore a crown on his  head2   
and did pay the cess imposed for the    
maintenance and encouragement  of       
malignants2 many did associate with them
 in expeditions of war1  drawing up with
 them in their musters and rendezvouses1
 thereby  countenancing a malignant     
cause1 and listing themselves under a   
malignant--yea1 ,popish banner2 many    
subscribed and sware themselves         
contrary to the covenant by taking      
tests1 oaths1 and bonds1 obliging  them 
to surcease from covenanted duties1 and 
to keep the peace and good  behaviour   
with them1 whom they were obliged by    
covenant to seek to bring  to           
punishment2 yea1 some1 and not a few1   

were inveigled in the snare of  the oath
 of delation1 to delate the persecuted  
people of ,god to their  courts1 and    
thereby made them 7instead of           
discovering malignants  according to the
 covenant17 to discover their brethren  
to malignants4  ,and very many1 almost  
the universality of the land1 were      
involved in the  snare of the oath of   
abjuration1 renouncing the principle of 
declaring  war against a malignant      
,king1 and of asserting the lawfulness  
of  bringing his murthering accomplices 
and incendiaries to condign  punishment2
 but1 on the other hand1 some of the    
suffering party did  sometimes exceed   
the bounds of moderation in this matter1
 in usurping  the sword without ,god's  
call1 without respect to the rule1 and  
against  the scope of their own         
declarations1 to take vengeance on them 
at their  own hand2 yea1 even to that   
degree1 of taking the lives of some of  
them  in an extravagant manner2#bg for  
which1 they were sadly rebuked of ,god1 

an occasion was given and taken to      
reproach and blaspheme the way of ,god  
upon that account4 ,but to descend to   
our own time1 we have it to  bewail1    
that whatever alteration there is in the
 face of affairs since  the yoke of     
tyranny was taken off our neck1 yet     
there is no alteration  in this matter  
to the better1 but rather to the worse2 
malignants are so  far from being       
brought to condign punishment1 that they
 are the whole  administrators of the   
affairs of the kingdom2 whence it is    
come to pass1  that the supreme         
judicatories which should take trial of 
such and bring  them to punishment1 and 
to whom they should be delated1 are     
wholly1 or  mostly composed of such2    
yea1 none may now be reputed malignant  
unless  he be disaffected to the civil  
government2 so that malignancy is not   
now  disaffection to the cause and work 
of ,god1 but disaffection to the        
present establishment1 and so far are   
they that are truly disaffected to      

,christ and his interest this day       
advanced and strengthened in their      
designs1 that they have 7so far as in   
them lies7 put a final stop to all      
further progress in reformation in these
 covenanted kingdoms2 so that  instead  
of discovering and bringing to          
punishment them who make parties  and   
factions against the ,league and        
,covenant1 and reformation therein      
concerted1 the most part of ,britain and
 ,ireland are nought else but a  party  
and faction against it1 who have cast it
 out of doors1 and1 for  what is        
apparent1 are never minded to receive it
 again2 and1 upon the  contrary1 such as
 are labouring to adhere most closely   
7though in  weakness7 to these          
engagements1 and prosecute the ends of  
these  covenants1 are unjustly looked   
upon as a party and faction1 and        
prosecuted as offenders by such as1     
according to the genuine sense of  this 
,article1 ought to be brought to condign
 punishment4 ,it is likewise  promised  

in this ,article1 that such shall be    
brought to trial as shall  divide the   
,king from his people1 or one of the    
kingdoms from another1  which clause    
hath been broken1 by using endeavours to
 have ,king and  people and the kingdoms
 all conjoined in a union and           
conjunction  contrary to1 and eversive  
of this ,solemn ,league and ,covenant2  
and these  that go under the character  
of ministers1 from whom it might in all 
reason be expected that they should     
interpose for having malignants duly    
punished1 are so far from doing so1 that
 they make it their endeavour  to please
 them2 and upon the contrary1 they spare
 no pains to incense  the persons in the
 government against those whose design  
it is1 in the  ,lord's strength1 to     
adhere to their covenant engagements1   
and keep  themselves unspotted from the 
abominations of the times4 ,we          
acknowledge  also ourselves guilty of   
the breach of this ,article1 in so far  
as we  have not more frequently and     

fervently1 from a real respect and zeal 
to  the glory of ,god1 after we saw no  
means of getting such evil instruments  
and opposers of reformation punished and
 suppressed by human  judicatories1     
applied by prayer and supplication to   
,god1 that he would  either of his      
infinite mercy convince them of1 and    
reclaim them from1 or  in justice       
reprove and punish them for their       
opposition to his cause and  interest4  
,as also1 that we have not duly searched
 into our own sins1 and  especially the 
malignancy of our own hearts3 by means  
whereof1 the ,lord  is highly provoked  
to permit such evil instruments not only
 to afflict  and oppress us1 but also to
 retard the success of his own work2 and
 that  we have not impartially or       
sincerely mourned over these sins in our
 own  hearts and lives1 which hinder our
 own personal1 and so have influence  to
 impede national reformation1 and have  
not forsaken and abandoned  them4    ,in
 the fifth ,article1 we are bound1      

according to our place and station1  to 
endeavor1 that the kingdoms may remain  
conjoined in a most firm peace  and     
union to all posterity2 and that justice
 may be done upon the wilful  opposers  
thereof2 according to ,isa4 ii4 #b1 #c1 
xiv4 #bc1 #bd2 ,jer4 #a1 #d1  #e2 ,ezek4
 xxxvii4 #af1 #ag2 ,zech4 ii4 #aa4 viii4
 #ba1 #bb2 ,gal4 v4 #ab4    ,but through
 the peace and union of the kingdoms    
7while duly subordinate  to the interest
 of religion7 was a great blessing of   
,god unto both1 and  a bond which we are
 bound to preserve inviolated1 and to   
endeavor that  justice may be done upon 
the wilful opposers thereof2 yet some in
 this  land1 who have come under the    
bond of the ,covenant1 have made it     
their  great study how to dissolve this 
union1 and few or no endeavors have     
been used by any of us for punishing of 
such2 yea1 very little1 or none  at all1
 have the most of us been concerned     
about this ,article2 whether  there be  
peace with1 or holiness and truth in1   

the other kingdoms2 or  what sort of    
peace1 or on what foundation it be      
settled3 both kingdoms  are mutually    
guilty of dissolving this ,covenant     
,union1 in invading each  other1 at     
several times1 contrary to the          
,covenant1 the ,english nation  in      
subjecting us to their conquest1 and    
forcing us to a submission to  their    
,sectarian usurpations on church and    
state2 and this nation1 in  giving such 
provocations to them1 by the unlawful   
engagement in the year  #afdh1 by       
treating with1 setting up and           
entertaining1 the head of the  malignant
 party1 their enemy and ours both1 as   
our ,king in the year  #afej1 and       
invading them upon his quarrel1 at the  
,worcester expedition1  ,anno #afea2    
since which time1 after that kingdom and
 this both united in  that unhappy      
course of restoring the ,king1 without  
respect to the  ,covenant1 and          
re-establishing the ,prelacy1 which     
broke our ,covenanted  ,union and       

,conjunction1 that nation hath sometimes
 sent aid to our  persecutors1 for      
suppressing our attempts to recover our 
religion and  liberties2 and this nation
 hath sent forces to help their         
destroyers1  and to suppress their      
endeavors for the recovery of their     
privileges4  ,and in the mean time1 we  
have been very little solicitous for    
correspondence to settle union with such
 of them as owned the ,covenant1  or for
 giving to1 or receiving from them1     
mutual informations of our  respective  
cases and conditions1 under all our     
calamities and calumnies  cast upon us3 
nor have we studied to keep sympathy or 
communion of  saints1 or mutual bearing 
of one another's burdens1 as became     
covenanted  brethren4    ,on the other  
hand instead of union in truth and duty 
according to the  bond of the ,covenant1
 a confederacy hath been studied in     
defection from  the ,covenant1 and an   
union and peace which wanted the        
foundation laid  down in the foregoing  

,articles of the ,covenant1 viz41       
uniformity in  doctrine1 worship1       
discipline and government1 against      
,popery1 ,prelacy1  ,schism1            
,sectarianism1 for our religion1 laws   
and liberties1 and  discovering1        
suppressing and punishing the enemies of
 these interests4  ,such an ,union has  
not been studied nor sought1 but on the 
contrary an  ,union against the         
,reformation and ,uniformity1 for       
,prelacy and  ,sectarianism             
multiformity1 by maintaining tyranny and
 strengthening  malignancy4 ,yea1 by the
 means of this incorporating ,union now 
of late  established1 ,prelacy is not   
only strengthened and confirmed1 but so 
settled as to continue to all succeeding
 generations1 and this nation's  slavery
 as well as their sin perpetuated4 ,and 
persons of all ranks have  had a deep   
hand in this trespass3 the nobility and 
gentry who  represented the nation1 in  
surrendering their own and the nation's 
rights and privileges2 ministers in not 

warning them faithfully to  beware of   
that covenant-breaking course1 which    
could not but provoke ,god  to anger    
against this poor island1 but showing   
more concern in that  juncture for      
settling their own1 then for securing   
and advancing  ,christ's interest2 and  
the body of the land1 in that they did  
not bestir  themselves1 for the defence 
of their own liberties in a lawful way4 
,in the sixth ,article we are bound1    
according to our places and  callings1  
in this common cause of religion1       
liberty and peace1 to assist  and defend
 all those that enter into this ,league 
and ,covenant1 in the  maintaining      
thereof4 ,and in the ,national          
,covenant1 in like manner1 we  are bound
 to stand to the mutual defence and     
assistance1 every one of us  of another1
 in the same cause1 with our best       
counsel1 our bodies1 means1  and whole  
power1 against all sorts of persons     
whatsoever2 so that  whatsoever shall be
 done to the least of us for that cause1

 should be  taken as done to all of us  
in general1 and to every one of us in   
particular4 ,a duty very clear in the   
scriptures2 ,judges v4 #bc2 #a ,chron4  
xii4 #a1 #ah2 ,neh4 iv4 #ad2 ,prov4     
xxiv4 #aa1 #ab4    ,but alas6 how little
 conscience hath been made of this duty8
 ,we have  suffered many of our brethren
 in many parts of the land to be        
oppressed  of the common enemy1 without 
compassion or relief4 ,there hath been  
great  murmuring and repining because of
 expenses of means and pains in doing   
of our duty2 and not only so1 but many  
did swear and subscribe oaths  and bonds
 expressly against such assistances1 and
 to condemn all such  endeavors1 to     
assist1 defend and rescue them1 as      
rebellion and sedition1  and obliging   
them to assist their murdering malignant
 enemies1 by such  occurrences as they  
required4 ,yea1 many instead of coming  
out to help  the ,lord against the      
mighty1 and defending their brethren1   
did come out  to the help of the mighty 

against the ,lord1 his cause1 ,covenant1
 and  oppressed people2 concurring in   
arms against them at all the appearances
  that were made and essayed for the    
cause of ,christ2 compearing at  courts1
 held for informing against and         
condemning their brethren1 that  were   
present at1 or concerned in such        
appearances for the ,covenanted  cause1 
and coming in as witnesses against them2
 sitting in assizes for  condemning     
them1 and guarding them to their        
executions1 when martyred  for their    
duty1 and the interest of truth4 ,many  
likewise denied to  reset1 harbor or    
entertain their brethren1 persecuted for
 maintaining  the ,covenanted           
,reformation2 some raised the hue and   
cry after them1  thereby occasioning1   
and assisting in1 the murder of several 
faithful  brethren2 the most part owned 
the great murderer who authorized all   
the  rest1 and enacted all these        
murders1 and assisted him and his       
accomplices1 and executioners of his    

murdering mandates1 with their  persons 
and estates1 in paying the supplies     
professedly demanded1 and  declaredly   
imposed1 for enabling them to accomplish
 these mischiefs4  ,yea1 many were so   
far from assisting1 that they added     
afflictions to  their afflicted         
brethren1 their reproaches1 and         
persecuting by the  tongue those whom   
the ,lord had smitten1 and talking to   
the grief of  those he had wounded4 ,and
 all sorts of us have been wanting in   
our  sympathy with1 and endeavoring     
succor to1 our suffering brethren1 let  
be  to deliver them from their enemies' 
hands according to our capacity4 ,so    
also1 it is for matter of lamentation1  
that many ministers all alongst         
discovered great unconcernedness with1  
and contempt of1 poor despised  and     
reproached sufferers1 condemned the     
heads of their suffering1 forgot  or    
refused to pray for them publicly4 ,and 
as this ,article was all  alongst       
through the persecuting times1 most     

grossly violated1 so to this  day it    
continues to be4 ,any that would appear 
in the least active in  this cause1 are 
so far from being assisted that they are
 borne down1  derided1 sentenced1 and   
sometimes imprisoned2 whatever motions  
are made  in private discourses1 or     
public sermons1 which may import a      
respect to1  or liking of1 this noble   
cause of religion1 or a dislike of1 and 
displacency with the courses opposite   
unto it1 are so far from being          
countenanced1 that the movers are hated1
 vilipended1 contemned or  censured1 as 
raisers of dust1 formenters of division1
 pragmatic1  turbulent and fractious    
spirits1 and loaded with many other     
defamatory  epithets and calumnies4     
,many instances of which may be given   
since the  ,revolution4 ,for example1   
when in the year #afij1 there was a     
paper of  grievances presented to the   
,assembly by some of those who had been 
keeping up a witness against the        
iniquitous courses of the times1 and    

were now expecting that as the fruit of 
a merciful delivery from  tyrannical    
usurpations1 and antichristian          
persecutions1 ,reformation  should be   
revived1 grievances redressed1          
judicatories rightly  constituted1 and  
duly purged1 it was far from receiving a
 kind and  friendly reception and they  
who presented it left without assistance
 and  help1 contrary to the tenor of the
 ,covenant1 so that that paper could    
not be allowed a hearing1 let be a      
redress1 and the persons who offered  it
 to their consideration were1 to their  
great sorrow and grief of  heart1       
dismissed without a satisfying answer4  
,as also when ,messrs4  ,linning1       
,shields and ,boyd1 who had been        
carrying on a ,testimony against  the   
time's defection1 and were now minded to
 join with the ,assembly1  after the    
exhibition of their ,testimony1 whatever
 acceptance it might  meet with at their
 hands1 had in prosecution of this their
 design1  exhibited their proposals to  

the ,committee of ,overtures1 these     
proposals1 though both worthy of        
consideration and necessary to be       
redressed1 were not allowed a hearing in
 open ,assembly1 but rejected as  being 
made up of mistakes1 reflections1       
unseasonable and impracticable          
overtures1 and the said persons1 so far 
from being assisted1 in order  to a     
removal of the evils therein complained 
of1 as destructive to the  cause of     
,god1 that upon the contrary the four   
named persons stand in the  fifth ,act  
of that pretended ,assembly             
characterized with the name and  epithet
 of persons who had followed courses    
contrary to the order of the  church1   
and in their ,moderator's exhortation1  
to walk orderly in time  coming1 in     
opposition to all schism and division1  
their former practice  of testifying    
against the corruptions of the times was
 implicitly  condemned as disorderly1   
schismatic and divisive4 ,another       
instance of  this appeared not long     

after2 when in the year #afib1 some of  
the godly  of the land published their  
declaration disowning ,william and      
,mary's  government1 because not        
qualified as ,god's word1 and our       
,covenants do  require1 as it is        
specified at large in the narrative of  
that  declaration2 some of them were    
apprehended and imprisoned1 for that    
piece of adherence to the ,covenanted   
,reformation1 and opposing or at  least 
witnessing against the courses which    
they found to be contrary to  it4 ,yet  
who at that juncture appeared to assist 
them in their laudable  undertakings8   
,and all alongst since1 whosoever has   
offered grievances1  or any way         
witnessed against the bypast and present
 defections1 have  been and are         
prosecuted with church censure1 or      
persecuted with bitter  and malicious   
invectives and reproaches1 falling from 
the tongues and  pens of those that are 
obliged by ,covenant to have assisted1  
defended  and encouraged them4 ,and     

especially ministers1 who by virtue of  
their  office1 as well as ,covenant     
engagements1 are obliged to excite      
persons  to1 and assist them in their   
duty1 have been active to do the quite  
contrary2 for instance1 when some       
persons offered to give public          
satisfaction for their compliance with  
,christ's enemies1 they refused to      
admit them4 ,but to what purpose do we  
repeat these instances8 ,it is too      
certain and evident1 that there is more 
assistance and encouragement  afforded  
to the enemies of this cause and        
,covenant1 by persons of all  ranks than
 to the friends and well wishers of it4 
,love to1 and zeal for  this cause are  
greatly decayed1 and therefore mutual   
sympathy and  affection amongst the     
people of ,god in the prosecution and   
maintenance  of it are much a wanting4  
,in the same ,article we are bound1 not 
to suffer ourselves directly or         
indirectly1 by whatsoever combination or
 terror1 to be divided or  withdrawn    

from this blessed union and conjunction1
 whether to make  defection to the      
contrary part1 or to give ourselves to a
 detestable  indifferency or neutrality 
in this cause2 and in the ,national     
,covenant1  that we shall neither       
directly nor indirectly suffer ourselves
 to be  divided1 or withdrawn1 by       
whatsoever suggestion1 allurement or    
terror1  from this blessed and loyal    
conjunction4 ,according to scripture    
warrants4    ,gen4 xiii4 #h2 ,psal4     
cxxxiii4 throughout2 ,zech4 viii4 #ai2  
,i ,cor4 i4 #aj2  ,eph4 iv4 #c2 ,phil4  
i4 #bg1 ii4 #b2 ,heb4 xxi4 #ad2 ,jer4   
ix4 #c2 ,ezek4 xxii4  #be2 ,hag4 i4 #b2 
,phil4 ii4 #ba2 ,,ii ,tim4 iv4 #aj2     
,rev4 iii4 #ae4    ,but1 alas6 it is    
long since our fathers had reason to    
complain and  confess1 ,that many in    
their day through persuasion or terror1 
suffered  themselves to be divided and  
withdrawn to make defection to the      
contrary  part4 ,many had turned off to 
a detestable indifferency and neutrality

 in  this cause1 which so much          
concerneth the glory of ,god1 and the   
good of  these kingdoms4 ,nay1 many had 
made it their study to walk so1 as they 
might comply with all times1 and all the
 revolutions thereof4 ,that it  was not 
their care to countenance1 encourage1   
entrust1 and employ1 such  only as from 
their hearts did affect and mind ,god's 
work2 but the hearts  of such1 many     
times had been discouraged1 and their   
hands weakened1  their sufferings       
neglected1 and themselves slighted1 and 
many who had  been once open enemies1   
and always secret underminers1          
countenanced and  employed4 ,nay1 even  
those who had been looked upon as       
incendiaries1 and  upon whom the ,lord  
had set marks of desperate malignancy1  
falsehood and  deceit1 were brought in  
as fit to manage public affairs4    ,all
 which sins and breaches of covenant    
have now increased to a great  height of
 heinousness2 for1 in our day1 these    
incendiaries1 desperate  and engrained  

malignants have only been employed in1  
and admitted to the  management of the  
affairs of the kingdom1 and none but    
they accounted  habile by law2 and such 
divisions from the                      
,covenanted-conjunction1 and  defections
 to the contrary part have been1 and are
 enacted and  established by law2 yea1  
all the unhappy divisions that have been
 from  the public resolutions1 and      
downward1 have been the woful           
consequents  and effects of defections  
to the contrary part4 ,at the first     
erection of  ,prelacy1 many1 both       
ministers and professors1 partly by     
terror1 partly  by persuasions1 did     
withdraw from this covenanted           
conjunction1 and make  defection unto   
,prelacy1 with which they combined1     
conforming with1 and  submitting to the 
ministry of the conforming curates2 and 
afterward1 by  the terror of the fear of
 men1 and the persuasions of their      
counsel and  example1 many of the land  
were seduced into a combination with    

malignants1 in taking oaths and bonds   
contrary to the covenant1 thereby       
dividing themselves from the recusants1 
and making defection to the  party      
imposing them1 and opposing the         
covenants4 ,by combination of those     
that preferred peace to truth1 and ease 
to duty--by the terror of  threatened   
continuance of persecution1 and the     
persuasion of a promised  relaxation and
 immunity from troubles2 many ministers 
have been divided  from the testimony of
 the ,church of ,scotland1 against the  
enroaching  supremacy and absolute      
power1 and one from another1 and have   
made  defection to that part and party  
that were advancing these encroachments 
and usurpations on the prerogatives of  
,christ and privileges of his  church2  
by receiving indulgences and tolerations
 from them1 in their own  nature        
destructive unto1 and given and received
 on terms inconsistent  with the duties 
of the covenants1 which were contrived  
and conferred on  purpose to divide them

 from this cause1 and from their        
brethren that  more tenaciously adhered 
to it2 and did effectuate that design in
 a  great measure--and others gave      
themselves to a detestable indifferency 
in complying with1 conniving at1 and not
 witnessing against these  defections1  
but passing them over in a secure       
submissive silence4 ,and  as1 in the    
times of persecuting violence1 these    
breaches of this ,article  were made by 
reason of the snares of that sinful     
time2 so much more has  there been a    
manifest violation of it since1 when at 
this day there is  such a universal     
combination of interests in opposition  
to the  covenanted reformation4 ,are not
 the most of the three kingdoms in one  
great combination against it1 by this   
cope-stone of defection1 this           
incorporating union8 ,how have we made  
conscience of performing that part  of  
the covenant anent resisting the        
persuasion of men to make defection  to 
the contrary part1 when the whole land  

is so deeply involved into  it8 ,there  
has been1 alas6 too much way given to   
carnal arguments and  persuasives--such 
as worldly gain1 ease1 profit1 and      
preferment1 and too  much slavish fear  
and terror of men1 whose breath is in   
their nostrils1  has been entertained1  
without a due reliance and dependance   
upon  ,omnipotency2 which has greatly   
carried men off their feet1 and wheedled
  them into a compliance with1 and      
defection to the contrary part1 or into 
a neutrality and indifferency in this   
cause2 so that few are found  valiant   
for the truth upon the earth4 ,what     
strange laxness and ,laodicean          
indifference has there appeared in this 
cause1 through the whole conduct  of    
affairs in church and state1 since the  
revolution2 whereby many  discover to   
every observant eye that they are       
satisfied if they obtain a  peaceful    
enjoyment of their own things1 and      
liberty to dwell in their  ceiled       
houses--albeit the ,lord's house 7in a  

great measure7 lies waste8  ,where are  
there any acts of ,assemblies1 or       
proceedings of the church1  which       
discover any due concern or zeal for the
 covenanted interests8  ,nay1 the       
contrary has too frequently appeared2 as
 for instance1 when by  the #eth act of 
the #b;d session of ,william and ,mary's
 #ast ,parl41 the  establishment of the 
church was calculated for the meridian  
of  state-policy1 according to act #aad1
 ,parl4 #ab1 ,king ,james ,,vi4 ,anno   
#aeib4  ,on purpose to pass over in     
shameful oblivion the church's choicest 
attainments in reformation betwixt #afch
 and #afdi2 and particularly1 to  make  
void the ,league and ,covenant1 with the
 ,assembly's explanatory  declaration   
affixed to the ,national1 the           
malignants' grand eye-sore1  there was  
no faithful protestation and testimony  
exhibited against this  by the          
,assembly1 then indicted1 and convened  
the #afth of ,october  following2 which1
 if duly pondered in all its            

circumstances1 without the  mask and    
pretexts industriously drawn over it1   
will appear to be1  perhaps one of the  
greatest sins of this nation1 and to be 
little  inferior in nature and          
aggravations to the burning of the      
covenants1  which is granted by all     
,presbyterians to be a most atrocious   
act of  contempt done to the eternal    
,god1 and to his ,son ,jesus ,christ1   
and  cannot be called to mind by any of 
the godly without great abhorrence  and 
detestation of it2 in so far as the     
passing over and not ratifying  these   
acts of ,parliament and ,assembly by the
 respective judicatories1  which were   
made during that time of reformation1   
was a practical and  interpretative     
condemning of them as unprofitable1 and 
did greatly  corroborate the acts       
whereby ,charles ,,ii4 had declared them
 null and not  obligatory2 and did      
likewise import a vilifying and         
despising of what  ,god had wrought for 
his people in these lands1 during that  

time2 and1  lastly1 was a manifest      
indication of disregard to the oath of  
,god1 which  these lands had come under4
 ,neither did that1 nor any succeeding  
,assembly1 impartially and explicitly   
enumerate the land's sins in their      
national fasts2 namely1 the indulgence  
and toleration1 with the  addresses and 
thanksgiving for it1 and the burning of 
the covenant1 c42  neither have they1 in
 any of their addresses to their ,king  
or ,queen1 by  letters1 or other means1 
declared unto them the indispensable    
duty of  renewing the covenants1 nor    
applied to the ,parliament for that     
effect2  neither have they1 by their    
,assembly-acts1 asserted the intrinsic  
power  of the church2 neither did they  
in any of their acts1 or public papers1 
make honourable mention of those who had
 laid down their lives for their        
adherence to ,christ's truths during the
 times of persecution1 nor  testified   
their approbation of what was done that 
way2 and yet many of  us have been      

wanting in testifying our dislike of    
these backsliding  courses1 by          
discountenancing1 withdrawing from1 and 
keeping ourselves  free of all          
participation with them2 but have       
received the sacraments  of ,baptism and
 the ,lord's ,supper1 and the privilege 
of marriage at their  hands1 and paid   
tithes and stipends4 ,by all which1 it  
is apparent now  much indifferency there
 has been in this cause of covenanted   
interest1  which so much concerneth the 
glory of ,god1 the good of the kingdoms1
 and  the honour of the civil           
,magistrate4    ,moreover in the same   
,article we are sworn1 ,all the days of 
our lives1  zealously and constantly to 
continue in this cause1 against all lets
 and  impediments whatsoever1 and what  
we are not able ourselves to suppress   
and overcome1 to reveal and make known  
the same that it may be timeously       
prevented4 ,and in the ,national        
,covenant1 never to cast in any let1    
that  may stop or hinder any such       

resolution1 as by common consent shall  
be  found to conduce for so good ends2  
but on the contrary1 by all lawful      
means1 to labor to further and promote  
the same2 and if any such  dangerous or 
divisive motion be made to us by word or
 writ1 that we and  every one of us     
shall either suppress it1 or if need be1
 incontinent  make the same known1 that 
it may be timeously obviated4 ,agreeing 
very  well with the scriptures4 ,numb4  
xiv4 #i1 #aj2 ,neh4 vi4 #c1 #f1 #h1 #i1 
#aj1  #aa2 ,isa4 viii4 #ab1 #ac1 #ad2   
,acts iv4 #ai1 #bj1 #bd1 xxi4 #ac2 ,gal4
 ii4 #e2  ,phil4 i4 #bh4                
,nevertheless1 many have been the lets  
and impediments1 that have been  cast in
 the way1 to retard and obstruct the    
,lord's work1 by ,prelacy1  supremacy1  
indulgences1 toleration1 and absolute   
tyranny and compliance  therewith1      
enacted by law1 and all the mischiefs   
established by a throne  of iniquity    
since the unhappy restoration of        
,charles ,,ii4 to this day4  ,yet few   

have ever zealously contended and fewer 
have constantly  continued in           
contending1 against these obstructions1 
so obstructive to  the cause1 many have 
kept secret the first motions and       
appearances of  these things1 while they
 might have been suppressed and         
overcome1 and  the generality have      
passed them over in silence1 and not    
made known1 nor  advertised unto evil of
 these things when declared1 by         
witnessing  against these things1 when1 
they could not be otherwise removed or  
overcome4 ,yea1 many of us have         
ourselves cast in lets and impediments1 
obstructive to the cause1 by our        
defections divisions and disorders      
against common consent1 and             
precipitances1 without common consent   
even  of our brethren adhering to the   
testimony4 ,many a divisive motion hath 
not been counted dangerous1 of those    
which tended to divide us from the      
,covenanted cause4 ,and many a good and 
necessary motion hath been  accounted   

divisive1 namely1 such as proposed the  
necessity of confessing  and forsaking  
sin4    ,besides these and many other   
breaches of the ,articles of the        
,covenant1  in the matter thereof1 which
 concerneth every one of us1 to search  
out  and acknowledge before the ,lord1  
as we could wish his wrath to be turned 
away from us1 so have many of us failed 
exceedingly in the manner of  following 
and pursuing the duties contained       
therein1 not only seeking  great things 
for ourselves1 and mixing private       
interests1 and ends  concerning         
ourselves1 and friends1 and followers1  
with those things  which concern the    
public good2 but many times preferring  
such to the  honour of ,god and good of 
his cause2 and retarding ,god's work    
until we  might carry alongst with us   
our own interests and designs3 it hath  
been  our way to trust in the means1 and
 to rely upon the arm of flesh for      
success1 albeit the ,lord hath many     
times made us meet with                 

disappointments1 and stained the pride  
of all our glory1 by blasting  every    
carnal confidence unto us4 ,we have     
followed for the most part the  counsels
 of flesh and blood1 and walked more by 
the rules of policy than  piety1 and    
have hearkened more unto men than unto  
,god4    ,in the conclusion of the      
,solemn ,league and ,covenant there is a
  profession and declaration before ,god
 and the world of our unfeigned  desires
 to be humbled#bh for our own sins and  
for the sins of these  kingdoms#bi2     
especially that we have not valued1 as  
we ought1 the  inestimable benefit of   
the gospel#cj1 that we have not laboured
 for the  purity#ca and power           
thereof#cb1 and that we have not        
endeavoured to  receive ,christ into our
 hearts#cc1 nor to walk worthy of him in
 our  lives#cd1 which are the causes of 
other sins and transgressions so much   
abounding amongst us#ce3 all which we   
are under many obligations to  confess  
and mourn over from the word2 and1 of   

our true and unfeigned  purpose and     
desire1 to endeavour for ourselves and  
all others under our  power and         
charge#cf both in public and in private1
 in all dutie#cg we  owe to ,god and    
man1 to amend our lives#ch and each one 
to go before  another#ci in the example 
of a real reformation1 that the ,lord   
might  turn away his wrath and heavy    
indignation1#dj and establish these     
kingdoms in truth and peace4#da ,yet we 
have refused to be reformed and  have   
walked proudly and obstinately before   
the ,lord1 not valuing his  gospel1 nor 
submitting ourselves unto the obedience 
thereof2 not seeking  after ,christ1 nor
 studying to honour him in the          
excellency of his  person1 nor to employ
 him in the virtue of his offices2 not  
making  conscience of the public        
ordinances1 nor studying to edify one   
another  in love4 ,the ignorance of ,god
 and his ,son ,jesus ,christ prevails   
exceedingly in the land4 ,even our      
fathers in their purest times           

confessed1 in their acknowledgement of  
sins1 ,that the greatest part of        
masters of families among noblemen1     
barons1 gentlemen1 burgesses1 and       
commons1 neglected to seek ,god in their
 families1 and to endeavour the         
reformation thereof4 ,and albeit it had 
been much pressed1 yet few of the       
nobles and great ones could be persuaded
 to perform family duties  themselves in
 their own persons1 which made so       
necessary a duty to be  disregarded by  
persons of inferior rank4    ,we may    
add1 in our degenerate times1 not only  
the great ones generally  profess the   
neglect and contempt of so necessary a  
duty1 both in their  own persons and in 
the use of chaplains2 but the great part
 of the  commons are altogether         
strangers to it2 many performing no part
 of the  family worship at all1 others  
only singing a psalm and reading a      
chapter  without praying1 and others    
making a fashion of all1 but very       
perfunctoriously1 formally1 and         

indifferently1 and scarcely once in a   
day4 ,and ministers also making little  
conscience of visiting families to  see 
how this duty is performed1 not pressing
 it upon the negligent1 nor  stirring up
 the formal to a more spiritual way of  
performing it1 nay1  some giving bad    
examples to their flocks1 by neglecting 
it themselves in  their own families4   
,the nobility1 gentry1 and barons1 who  
should be  examples of sober walking    
unto others1 are very generally         
ringleaders of  excess and rioting4 ,we 
have been far from amending our lives   
and  promoting a personal reformation1  
and going before one another in the     
example of a real reformation1 when we  
have been examples of deformation  in   
our personal practices and public       
transactions1 and being  too-familiar   
and too far united with the patrons and 
patterns of the  land's deformations4   
,our fathers also acknowledged1 albeit  
they were  the ,lord's people engaged   
unto him in a solemn way2 yet they had  

not  made it their study that           
judicatories and armies should consist  
of1 and  places of power and trust be   
filled with men of blameless and        
,christian  conversation1 and of known  
integrity and approved fidelity1        
affection1  and zeal unto the cause of  
,god4 ,and not only those who were      
neutral and  indifferent1 but           
disaffected and malignant1 and others   
who were profane  and scandalous were   
intrusted4 ,by which it came to pass    
that  judicatories1 ,,even ,,then1 were 
the seats of injustice and iniquity4    
,and  many in their armies1 by          
miscarriages1 became their plague unto  
the  great prejudice of the cause of    
,god1 the great scandal of the gospel1  
and the great increase of looseness and 
profanity throughout all the  land4     
,but1 since the time of that            
acknowledgment there has still been     
more and more degeneracy1 so that       
judicatories have consisted of1 and     
been filled with perjured traitors to   

,god and their country4 ,and armies     
made up of these plagues marshalled     
under a displayed banner against        
,christ and his interest1 not only to   
the scandal1 but for the  suppression of
 the gospel1 and forcing people to      
profanity throughout  the land2 and now 
are1 to the disgrace of the ,protestant 
religion1 made  up of the refuse of the 
lands1 and employed in the support of an
  ,antichristian interest abroad4 ,yet  
have we not sighed and cried for  these 
abominations1 nor have we been          
concerned1 as we ought1 with the        
abounding of them through the land4 ,as 
also1 with blushing1 we must  confess   
our pride and presumptuous boasting of  
external privileges of  the gospel and  
outward reformation1 and of a testimony 
which we bragged  of1 as if that had    
made us better than others1 while we    
made no  conscience of personal         
reformation1 which1 no doubt1 amongst   
other  sinful miscarriages1 was a main  
cause of the ,lord's depriving us so    

long  a time of the comfortable and     
soul-enriching mercy of a faithfully    
dispensed gospel4    ,and1 in like      
manner1 the conceitedness of some in    
suffering and  contending for truth1    
rather for keeping up the contention    
abetting a  party1 and many times under 
too lofty names of the suffering party1 
and  remnant1 and the like1 than to keep
 and hold fast the word of the ,lord's  
patience to his glory as our crown2 and 
many other evidences of pride  hateful  
to ,god1 such as boasting in the        
strength of armies in the  suffering    
times in an ostentatious way1 vaunting  
of1 and being too much  taken up with   
them1 though then necessary for the     
defence of our lives2  rejoicing in our 
numerousness or worldly abilities1 or in
 the number of  them that frequent the  
public ordinances in the fields2 or that
 they1  who are owners of the testimony1
 are for the most1 part kept free from  
the gross out-breakings into which      
others are left to fall2 which  things1 

though very good and desirable in       
themselves1 may yet be1 and  have been1 
occasions of sin when boasted in1 more  
than humbly and  thankfully acknowledged
 to be from the hand of ,god4 ,as also1 
revengeful  resenting of affronts1      
passionate and disdainful refusing to   
take  reproof for faults1 or for the    
excess in any duty1 as to the manner of 
it1 when we thought the matter was      
right4    ,and1 it is likewise matter of
 regret1 that both in the time of       
greatest  suffering and afterwards1     
idleness of both kinds did too much     
prevail  amongst us2 both that when we  
were in a manner driven from the world1 
and shut up from all employment but the 
exercise of godliness1 many did  not    
improve that opportunity of the cross to
 promote acquaintance and  communion    
with ,god1 being slothful in prayer1    
reading and other duties2  and some     
again1 even when they might have had    
access to lawful  employments1 continued
 idle and out of work1 to the opening of

 the  mouths of many against the cause2 
albeit they were not called to1 or      
employed in any public business for the 
same4    ,and besides all these things1 
there may be many other transgressions  
whereof the lands wherein we live are   
guilty1 and these attended with  many   
heinous aggravating circumstances beyond
 what they were in our  fathers1 which  
we have not been humbled for to this    
day2 but1 instead of  mourning for them1
 confessing and forsaking them1 we have 
been rather  defending or daubing1      
covering or coloring1 excusing or       
extenuating  them4 ,all which we now    
desire to acknowledge and be humbled    
for1 that  the world may bear witness   
with us1 that righteousness belongeth   
unto  ,god1 and shame and confusion of  
face to us1 as appears this day4        
99       99       99       99       99  
,a ,,solemn ,,engagement ,,to ,,the     
,,duties ,,contained ,,in ,,our         
,,national ,,and ,,solemn  ,,league     
,,and ,,covenant4    ,particularly      

adjusted to the ,circumstances of these 
,times1 ,anno #agab      ,because it is 
requisite1 in order to obtain mercy1 not
 only to confess1  but also to forsake  
our sins1 and to do the contrary duties2
 therefore1  that the sincerity and     
reality of our repentance may appear1 we
 resolve1  and solemnly engage before   
,god1 in the strength and through the   
assistance of ,christ1 that we shall    
carefully endeavour1 in all time        
coming1 to avoid all these offences1    
whereof we have now made solemn  public 
acknowledgment1 and all the snares and  
temptations tending  thereunto2 and to  
testify this sincerity of our           
resolution1 and that we  may be better  
enabled in the power of the ,lord's     
might1 to perform the  same1 we do again
 renew our ,covenants1 both ,national   
and ,solemn ,league1  promising to make 
conscience of a more exact performance  
of all the  duties therein contained1 so
 far as we1 in our stations1 and present
  deplorable circumstances1 are capable2

 particularly such as follow4           
,because religion is of all things the  
most excellent and precious in its  own 
nature1 and therefore most to be desired
 by the children of men1  and the       
knowledge of the great truths of the    
gospel1 so generally  decreased in this 
land1 is so absolutely necessary to     
salvation2  therefore in order to attain
 it1 we shall labor to be better        
acquainted  with the written word of    
,god1 the only infallible rule of faith 
and  manners2 and shall 7according to   
our capacity7 study more than formerly  
the doctrine of the reformed church of  
,scotland1 summed up in our#db          
,confession of ,faith1 ,catechisms      
,larger and ,shorter1 ,sum of ,christian
  ,doctrine and practical ,use of       
,saving ,knowledge1 ,directory for      
,worship  7as the same was received and 
observed by this church in her purest   
times1 viz4 in the year #afdi17         
,propositions concerning ,church        
,government1 and ,ordination of         

,ministers1 annexed to the ,confession  
of  ,faith1 and other writings clearing 
and confirming these truths1 approven   
by this church1 and agreeable to the    
word of ,god4    ,we shall likewise     
endeavor the advancing and promoting the
 power of this  true ,reformed          
,religion1 against all ungodliness and  
profanity1 the  securing and preserving 
the purity thereof1 against all kinds of
 errors1  heresy and schism1 as namely1 
,independency1 ,brownism1 ,anabaptism1  
,antinomianism1 ,arminianism1           
,socinianism1 ,libertinism1 ,familism4  
,scepticism1 ,quakerism1 ,deism1        
,burignonism and ,erastianism2 and as we
  declare1 that we willingly agree in   
our consciences unto the doctrine of    
the church of ,scotland in all points1  
as unto ,god's undoubted truth and      
verity1 grounded only upon his written  
word1 so we resolve constantly to       
adhere unto1 maintain and defend1       
profess and confess1 and 7when called   
of ,god7 to yield ourselves sufferers   

for the said doctrine1 as we shall      
desire to be approven and confessed by  
,jesus ,christ1 before ,god and his     
holy angels4 #b;dly1 ,we shall also     
study more sincerity1 uprightness and   
heart-integrity in the worship of ,god1 
and shall not satisfy ourselves  with   
the form of it1 without the power and   
spirituality1 which ,god the  only      
object of religious worship1 doth       
require3 and shall endeavor the  due    
performance of all the duties of        
religious worship1 which ,god hath  in  
his most holy word required4 ,and shall 
7if ,providence offer  occasion7        
endeavor to recover1 and labor to       
preserve the purity thereof  from all   
corruptions1 mixtures1 innovations and  
inventions of men1  ,popish1            
,prelatical1 or any other2 and while we 
are not able1 by reason  of the         
prevailing power of the abettors and    
maintainers of them1 to get  them       
removed1 we shall labor 7through grace7 
to keep ourselves free from  all sinful 

communion and participation with them1  
and shall1 in our  stations1 testify    
against these corruptions and           
perversions of ,god's  worship1 by all  
competent means4 #c;dly1 ,we shall      
likewise by all lawful  means endeavor1 
that ,presbyterian church government in 
kirk-sessions1  presbyteries1 synods and
 general assemblies1 may be recovered in
 its  former purity1 established upon   
its proper basis and foundation1 the    
word of ,god2 and that it may be freed  
from all encroachments and  invasions   
made thereupon by the powers of the     
earth2 and that the  discipline of the  
church may be impartially exercised     
against all  scandalous offenders1 great
 or small2 and when the ministers of    
this  church1 or any of them1 shall     
sincerely and conscientiously endeavor  
the  restoration of the government in   
all its privileges1 and freedom from    
all ,erastian encroachments1 and to have
 the discipline duly and  impartially   
exercised1 then we promise to be        

obedient1 and be subject  thereunto1 as 
becomes the flock of ,christ2 but shall 
always testify our  dislike of all      
encroachments made and yielded to1      
prejudical to the  privileges which     
,christ hath bestowed upon his church4  
#dthly1 ,we shall always desire and pray
 for the reviving of the work of        
uniformity in the three kingdoms1 and   
7if the ,lord in his providence  shall  
offer opportunity7 shall seek and       
endeavour it by other means  possible1  
lawful1 expedient1 and competent to us  
in our capacities2 and  shall never     
cordially consent unto1 nor cease to    
testify against1  whatsoever doth       
obstruct and hinder that work of        
uniformity1 and shall  detest and abhor 
all multiformity1 introduced by         
,erastianism1 ,prelacy1  and            
,sectarianism1 now so prevalent1 and    
confirmed by this late union  with      
,england4    ,according to the second   
,article1 we shall do our utmost        
endeavour to  have the land purged of   

,popish idolatry1 and the monuments     
thereof  destroyed1 particularly the    
abomination of the mass2 and1 so far as 
lies  in our power1 shall never suffer  
the same to be re-introduced or erected 
again1 nor favour any attempts tending  
thereunto4 ,we shall never make  any    
conjunction with these abominable       
,popish idolaters1 at home or  abroad1  
in armies or otherwise2 and shall1      
according to our ,national  ,covenant1  
detest and abhor all their wicked       
superstitious rites and  ceremonies4 ,we
 shall never consent1 for any reason    
whatsoever1 that the  ,penal ,statutes  
made against ,papists should be         
annulled2 but shall1 when  opportunity  
offers1 be ready to concur in putting   
them to a due and  vigorous execution4  
#b;dly1 ,we shall1 by all approven      
means1 in our  stations and vocations1  
endeavour the extirpation of ,prelacy2  
and shall  never submit to that wicked  
hierarchy of ,bishops1 ,archbishops1 c41
  having superiority of order and       

jurisdiction above preaching            
,presbyters1  whether ,erastian or only 
,diocesan1 in any form or degree1       
howsoever  reformed1 accommodated1      
limited1 or restricted by cautions and  
provisions of men2 seeing that all such 
superiority is flatly condemned  in the 
,word of ,god1 and hath proven many     
times fatal to the church of  ,christ4  
,we shall detest and abhor1 and in our  
stations witness against  whatsoever    
courses1 tending to the establishment of
 that abominable  hierarchy2 and        
particularly1 the oaths of allegiance1  
with the  assurance1 and oath of        
abjuration1 lately imposed on the       
persons of  public trust in these       
realms1 in regard they may justly be    
interpreted  to strengthen that         
hierarchy1 by upholding the persons that
 maintain the  same4 ,we shall not      
submit to any orders issued forth by    
,bishops1 nor own  them as our          
lawgivers1 nor acknowledge any title    
they have to be members  of parliament  

or council4 #c;dly1 ,we shall in like   
manner detest1 and  abhor1 and labour1  
to extirpate all kinds of               
superstition--all rites and  ceremonies 
superadded by human invention to the    
worship of ,god1 not  enjoined and      
required in his ,word2 together with all
 heresy and false  doctrine1 and all    
profaneness and immortalities of every  
kind1 and  whatsoever is contrary to    
sound religion2 and shall in the        
strength1 and  through the help of      
,christ1 endeavour to deny all          
ungodliness and  worldly lusts1 and from
 henceforth to live righteously towards 
our  neighbour1 soberly in ourselves1   
and to walk humbly with our ,god4    ,we
 shall upon the one hand1 endeavour to  
keep ourselves1 as far as we  can1 from 
all partakings in other men's sins1 by  
consenting unto  associations1          
incorporations1 combinations1 compliance
 with1 or  conniving at1 their sins4    
,and upon the other1 to guard against   
all  schism1 and sinful separation1 or  

unjust1 rash1 and disorderly            
withdrawing from societies1             
congregations or families1 or any part  
of  the communion of the true reformed  
church of ,scotland1 holding purely  and
 entirely the doctrine1 worship1        
discipline and government of the  same1 
in principle and exercise1 according to 
the rules of ,christ1 and  standing acts
 and constitutions of this church1      
consonant thereunto1 so  far as the     
,lord gives light therein4 ,and as we   
look not upon our  practice in          
withdrawing from the backslidden        
ministers of the present  ,erastian     
church1 for reasons valid and           
sufficient1 to be a gathering and       
setting up formed separate churches     
under other ordinances and ministry1    
distinct from the ,presbyterian church  
of ,scotland1 7although we be  falsely  
aspersed as doing it7 so we purpose and 
resolve always to adhere  to that       
standard of doctrine1 discipline1 and   
government1 and that  purity and form of

 worship1 which during our reforming    
times were  established1 and to embrace 
such ordinances1 and such a ministry as 
are  of divine appointment2 and that we 
shall not presume to withdraw from      
minister or member of that body for any 
offence1 in any case1 where  either the 
offence may be legally removed without  
withdrawing1 or cannot  be instructed to
 be condemned by the word of ,god1 and  
constitution of  this church1 or is in  
itself an insufficient ground of        
withdrawing1 or  where it is not        
defended1 or obstinately persisted in1  
or is a thing to  be condescended upon1 
forborn1 or forgiven2 but shall study to
 maintain  union and ,christian         
communion1 with all and every one1      
whether ministers  or private           
,christians1 who adhere unto the purity 
of the doctrine1  worship1 discipline   
and government of the church of         
,scotland1 and to the  whole word of    
,christ's patience1 in the sufferings   
and contendings of  his people1 in      

opposition to his enemies'              
encroachments2 and shall join1  in the  
way of truth and duty1 with all who do1 
and in so for as they do1  adhere to the
 institutions of ,christ4 ,and because  
many have labored to  supplant the      
liberties of the true kirk1 and have in 
a great measure1 of  late by indulgences
 and toleration1 and now by oaths of    
allegiance and  abjuration1 and         
encroaching on the freedom of ,christ's 
courts1 obtained  their design3 we shall
 therefore1 to our power withstand and  
witness  against all these encroachments
 made upon the liberties of ,christ's   
church in our land1 and when we can do  
no more1 shall withdraw our  countenance
 and concurrence from such as hold their
 freedom from1 and  are modified by such
 usurpation2 and shall neither hear     
their sermons1  nor pay them stipends1  
while they continue unfaithful2 and     
shall1  whenever ,god gives us          
opportunity1 endeavor to recover1 and   
when  recovered1 to maintain and defend 

the liberties and privileges of the     
church of ,scotland1 against all who    
shall oppose or undermine the same1  or 
encroach thereupon1 under any pretext   
whatsoever4    ,with reference to the   
third ,article1 wherein we are bound to 
defend the  privileges of the           
,parliament1 liberties of the kingdoms1 
and the ,king's  ,majesty's person and  
authority1 in the defence of the true   
,reformed  religion3 albeit ,god1 in his
 righteous judgment1 hath left the      
nations  so far to the counsels of their
 own hearts1 as to suffer them to set up
  ,magistrates1 wanting the             
qualifications requisite1 and to fill   
places of  power and trust with         
insufficient and disaffected persons1   
who have no  respect to the interest of 
religion1 and this nation in particular 
to  give up the rights and privileges of
 ,parliament1 and kingdom1 to the  will 
and lust of the ,english1 and so to     
betray the interest both of  religion   
and civil liberty for unworthy by-ends2 

yet we purpose and  promise1 that we    
shall always in our capacities bear     
witness against  these courses1 and     
shall not by any means corroborate them1
 or encourage  and countenance the      
maintainers and abettors of them4 ,and  
if ever the  ,lord in his mercy shall be
 pleased to open a door of relief1 and  
break  the cords of the ungodly1 we     
shall not be wanting in all lawful and  
suitable endeavors to promote1 to our   
power1 the recovery of that  liberty and
 freedom which we have lost1 and to have
 those acts and  oaths1 which impede    
,reformation1 rescinded3 and that all   
the righteous  laws1 made in favor of   
the ,covenanted ,reformation1 may be put
 in full  force1 and duly executed4     
,we shall earnestly pray to ,god that he
 would give us able men1 men of  truth1 
fearing ,god and hating covetousness1 to
 bear charge over his  people1 and that 
all places of power and trust in church1
 state1 or  army1 may consist of1 and be
 filled with men of known good affection

 to  the cause of ,god1 and of a        
,christian and blameless conversation2  
and  when it shall please the ,lord to  
give us such magistrates and judges     
supreme and subordinate1 then we will1  
in the terms of the covenant1  yield    
allegiance to them1 and loyally subject 
to their good government1  not from any 
by-end or sinistrous principle1 but out 
of sincere  obedience to ,god's         
commandment2 and shall willingly support
 and defend  them1 with our estates and 
lives1 in their persevering and         
defending the  true reformed ,protestant
 religion1 in doctrine1 worship1        
discipline and  government1 and         
suppressing all kinds of false religion 
in their  dominions1 and in the         
administration of justice and punishment
 of  iniquity2 but while the ,lord1 in  
his just displeasure for our sins1      
withholds such from us1 we intend to    
wait till he turn away his anger1  and  
not to stretch forth our hands to       
iniquity1 in owning and  countenancing  

such as are not duly qualified2 as1     
particularly1 those  that are ,popish or
 ,prelatical in their professed         
principle and practice1  and by oaths   
engage themselves to maintain1 and      
accordingly to defend1  the ,prelatical 
form of church government1 who oppose   
and encroach upon  the true government  
of ,christ's house by their supremacy1  
and tolerate  ,sectarian errors in their
 dominions1 and that every one of them  
supreme  and subordinate2 and shall not 
corroborate their unjust authority1 by  
pacing them cess and supply1 for        
upholding their corrupt courts and      
armies1 employed in an unjust and       
antichristian quarrel2 or1 by           
compearing before their judicatories1   
either to defend or pursue  lawsuits1 or
 upon any other account4    ,because we 
are not in a case to bring to due trial 
and punishment1  condign1 according to  
the merit of their offences1 malignants 
and evil  instruments1 according to the 
fourth ,article2 therefore1 we shall    

endeavour to keep ourselves1 as far as  
possible1 from any compliance  with1 or 
approbation of their cause and courses1 
opposite to the cause  and work of ,god2
 and shall endeavour to keep at a       
distance from  everything that may      
anyways import a unitive conjunction1   
association1  or confederacy with them1 
or strengthening them in their          
opposition to  the cause of ,god--the   
covenanted interest4 ,we shall1 through 
grace1  endeavour to represent before   
the throne of justice their wicked      
courses2 and pray that ,god would defeat
 their inventions1 though we  shall     
always1 as becomes ,christians1 implore 
the throne of grace for  mercy to their 
souls1 so far as it may be consistent   
with ,god's eternal  purpose of electing
 love4 ,moreover1 we shall always       
endeavour to guard  against all         
unwarrantable and irregular ways1 not   
approven in ,god's  ,word1 of punishing 
malignants and incendiaries1 for their  
opposition to  reformation4    ,whereas1

 in the fifth ,article1 we are bound to 
endeavour1 that the  kingdoms may remain
 united in a most firm peace and union  
to all  posterity2 which union did      
consist in a uniformity in doctrine1    
worship1  discipline and government1    
though1 as was said1 it is now laid     
aside1  and a union entered into which  
establishes multiformity therein1 and so
  is the opposite of this ,covenanted   
,union4 ,we shall1 therefore1 deny our  
consent unto1 and approbation of this   
union1 and shall1 as we have in         
weakness been witnessing against it     
formerly1 so continue to do for the     
future1 and shall not corroborate or    
strengthen the same2 but upon the       
contrary1 if the ,lord afford           
opportunity1 shall do our utmost to have
  the union of the kingdoms settled upon
 the true covenanted basis2 and  shall  
lay out ourselves1 as far as possible1  
to entertain correspondence  and        
sympathy with every one in the kingdoms 
of ,england and ,ireland1 who  do1 or   

shall1 to our knowledge1 adhere to this 
,league and ,covenant4    ,according to 
the sixth ,article1 considering what    
danger we and all our  brethren1 under  
the bond and owning the obligation of   
these covenants1  are in1 and may be    
exposed unto1 from the ,popish and      
,prelatical  malignant faction still    
prevailing1 and from this backslidden   
church2  and being sensible of the many 
defects which have been amongst us1 in  
the duty of defending and assisting one 
another in maintaining the  common cause
 of religion and liberty1 we do here    
solemnly enter into a  bond of          
association with all that do now renew  
these covenants1 with  the              
,acknowledgement of the ,public ,sins   
and ,breeches1 and the ,engagement  of  
,duties thereof1 and concert and assert 
the old covenanted cause and  quarrel1  
as our fathers stated and contended for 
it1 from the year #afch  to the year    
#afej4 ,which cause of the covenanted   
reformation in doctrine1  worship1      

discipline and government1 and all      
interests1 or rights1  religious or     
civil1 contended for during the foresaid
 space of years1  conducing to promote  
the same1 we faithfully promise to      
prosecute1  propagate1 preserve and     
maintain1 to the utmost of our power1   
with our  lives and all that we have2   
and to adhere to all the faithful       
testimonies1 protestations and          
declarations1 in the defence of the     
foresaid covenanted reformation1        
agreeable to1 and founded on ,god's     
,word1 ever since the foresaid year     
#afej1 not regarding the foul           
aspersions of rebellion1 combination or 
schism1 or what else our  adversaries1  
from their craft and malice1 would put  
upon us2 seeing what  we do is so well  
warranted1 and ariseth from an unfeigned
 desire to  maintain the true religion1 
to obtain the protection and preserve   
the  honour of righteous government1 and
 promote the peace and happiness of  the
 kingdoms4    ,and for the better       

performance of what we here engage to1  
we shall  sympathize1 bear all burdens1 
embark our interest with1 assist and    
defend all those1 who enter into1 or    
join this association and ,covenant1    
and shall reckon whatsoever is done to  
the least of us1 for this cause1  as    
done to us all in general and to every  
one of us in particular3 and  shall     
account it a breach of ,covenant1 if    
seeing our brethren pursued  for this   
very cause1 and having sufficient means 
to comfort and assist  them1 any of us  
shall either make peace with the        
persecutors1 bind up  their hands by    
oaths and bonds from resisting them1    
refuse to hide1  harbor1 or supply their
 brethren1 decline to venture1 in lawful
 and  necessary attempts for their      
relief1 or withdraw from their dutiful  
support2 and being thus united and      
associated in this cause1 as we  resolve
 and oblige ourselves to abide in this  
firm conjunction1 and  neither consent  
nor concede to any combination or       

counsel1 suggestion1  persuasion1       
allurement or terror1 that may have any 
known tendency or  influence1 whether   
direct or indirect1 to seduce us either 
to a division  amongst ourselves1 or    
defection to our adversaries1 or a base 
indifferency and neutrality between the 
two2 but shall1 with all zeal1  fidelity
 and constancy1 communicate our best    
help1 counsel and  concurrence1 for     
promoting all resolutions1 which by     
common consent  shall be found to       
conduce to the good of the cause1 and   
shall endeavor  to discover1 oppose and 
suppress1 all contrivances or counsels1 
that may  cast in any let or impediment1
 that may be obstructive or prejudicial 
to  the same4 ,so we shall likewise     
desire1 design and endeavor1 7whenever  
the ,lord in his providence shall offer 
opportunity7 to get the  defections1    
unworthy neutralities1 and unhappy      
divisions1 which have  long and         
lamentably wounded1 and wrecked this    
church1 removed and  remedied4 ,and     

shall be willing1 with all tender       
sympathy and compassion1  to embrace and
 welcome with the utmost bowels of      
kindness and respect  that we can1 all  
who shall confess and forsake these     
defections1 and  according to their     
stations1 as ministers or private       
,christians1 shall1  by all proper      
means1 labor to satisfy the conscience  
of the godly1 that  are through these   
defections and scandals justly offended1
 and that  according to the rules of    
,christ1 delivered in his word1 and     
received in  this church1 in her        
,reforming times1 and join cordially    
with us in the  prosecution of this     
cause2 and we shall be willing also1 at 
their  desire1 to acknowledge and       
forsake1 for peace and unity1 whatever  
we can  rationally be convinced to be   
bad in our conduct and management1 as we
  must acknowledge1 that in all things  
we fail1 and come exceedingly short  of 
that perfection1 which we should and    
would be at4    ,and because there be   

many who heretofore have not made       
conscience of the  oath of ,god--but    
some1 through fear1 others by           
persuasion1 and upon base  ends1 and    
human interests1 have entered thereinto1
 who have afterwards  discovered        
themselves to have dealt deceitfully    
with the ,lord1 in  swearing falsely by 
his name2 therefore1 we1 who do now     
renew our  covenants with reference to  
these duties1 and all other duties      
contained  therein1 do1 in the sight of 
him who is the searcher of hearts1      
solemnly  profess1 that it is not upon  
any politic advantage1 or private       
interest1  or by-end1 or because of any 
terror or persuasion from men1 or       
hypocritically or deceitfully1 that we  
do again take upon us the oath of  ,god2
 but honestly and sincerely1 and from   
the sense of our duty4 ,and  that1      
therefore1 denying ourselves and our own
 things1 and1 laying aside  all-self    
interests and ends1 we shall1 above all 
things1 seek the honour  of ,god1 the   

good of his cause1 and the wealth of his
 people2 and that1  forsaking the       
counsels of flesh and blood1 and not    
leaning upon carnal  confidences1 we    
shall depend upon the ,lord1 walk by the
 rule of his  ,word1 and hearken to the 
voice of his servants4 ,in all which1   
professing  our own weakness1 we do     
earnestly pray to ,god who is the       
,father of  mercies1 through his ,son   
,,jesus ,,christ1 to be merciful unto   
us1 and to  enable us1 by the power of  
his might1 that we may do our duty1 unto
 the  praise of his grace in the        
churches4 ,amen4    ,,footnotes3        
,footnote #d3 ,in the ,preface to this  
edition1 the reader may perceive the    
same spirit in #ahhj4  ,,ed4            
,footnote #e3 ,the lawful supreme       
,magistrate4    ,footnote #f3 ,the      
persons and authority of such1 when ,god
 of his mercy  shall grant them to us4  
,footnote #g3 ,king ,charles the ,first4
    ,footnote #h3 ,remonstrances1       
declarations and testimonies of old1 and

 of  late4    ,footnote #i3 ,or any     
other corruptions thereof1 ,prelatic or 
,erastian1  either tried or to be tried2
 such as indulgence1 the toleration1 the
  magistrates appointing fasts without  
advice and consent of the church1       
dissolving assemblies1 c4    ,footnote  
#aj3 ,remonstrances1 declarations and   
testimonies4    ,footnote #aa3 ,to      
righteous governors1 7when obtained71   
and to our  country4    ,footnote #ab3  
,the lawful supreme ,magistrate's4      
,footnote #ac3 ,the person and authority
 of sovereigns having the               
qualifications which the ,scriptures    
require4    ,footnote #ad3 ,the lawful  
supreme ,magistrate's4    ,footnote #ae3
 ,the lawful supreme ,magistrate4       
,footnote #af3 ,lawful supreme          
,magistrates4    ,footnote #ag3 ,anno   
#afch4    ,footnote #ah3 ,lawful supreme
 ,magistrates4    ,footnote #ai3 ,after 
all supplications1 remonstrances        
protestations and  sufferings of our    
fathers1 and our own grievous sufferings

 and  contendings both before and since 
the late ,revolution4    ,footnote #bj3 
,when restored1 according to their      
ancient foundation4    ,footnote #ba3   
,the lawful supreme ,magistrate's4      
,footnote #bb3 ,the lawful              
,magistrate's4    ,footnote #bc3 ,the   
lawful ,magistrate1 when obtained4      
,footnote #bd3 ,our ,reformers4         
,footnote #be3 ,as they were then4      
,footnote #bf3 ,the lawful supreme      
,magistrate4    ,footnote #bg3 ,such as 
the ,curate of ,carsphairn1 and some    
others4 ,but it  is to be noted1 that   
this sentence is not meant of those who 
either  designed or actually executed   
that act of extraordinary justice upon  
the  ,archbishop of ,st4 ,andrews1 who  
being an arch-traitor1 and public       
incendiary1 and implacable enemy to the 
work of ,god1 and all the godly  in the 
kingdom1 was therefore justly put to    
death2 though 7because of  the defect of
 justice in those that had authority17  
the act1 in respect  of the persons     

executing1 was singular and             
extraordinary4 ,see the same            
vindicated1 ,hind ,let ,loose1 head vi41
 page #fcc1 c4    ,footnote #bh3 ,ezek4 
vii4 #af4 ,but they that escape of them 
shall escape1  and shall be on the      
mountains like doves of the vallies1 all
 of them  mourning1 every one for his   
iniquity4    ,footnote #bi3 ,ezek4 ix4  
#d4----,set a mark upon the foreheads of
 the men  that sigh and that cry for all
 the abominations that be done in the   
midst thereof4    ,footnote #cj3 ,matt4 
xxii4 #e4 ,but they made light of it1   
and went their  ways1 one to his farm1  
another to his merchandise4    ,footnote
 #ca3 #a ,tim4 vi4 #ad4 ,that thou keep 
this commandment without  spot1         
unrebukeable1 until the appearing of our
 ,lord ,jesus ,christ4    ,footnote #cb3
 #b ,tim4 lii4 #e4 ,having a form of    
godliness1 but denying the  power       
thereof4    ,footnote #cc3 ,eph4 in4    
#ag4 ,that ,christ may dwell in your    
hearts by  faith4----,col4 ii4 #f4 ,as  

ye have therefore received ,christ      
,jesus the  ,lord1 so walk ye in him4   
,footnote #cd3 ,col4 i4 #aj4 ,that ye   
might walk worthy of the ,lord unto all 
pleasing4    ,footnote #ce3 #b ,thes4   
ii4 #aj1 #aa1 #ab4 ,because they        
received not the love  of the           
truth----,for this cause ,god shall send
 them strong delusion1 that  they should
 believe a lie4 ,that they all might be 
damned1 who believed  not the truth1 but
 had pleasure in unrighteousness4       
,footnote #cf3 ,josh4 xxiv4             
#ae4----;,but as for me and my house1 we
 will  serve the ,lord4 ,gen4 xviii4    
#ai4 ,for ,i know him1 that he will     
command his  children and his household 
after him1 and they shall keep the way  
of the  ,lord1 to do justice and        
judgment4    ,footnote #cg3 #a ,tim4    
iii4 #ae----,that thou mayest know how  
thou oughtest  to behave thyself in the 
house of ,god4----    ,footnote #ch3    
,psal4 ci #b4 ,i will walk within my    
house with a perfect  heart4 ,jer4 vii4 

#c4 ,thus saith the ,lord of hosts1 the 
,god of ,israel2  amend your ways and   
your doings1 and ,i will cause you to   
dwell in this  place4 ,isa4 ,i4 #af1    
#ag2 ,cease to do evil4 ,learn to do    
well4----    ,footnote #ci3 ,jer4 #a4   
#h4 ,remove out of the midst of         
,babylon1 and go  forth out of the land 
of the ,chaldeans1 and be ye as the he  
goats before  the flocks4    ,footnote  
#dj3 ,zech4 i #c4 ,turn ye unto me1     
saith the ,lord of hosts1 and ,i  will  
turn unto you1 saith the ,lord of hosts4
 ,psal4 lxxxv4 #c4 ,thou hast  taken    
away all thy wrath2 thou hast turned    
thyself from the fierceness  of thine   
anger4 ,verse #dth4 ,turn us1 ,o ,god of
 our salvation and cause  thine anger   
towards us to cease    ,footnote #da3   
,psal4 lxxxv4 #i1 #aj4 ,surely his      
salvation is nigh them that  fear him2  
that glory may dwell in our land4 ,mercy
 and truth are met  together2           
righteousness and peace have kissed each
 other4    ,isa4 xxxii4 #ag4 ,and the   

work of righteousness shall be peace1   
and the  effect of righteousness1       
quietness and assurance forever4        
,zech4 viii4 #ai----,therefore love the 
truth and peace4    ,footnote #db3      
,note4 ,the ,confession of ,faith is    
here adhered to1 as it  was received and
 approven by the ,general ,assembly of  
this church1 by  their ,act of the #bgth
 of ,aug4 #afdg1 ,sess4 #bc1 the #b;d   
,article of the #cast  ,chap1 being     
understood1 as explained in that ,act1  
and the #dth ,sect1 of  the #bc;d ,chap1
 being understood1 as it is explained in
 our ,informatory  ,vindication1 page   
#aif1 #b;d ,edition4    ,typographical  
errors excepted1 and ,historical        
,introduction  substituted for ,preface1
 this edition agrees with those of      
,paisley1  #ahbj1 and ,belfast1         
#ahce4--;,,ed4          ,,act ,,of      
,,covenant ,,renovation1    ,,agreed    
,,upon ,,at ,,philadelphia1 ,,october   
#h1 #ahhj1    ,,by ,,the    ,,reformed  
,,presbytery1    ,,after ,,the          

,,approved ,,example ,,of ,,our         
,,fathers1 ,,at    ,,auchensaugh1 #agab1
 ,,and ,,accommodated    ,,to ,,the     
,,present ,,time4           99       99 
99       99       99    ,i have sworn1  
and ,i will perform it1 that ,i will    
keep thy righteous  judgments4--,psalms 
cxix3 #ajf4    ,they 7,egyptians7 shall 
vow a vow unto the ,lord1 and perform   
it4--,is4  xix3 #ba4    ,the            
,corinthians first gave their own selves
 to the ,lord4--#b ,cor4  viii3 #e4     
,,covenant ,,renovation4    ,vow1 and   
pay unto the ,lord your ,god4--,ps4     
lxxvi3 ,,ii4      ,,preface4            
,having in prospect a united1 public and
 solemn approach to our covenant  ,god1 
some important principles should be     
understood1 that we may proceed  with   
intelligence and have sure ground for   
our faith4    ,god is love2 and         
reciprocal love constitutes the bond of 
perfectness  between ,god and rational  
creatures4 ,communion with ,god is the  
supreme  felicity and highest honor of  

which angels and men are capable4 ,the  
first emanation of divine love revealed 
to us was displayed in the  covenant of 
works2 although not called a covenant1  
the narrative  contains all the elements
 essential to a federal deed1 comprising
 a  summary of the whole moral law4     
,thus the sovereign love of ,god was    
manifested through the medium of law and
 covenant inseparably combined2  and    
this is the ,lord's manner of dealing   
with mankind till the present  time4    
,that covenant was made with us in ,adam
 as our common father and public        
representative4 ,by the breach of it we 
are born in ,adam's image and  children 
of wrath2 for the principle of          
representative identification  pervades 
the moral universe4 ,our rational and   
social nature fits us both  for personal
 and federal responsibility4    ,when we
 had destroyed ourselves by apostasy    
from ,god1 then did ,god  show the      
exceeding riches of his grace in his    
kindness toward us  through ,christ     

,jesus4 ,the gift of his ,son to be a   
covenant head to  sinners is ,god's     
highest1 and most glorious demonstration
 of his  ineffable love4 ,the breadth1  
and length1 and depth1 and height of the
  love of ,christ passeth knowledge2 and
 the displays of this love through  the 
covenant of grace will doubtless furnish
 matter of admiration to  holy angels1  
and of adoring gratitude to redeemed    
sinners throughout  eternity4 ,rev4 i3  
#e1 #f4    ,ever since our fall in ,adam
 ,god has dealt with our sinful race by 
covenant4 ,this covenant was made with  
,christ as ,mediator between ,god and   
man1 and as the representative of all   
whom the ,father gave him to be         
redeemed and brought to glory4 ,john    
xvii3 #b4 ,accordingly1 the ,lord       
,jesus1 immediately on the fall of our  
first parents1 entered upon his  work of
 mediation4 ,to them first he announced 
his commission1 declaring  his purpose  
to bruise the serpent's head--to destroy
 the works of the  devil4 ,gen4 iii3    

#ae2 #a ,john iii3 #h4 ,christ is given 
for a witness to  the people2 a leader  
and commander to the people2 to have    
power over all  flesh1 that he should   
give eternal life to as many as the     
,father hath  given him4    ,throughout 
the whole of the mediatorial            
administration the law and the  covenant
 are distinct1 though inseparably       
connected3 and although many  covenants 
are mentioned in the ,scriptures1 and   
even distinguished as  old and new4     
,jer4 xxxi3 #ca2 ,heb4 viii3 #h2 yet we 
must understand  these as only different
 and successive modes of administering  
one and  the same ,covenant of ,grace4  
,this covenant was proclaimed before the
  deluge by prophets1 as ,enoch and     
,noah2 after the flood by patriarchs2   
then by the ministry of ,moses and other
 prophets1 when ,john the ,baptist  and 
the ,messiah in person proclaimed it2   
and from the day of ,pentecost  till the
 end of the world is the last           
dispensation--still1 the covenant  is   

immutably the same4 ,the most solemn and
 memorable act of covenanting  with ,god
 was at ,horeb1 otherwise called ,sinai1
 when the ,israelites were  first and   
formally organized in ecclesiastical and
 civil relations4 ,then  ,judah was his 
sanctuary1 and ,israel his dominion4    
,ps4 cxiv3 #b4    ,besides circumcision 
and the passover1 both of which involved
 covenant  obligation1 ,god instituted  
the additional ordinance of public and  
social  federal transaction1 that the   
whole body might glorify him by a united
  act of solemn dedication as his       
special property separated visibly from 
the world4 ,is4 lxiii3 #ai4 ,and that   
this is a moral ordinance1 and of       
perpetual obligation1 is evident from   
the practice of ,god's people1 both     
under the ,old and ,new ,testament1 and 
the language of prophecy4 ,deut4  xxix3 
#aj-ab2 #b ,cor4 viii3 #e2 ,is4 xliv3   
#e4    ,again1 when we renew our        
covenant1 we do not mean that the       
obligation  has ceased1 or that we can  

increase its obligation1 for this is    
infinite  and permanent2 we intend by   
our personal act to deepen and render   
more  durable our sense of preexisting  
obligation4 ,this is1 indeed1 the       
immediate object of all renovations1 by 
,moses1 ,joshua1 kings of ,judah  and   
,nehemiah4 ,and as we have seen1 this   
ordinance was observed by  ,christians  
in the time of the apostles1 so their   
practice may be traced  through history 
afterwards1 however obscure1 until the  
time of the  ,reformation from ,popery2 
when in ,europe1 both continental and   
insular1  this ordinance was revived and
 exemplified4 ,among all nations in     
,christendom ,scotland stands preeminent
 since first emancipated from  bondage  
in mystical ,babylon1 for the frequency 
and fidelity of her  ecclesiastical and 
national vows to the ,most ,high4 ,after
 many struggles  with ,popery and       
,prelacy1 during which ,christ's        
witnesses in that land  derived strength
 and courage from vows renewed to       

withstand these  organized oppressors2  
at length by their example and influence
 the  kingdoms of ,england and ,ireland 
were brought into a confederation by    
that famous and grand document1 the     
,solemn ,league and ,covenant4 ,taken in
  connection with the ,national         
,covenant of ,scotland1 those three     
nations  and the churches in them were  
voluntarily bound to ,god and to each   
other  by all the solemnity of cords and
 bands made in heaven4 ,yet1 through the
  corruption of human nature and the    
restless malice of the ,dragon and his  
angels1 these bands were treacherously  
broken and the cords cast away4         
,although those symbols of the public   
faith were ,scriptural documents1  yet  
the reformation as truly described by   
the late ,mr4 ,robert ,lusk1 was  to the
 majority a reformation only on paper4  
,like ,israel of old the  hearts of most
 of the people were not right with ,god1
 neither were they  steadfast in his    
covenant4 ,ps4 lxxviii3 #cg4 ,this was  

soon made manifest  by the ,public      
,resolutions1 accepting ,indulgences1   
and the subsequent  twenty-eight years  
of persecution inflicted upon those who 
stood to the  covenant4 ,then followed1 
in #afhi1 what the apostates called1 and
 their  successors still fondly hail1 as
 the glorious ,revolution               
settlement6--a settlement which1 by     
forms of law1 consigned the  nations'   
solemn vows to oblivion1 with all       
possible expressions of  detestation by 
the infamous ,act ,rescissory4 ,in the  
year #agjg1 the ,act  of ,incorporation 
brought the church and kingdom of       
,scotland under  degrading bondage to   
the anti-,christian1 ,prelatic and      
,erastian throne of  ,britain4    ,while
 these steps of apostasy were in        
progress1 the ,lord preserved a  wasted 
remnant of witnesses1 who resisted unto 
blood striving against  sin4 ,these     
valiant ,christian patriots--the        
,society ,people--kept  themselves and  
their garments clean1 and kept also the 

word of ,christ's  patience4 ,they never
 were dissenters1 nor properly called   
the ,old  ,dissenters4 ,during this hour
 of temptation they were destitute of   
the  help and guidance of a public      
ministry4 ,at length1 in the year #agjf1
 ,mr4  ,john ,m',millan1 wearing the    
honorable badges of suspension and      
deposition1 imposed by his apostate     
brethren for advocating in their        
,assembly the continued obligation of   
the ,covenants4 ,national and ,solemn   
,league1 7,is4 lxvi3 #e17 was joyfully  
received as their minister by the  voice
 of the ,society people4 ,in the year   
#agab1 at ,auchensaugh1 ,mr4            
,m',millan1 with the assistance of ,mr4 
,john ,m',neil1 licentiate1 resolved  to
 set about this solemn and tremendous   
duty of renewing their national         
covenants with ,god4 ,their mode of     
procedure was ,scriptural1 following    
the examples of ,moses and others to    
,nehemiah--the footsteps of the  flock4 
,they framed three papers1 ,history1    

,confession and ,engagement4  ,the text 
of the ,covenants of our fathers was    
left entire1 only some  explanatory     
words and phrases being placed in the   
margin4 ,these  explanations were then  
necessary to clear that question of     
questions--,shall the throne of iniquity
 have fellowship with thee8--a  question
 to be finally settled only at the      
sounding of the last  ,apocalyptic      
trumpet4 ,rev4 xi3 #ae4 ,that           
transaction was ever after  incorporated
 with the ,terms of ,communion4    ,some
 years after this transaction another   
renovation took place in  ,scotland1 at 
a locality called ,crawford-,john2 but  
no attainments were  then made1 nor has 
any authentic record of the proceedings 
been  transmitted to posterity4 ,also   
the ,seceders1 soon after their erection
  as a distinct organization in         
,scotland1 and repeatedly since in      
,britain  and ,america1 by public       
covenanting have contributed to the     
preservation  of sound doctrine and     

,christian practice4 ,we cannot1        
however1 accord to  them the honor of   
being the successors of the covenanted  
witnesses1  which they unwarrantably    
claim1 seeing that they disowned the    
civil  part of the public ,covenants1   
and thus unwittingly1 we charitably     
believe1 passed an implied censure on   
the ,one ,lawgiver for having given  us 
a second table in the moral law6    ,we 
merely refer to the ,octoraro           
transaction1 7#agdc17 conducted by that 
unstable minister1 ,mr4 ,craighead1 as  
being unworthy of anything more  than   
historical notice4    ,the two most     
noteworthy instances of avowed          
covenant-renovation within  the present 
century are those at ,dervock1 ,ireland1
 in #ahec1 and in  ,pittsburg1          
,pennsylvania1 in #ahga2 and we class   
them together1 because  however the     
respective documents differ in their    
provisions1 and in our  judgment some of
 these are irreconcilable1 yet the      
parties have ever  since agreed to      

coalesce4 ,reference is here made only  
to a sample of  essential discrepancies4
 ,in the ,dervock bond the ,british     
,covenants are  expressly mentioned and 
owned2 in the ,pittsburg bond they are  
neither  owned nor mentioned1 although  
both were urged at the time1 while they 
were openly vilified without rebuke4 ,in
 the former ,prelacy is abjured1  in the
 latter it is not so much as named4 ,the
 fourth article of the  former is       
irreconcilable with the fourth article  
of the latter4 ,the  former is limited  
by recognized truth2 the latter         
substitutes for  truth supposed piety4  
,but since these two parties1 in the    
face of such  antagonistic fundamental  
principles1 do actually harmonize in    
practice1  coming down to treat with    
opposing parties in the plain of ,ono1  
their  example of treachery in covenant 
can be regarded only as a beacon of     
warning4    ,strictly speaking1 no new  
obligation has been imposed or assumed  
since  the law was given at ,sinai4 ,we 

are to keep the words of the covenant1  
the ten commandments4 ,this is just what
 ,christ still enjoins upon his         
disciples--,teaching them to observe all
 things whatsoever ,i have  commanded   
you4 ,the footsteps of ,christ's flock  
differ nothing now from  what they were 
in the days of ,solomon4 ,some turn back
 into ,egypt1 while  others turn aside  
with the flocks of the companions to    
right-hand  extremes or left-hand       
defections2 for the harlot's ways are   
moveable  that thou canst not know them1
 and we are warned--,come not near the  
door of her house4    ,the federal deeds
 which we propose to renew are1 of      
course1 those of our  witnessing        
fathers1 the ,national ,covenant of     
,scotland and the ,solemn  ,league of   
,scotland1 ,england and ,ireland1       
adapting these public deeds to  our     
time1 and comprising all preceding and  
subsequent attainments1 as  was done by 
our predecessors at ,auchensaugh4 ,our  
condition and  surroundings are in many 

respects similar to theirs4 ,their soul 
was  exceedingly filled with the        
scorning of those that were at ease1 and
  with the contempt of the proud2 but   
they were also exposed to many  perils  
from the existing ecclesiastical and    
civil authorities which they  publicly  
disowned4    ,all inspired records of   
public vows to ,god by his united       
people1 from  the time of ,moses to     
,nehemiah1 contained a synopsis of      
special  providence towards themselves  
and others1 of sins1 mercies and        
judgments2 and these were motives to    
this special duty1 though not a         
rule--,and because of all this we make a
 sure covenant and write it4    ,after  
these examples1 which we judge written  
for our learning1 we  renew our own and 
our ancestors' covenants1 neither       
ecclesiastically nor  nationally as     
representatives of either church or     
state1 as they are now  confederated    
against the ,lord and his ,anointed3 but
 we appear publicly  as a despised      

remnant1 avowing allegiance to ,zion's  
only ,king and  ,prince of the kings of 
the earth1 pledging adherence to those  
public  deeds of our progenitors1 in    
which the divine ordinances of ,church  
and  ,state are exhibited2 and in which 
they are exemplified as co-ordinate1    
mutually independent1 friendly1 and     
helpful to the family and to each       
other4 ,thus acted the people of ,god   
under the covenant of grace in all      
ages2 and so acted his servants at      
,auchensaugh1 whose more immediate      
example we propose to follow4           
99       99       99       99       99  
,,confession ,,of ,,public ,,sins4      
,all authentic history confirms the     
declaration of the ,sacred ,scriptures1 
,that by one man sin entered into the   
world1 and that there is not a just  man
 upon earth that doeth good and sinneth 
not4 ,yet there is mercy with  ,god that
 he may be feared1 and plenteous        
redemption to redeem ,israel  from all  
his trespasses4 ,but we are assured that

 he that covereth his  sins shall not   
prosper1 but whoso confesseth and       
forsaketh them shall  have mercy4       
,believing these teachings of ,god's    
word1 and in view of renewing solemn    
vows to him1 we now give glory to the   
,lord ,god of ,israel by making         
confession of our own and our fathers'  
sins in violating our solemn  covenants4
 ,we acknowledge the heinous sins of    
repeated violation of our  covenanted   
unity--,first1 ,by joining in a military
 confederacy with the  ,american        
,colonies in the revolutionary war of   
#aggf4 ,second1 ,joining in  a similar  
confederacy with ,irish ,papists and    
others to cast off the  ,british        
government in #agih4 ,third1 ,in a      
similar confederacy in the war  between 
the ,united ,states and ,england in     
#ahab4 ,fourth1 ,by the like  military  
association in the recent civil war3 and
 these sins were  aggravated by framing 
oaths of allegiance or fidelity in the  
years #ahab  and #ahfc4    ,some of     

those who had violated their covenants  
by military association  with the       
,united ,irishmen fled for refuge to the
 ,united ,states2 and  without          
undergoing censure became active agents 
in constituting a  presbytery without   
authority had from the parent body in   
,scotland1 #agih2  and proceeded in     
#ahjf to frame and publish ,reformation 
,principles  ,exhibited1 a work which   
removed landmarks which the fathers had 
set2  and which with an abstract of     
,terms of ,communion unpresbyterially   
introduced1 unsettled the foundations   
and issued in the lamentable  disruption
 of #ahcc4    ,in ,scotland the leaders 
of the people caused them to err by     
changing the  ,terms of ,communion in   
the year #ahbb1 and the ,testimony in   
#ahcg4 ,while  these changes were made  
in the ,covenanted ,church's organic law
 some of  the most popular and          
influential ministers--theological      
professors1 were  publicly transgressing
 our covenants by joining in affinity   

with divers  confederacies for moral    
reform4 ,doctor ,andrew ,symington1 the 
most  influential minister in the ,synod
 did actually and publicly co-operate   
with the ,evangelical ,alliance2 and in 
#ahda the same professor was among  the 
foremost in projecting a plan for a     
concert of prayer1 by diverse  sorts of 
professors1 those of the ,established   
,church of ,scotland being  expressly   
mentioned4 ,no wonder the hesitating    
,covenanter ventured at  least to       
express preferance for more generally   
small meetings for  prayer1 to a large  
number of ,christians of different      
names4 ,this kind  of amalgamation being
 contrary to ,scripture was a breach    
also of the  ,solemn ,league1 the sixth 
article of which was evidently designed 
by our  fathers to prevent such social  
sins under the name of religion4 ,the   
,theological ,seminary in ,scotland1 as 
a corrupt fountain1 polluted all  the   
streams1 the ministers taking the lead  
in the defection1 as is now  manifested 

to the world4    ,all along our history 
in ,scotland1 ,ireland and ,america1 the
 sin of the  antediluvians and of       
,israel after the flesh has been        
imitated by  us--joining with the known 
enemies of truth and righteousness1 in  
the  face of many fearful judgments for 
such breaches of solemn vows4    ,the   
ministers took the lead in joining and  
inducing others to join the             
,colonization ,society1 a scheme for the
 removal of colored freedmen from  among
 the bondmen1 that slavery might be more
 secure and more certainly  perpetuated 
by removing the disturbing element2 and 
all this under the  guise of            
evangelizing ,africa6 ,the ,general     
,synod which had unanimously  patronized
 that scheme in #ahbh1 discovering the  
deception1 did in #ahcf1  by a majority 
transfer its patronage to the rival     
cause of ,abolition1  thus continuing   
and persevering in the same             
transgression1 from which  they are not 
reclaimed to this day4    ,about the    

same time when we were ensnared in these
 unscriptural  confederacies1 occasional
 hearing naturally became developed in a
  sabbath-school1 which for a short time
 was conducted jointly by three         
denominations in                        
,pittsburgh--,covenanters1 ,seceders and
 ,associate  ,reformed1 violating our   
covenanted unity and erecting an        
unauthorized  agency for spiritual      
instruction4 ,the ,general ,synod did1  
in #ahdj1  abolish its own deligation   
form and the ,subordinate ,synods in    
violation  of conventional law and      
,presbyterial order1 and still continues
 to  adhere to this two-fold breach of  
the brotherly covenant4 ,that body1     
carrying on defection1 joined in        
military association as noticed above1  
during the late civil war between the   
,union and ,confederate armies1  framing
 an oath of fidelity1 and thus profaning
 a divine ordinance by  pledging        
themselves to enforce an atheistical    
constitution and execute  the laws3 and 

some of them glory in their shame and   
boast of this  flagrant and complicated 
breach of solemn vows to the contrary4  
,while recognizing many precious        
principles embodied in the ,dorvock     
bond1  we cannot give it our approbation
 as an adequate renovation of our       
,national ,covenant and ,solemn ,league1
 because it not only omits but          
obviously excludes the ,form of         
,presbyterial ,church ,government and   
the  ,directory for ,public ,worship1   
and seems to substitute for these the   
,testimony which is incompatible with   
that of #agfa2 although the two         
documents above named were received by  
our ,general ,assembly of ,scotland  as 
part of the uniformity to which we are  
bound in the ,solemn ,league4  ,and     
besides1 all their symbols of faith     
mentioned in the ,dervock  transaction  
as subordinate1 are owned only as       
,doctrinal ,standards1  thus leaving at 
loose ends individual and social        
,christian practice4  ,this document is 

therefore a defective1 evasive1 and     
consequently  inadequate renovation of  
our ,covenants4    ,the sound principles
 comprised in the ,pittsburgh bond are  
still more  palpably rendered nugatory  
by contradictions1 manifold evasions and
  ambiguous phrases2 such as accepted   
manuals1 our fathers' covenants1  etc42 
while the solemn pledge to maintain     
,christian friendship with  pious men of
 every name1 and to feel and act as one 
with all in every  land who pursue this 
grand end --an undefined end--would     
overthrow1  if this were possible1 the  
whole scriptural fabric of our          
,presbyterial  ,covenanted ,reformation4
 ,treachery and perfidy1 not to say     
perjury1 are  bound up in the           
,pittsburgh bond1 especially in pledging
 themselves to  the performance of civil
 duties not forbidden in the law of     
,god4 ,some  of the native fruits of    
this transaction1 tending still more to 
corrupt  themselves and others are the  
continual practice of occasional        

hearing1  exchange of pulpits and       
correspondence by delegation4    ,this  
body has placed itself under the        
authority of the ,pennsylvania          
,legislature1 having petitioned for and 
obtained an act of incorporation1  and  
having voluntarily submitted to the     
,erastian civil jurisdiction of  the    
state of ,pennsylvania and of the       
,united ,states4 ,the civil ,charter    
expressly institutes and appoints its   
trustees to be regulated and  limited in
 the exercise of the functions of their 
respective offices by  the constitutions
 of ,pennsylvania and of the nation4    
,their bond prepared  the way for this  
more gross and practical surrender of   
all that is  distinctive in our         
covenanted position4 ,and finally1 so   
far as we know  all parties in the three
 lands claiming to be ,reformed         
,presbyterians1  have for years         
renounced those provisions of our       
,directory which require  the lines to  
be read in public praise to ,god1 and   

the banns to be  proclaimed before      
marriage4    ,the nations throughout    
,christendom1 continue in league with   
,antichrist  and give their strength to 
the beast4 ,they still refuse to profess
 and  defend the true religion in       
doctrine1 worship1 government and       
discipline1 contrary to the example of  
the kingdoms of ,scotland1 ,england  and
 ,ireland in the seventeenth century4   
,some of them have waged wars of        
conquest1 under pretence of opening a   
way for the spread of the gospel2  and  
disregarding international law1 have    
violated solemn treaties among          
themselves1 and all of them practically 
disregard divine authority2  habitually 
profaning the ,christian ,sabbath1 by   
carrying the mail1 by  commercial       
traffic1 and parties of pleasure on land
 and water4    ,acknowledging the       
righteousness of divine judgment upon   
ourselves and  others for manifold      
violations of ,god's law and breaches of
 our own and  our fathers' solemn vows  

in our domestic1 ecclesiastical and     
civil  relations2 we desire to humble   
ourselves before ,god for these sins1   
and  for others not contained in this   
enumeration4 ,seeing that ,god hath     
punished us less than our iniquities    
deserve1 and hath left us a small       
remnant in his sovereign mercy1 our     
prayer to him is that he may enable  us 
by his grace to bring forth fruits meet 
for repentance1 to the glory  of his    
great and holy name1 and the            
commendation of his pardoning mercy4    
99       99       99       99       99  
,,act ,,of ,,adherence ,,to ,,our       
,,covenants4 ,,national ,,and ,,solemn  
,,league2 ,,as  ,,adapted ,,to ,,the    
,,present ,,time4      ,we1             
office-bearers and members of the       
,reformed ,presbyterian ,church1        
convinced by the ,word and ,spirit of   
,god of our guilt and depravity by  our 
breach of covenant in ,adam2 of utter   
inability to save ourselves  from the   
ruins of the falls or its just penal    

consequences2 desiring  moreover to     
bless1 the ,lord1 that when we were yet 
without strength  ,christ died for the  
ungodly2 that a door of faith has been  
opened to the  ,gentiles1 and repentance
 unto life granted to such2 taking our  
warrant  and encouragement from ,god    
alone1 with our hands lifted up toward  
him3--do swear by his great and fearful 
name as the ,lord our ,god1  that--     
,i4 ,we accept ,god in ,christ for      
ourselves and our children as offered to
  us in the gospel1 to be our           
everlasting portion2 and we joyfully    
surrender ourselves and our all to him  
as his rightful and exclusive  property4
 ,we cordially approve the ,covenant of 
,grace1 and embrace it as  all our      
salvation and all our desire4 ,dead to  
the law as a covenant of  works1 we     
cheerfully receive it from ,christ's    
hand as our perfect rule  of life1 to   
direct our personal and social conduct4 
,aiming to glorify  ,god as our chief   
end1 and to do good unto all men as we  

have  opportunity--especially to the    
household of faith--we promise in the   
strength of divine grace to search the  
,scriptures1 conforming heart and  life 
to this standard1 in constant opposition
 to the course of this  world1          
exemplifying godliness and honesty      
before men all our days4    ,,ii4 ,set  
for the defence of the gospel1 and under
 manifold obligations to  contend       
earnestly for the faith which was once  
delivered to the saints1  we acknowledge
 the ,scriptures of the ,old and new    
,testament to be the  ,word of ,god and 
the alone infallible rule of faith and  
manners1  rejecting any and all         
additions or subtractions1 false        
translations1  perverting or wresting   
them to men's destruction4    ,we own   
also1 as subordinate standards of faith 
and practice of doctrine  and order1 the
 ,national ,covenant and ,solemn        
,league3 as also the  ,westminster      
formularies1 well known by their        
names--viz41 the ,confession  of ,faith1

 the ,larger and ,shorter ,catechisms1  
,form of ,church ,government1  and      
,directory of ,public ,worship2 as these
 were received respectively by  the     
,church of ,scotland in the years #afde1
 '#dg1 and '#dh1 not merely as          
,doctrinal ,standards1 but as symbols1  
all of them1 of ,christian  practice    
also1 and as a part of the uniformity   
sworn to in the ,solemn  ,league4 ,we   
adhere to the ,renovation of the        
,national ,covenants at  ,auchensaugh1  
#agab1 as comprising the same grand     
,scriptural principles  with the        
original deeds1 and preserving the      
identity of the moral  person1 which    
became more visible in #agfa by a       
,judicial ,testimony1  re-exhibited in  
#aheh and #ahgf4    ,we repudiate the   
,renovation at ,dervock1 #ahec1 as being
 inadequate1  defective1 and            
unfaithful--part of the document couched
 in abstract1  evasive1 and equivocal   
language4 ,also1 we condemn and reject  
the  ,pittsburgh ,bond1 as ambiguous1   

self-contradictory and treacherous--a   
snare on ,mizpah4 ,we abjure and testify
 against ,popery1 as delineated by  our 
ancestors in the ,national ,covenant1   
together with the fictitious  dogma of  
the ,immaculate ,conception1 and the    
blasphemous assumption by  the ,pope of 
,jehovah's incommunicable prerogative of
 ,infallibility4 ,in  like manner we    
reject ,prelacy1 whether ,erastian or   
,diocesan1 as abjured  in the ,national 
,covenant and more explicitly in the    
,solemn ,league2 while  in pity for the 
persons involved in these despotic      
systems1 we will pray  and labor for the
 extirpation of these poisonous plants1 
and the  emancipation of their deluded  
admirers4 ,we condemn and disown all    
existing systems which involve the      
infidel element called ,voluntaryism1   
representing the divine ordinances of   
,church and ,state as mutually  inimical
 or in any way antagonistic1 thus       
impeaching the wisdom of the  ,almighty4
    ,,iii4 ,believing that the ,son of  

,god has been1 as ,mediator appointed   
heir  of all things1 and invested with  
universal dominion2 that he reigns and  
must reign till all his impenitent      
enemies be put under his feet3 we       
pledge ourselves in reliance on divine  
grace to continue our advocacy of  his  
claims upon the homage and willing      
obedience of individual and  social man1
 in the family1 the church and the civil
 commonwealth4 ,we  will maintain and   
urge his exclusive right to prescribe   
the faith and  order of the church by   
his royal authority4 ,we promise to     
inculcate and  exemplify ,presbyterian  
,church ,government as alone of divine  
right and  unalterable4    ,believing1  
moreover1 that civil government1        
originating in the will of  ,god as     
,creator1 has been placed by the ,father
 under the authority of the  ,mediator1 
and that the principal objects to be    
promoted by this divine  ordinance are  
the glory of its ,author1 the welfare of
 mankind1 and the  prosperity of the    

church2 we engage to endeavor the       
reformation of the  nations by          
testifying against all neglect or       
contempt of ,messiah's  claims1 or      
impious invasion of his rights by either
 rulers or subjects4  ,in joyful        
anticipation of the universal reign of  
righteousness and peace  on the earth1  
we will labor and pray for a gospel     
ministry and a  ,scriptural magistracy2 
testifying against all corruptions of   
these or  substitutes for them4         
,persuaded of the adaptation and        
sufficiency of  divine ordinances to    
effect reformation1 we will refuse to   
identify or  incorporate with any       
substitutes for these1 or to co-operate 
with  voluntary associations for moral  
reform1 whether secret and sworn1 or    
open and pledged1 as these imply want of
 faith in divine ordinances1 and  in the
 wisdom and beneficence of our covenant 
,god4    ,,iv4 ,believing that the      
,christian ,church is one by her divine 
constitution1 and lamenting existing    

divisions among the children of  ,god2  
recognizing the obligation upon us to   
love the brotherhood1 we will  endeavor 
to cultivate charity in private         
intercourse towards all who  reflect the
 divine image2 and help to elevate them 
to the platform of  the ,covenanted     
,reformation as our only recognized bond
 of organic and  ministerial            
church-fellowship4 ,nor will we1 in     
reliance upon the  promised and         
continued supplies of the ,spirit of    
,jesus ,christ1 permit  ourselves to be 
divided from this our covenanted unity  
and uniformity by  the promises1        
threats1 or solicitations of surrounding
 communities4  ,through divine grace we 
will endeavor1 by practical             
manifestation of the  truth1 to commend 
ourselves to every man's conscience in  
the sight of  ,god1 as the most         
effectual means of healing ,zion's      
breaches1 that are  great like the sea4 
,v4 ,having learned from ,god's ,word   
that all who live godly in ,christ      

,jesus shall suffer persecution1 in     
their character1 in their substance1  or
 in their persons2 and knowing from the 
recorded history of those who  nobly    
stood to their covenant that they were  
subjected to all these  kinds of        
suffering2 and since our ,sovereign     
,lord in his holy providence  for the   
trial of the patience and faith of his  
saints permits ,antichrist  to practice 
and prosper1 the kings of the earth     
still giving their  strength unto the   
beast3 we therefore1 anticipating like  
treatment from  an opposing world       
wherever we may sojourn1 resolve in his 
strength to  follow the ,lamb1          
whithersoever he goeth1 as our leader1  
endeavoring so  to diffuse the sweet    
savor of his name1 that in due time and 
in every  land men shall be blessed in  
him1 and all nations shall call him     
blessed4    ,,vi4 ,finally1 this solemn 
renewal of our federal obligations we   
confirm  by oath in the presence of the 
omniscient ,god1 who searcheth our      

hearts1  uninfluenced by any selfish1   
worldly1 politic1 or carnal motives or  
ends2 but singly with a view to the     
glory of ,god and the temporal and      
eternal welfare of our fellow-men2      
beseeching our ,father in heaven for    
,christ's sake so to furnish us with the
 gifts and graces of his ,holy  ,spirit1
 that we may prove faithful unto death1 
and joyfully welcome1 the  glorious     
appearing of our final and chosen       
,judge4    ,and in testimony of our     
desires1 and assurance to be heard1 we  
say--,amen4