A Great and solemn work (honourable and Reverend) this day is put into our hands let us stir up and awaken our hearts unto it. Wee deal with God as well as with men, and with God in his greatnesse and excellency, for by him wee swear, and at the same time we have to do with God and his goodnesse, who now reacheth out unto us a strong and seasonable arme of assistance. The goodnesse of God procuring succour and help to a sinfull and afflicted people, (such are we) ought to bee matter of fear and trembling even to all that hear of it, Ier. 33. 9. We are to exalt and acknow­ledge him this day who is fearfull in praises, sweare by that Name which is Holy and Reverent, enter in­to a Covenant and League that is never to be forgotten by us nor our posterity, and the fruit I hope of it shall be so great, as both we and they shall have cause to re­member it with joy; and such in Oath as for matter, persons, and other circumstances; the like hath not been in any age or Oath we read of in sacred or humane Sto­ries, yet sufficiently warranted in both.

[Page] The parties ingaging in this league are three King­domes, famous for the knowledge, & acknowledgment of Christ above all the kingdomes in the world; to swear before such a presence, should mould the spirit of man into a great deal of reverence; what then to be engaged, to be incorporated, and that by sacred Oath, with such an high and honourable Fraternity? An Oath is to be esteemed so much the more solemne, by how much greater the persons are that sweare each to other: as in heaven when God sweares to his Son, on earth when Kings swear each to other, so in this businesse, where Kingdomes sweare mutually.

And as the solemnity of an Oath is to bee measured by the persons swearing, so by the matter also that is to be sworn to; God would not swear to the Covenant of works, hee intended not to honour it so much, it was not to continue, it was not worthy of an Oath of his: but to the Covenant of grace, which is the Gospell, he swears and repents not of it. God swears for the salvati­on of men, and of Kingdomes: And if Kingdomes swear what Subject of an Oath becommeth them better then the preservation and salvation of Kingdomes, by esta­blishing the kingdome of a Saviour amongst them, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is a Mediator and Saviour for Nations as well as particular persons? The end also is great and honourable, as either of the former two is better then one, saith he who best knoweth what is best; and from whom alone every thing hath the goodnesse it hath. Association is of divine Off­spring, not only the beginning of Creatures, but the put­ting of them together: the cluster as well as the grape is the work of God: consort and harmony amongst men, especially amongst saints, is very pleasing unto the Lord If when but two or three agree & assent upon any thing [Page] on earth, It shall be confirmed in heaven: and for this, because they gather together in his name, much more when two or three Kingdomes shall meet and consent together in his name and for his name, that God may bee one, and his name one amongst them, and his pre­sence amidst them. That prayer of Christ seemeth to proceed from a feeling sense of his own blessednesse: Father, that they may be one, as thou in me, &c. Unity amongst his Churches and children must needs there­fore be very acceptable unto him: For out of the more deep sense desires are fetcht from within us, the more pleasing will be the answer of them unto us, Churches and Kingdomes are dear to God, his patience towards them, his compassion over them, more then particu­lar persons, sheweth it plainly. But Kingdomes willing­ly engaging themselves for his Kingdome, his Christ, his Saints, the purity of religion, his worship, and Go­vernment, in all particulars▪ and in all humility sitting down at his feet to receive the law and the rule from his mouth, what a price doth hee set upon such? Espe­cially when (as we this day) sensible of our infirmity, of an unfaithfull heart not, steddy with our God, but apt to start from the cause, if we feel the knife or the fire: who binde our selves with cords, as a sacrifice to the hornes of the Altar. We invocate the name of the great God, that his vowes, yea his curse may bee upon us, if we do not this, yea though we suffer for so doing that is, if we endeavour not so farre as the Lord shall assist us by his grace, to advance the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ here upon earth, and make Jerusa­lem once more the praise of the whole world, not with­standing all the contradictions of men.

What is this but the contents and matter of our Oath? What doe we covenant? What do we vow? Is [Page] it not the preservation of Religion, where it is reformed and the Reformation of Religion, where it needs? Is it not the Reformation of three Kingdomes, and a Re­formation universall, Doctrine, Discipline, and Wor­ship▪ in whatsoever the Word shall discover unto us? To practise, is a fruit of love; to reforme, a fruit of zeale; but so to reforme, will bee a taken of great prudence, and circumspection in each of these Churches. And all this to be done according to Gods Word, the best rule, and according to the best reformed Churches, the best interpreters of this Rule. If England hath obtained to any greater perfection in so handling the word of righ­teousnesse, and truths, that are according to godlinesse as to make men more godly, more righteous: And if in the Churches of Scotland any more light and beauty in matters of Order and Discipline, by which their Assemblies are more orderly: or if to any other Church or person it hath been given better to have learned Christ in any of his wayes then any of us; wee shall humbly bow, and kisse their lips that can speak right words unto us in this matter, and help us into the nearest uniformity with the word and minde of Christ in this great work of Reformation.

Honourable and Reverend Brethren, there cannot be a more direct & effectuall way to exhort and perswade the wise, and men of sad and serious spirits (and such are you to whom I am commanded to speak this day) then to let into their understandings the weight, and worth, and great importance of the work they are per­swaded unto. This oath is such, and in the matter and consequence of it, of such concernment, as I can truly say, it is worthy of us, yea of all these Kingdomes, yea of all the Kingdomes of the world, for it is swearing fealty and allegeance unto Christ the King of Kings▪ [Page] and a giving up of all these Kingdomes, which are his inheritance, to be subdued more to his thron, and ruled, more by his Scepter, upon whose shoulders the govern­ment is laid, and in the increase of whose Government and peace there shall be no end, Esay 9. Yea, we finde this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it, to have been the Oath of the greatest Angel that ever was, who setting his feet upon two of Gods Kingdomes, the one upon the Sea, the other upon the Earth, lifting up his hand to heaven, as you are to doe this day, and so swearing, Rev. 10 The effect of that oath you shall finde to be this, that the Kingdomes of the world become the Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ, and hee shall reigne for ever. Rev. 11, His Oath was for the full and finall accomplishment, this of yours for a graduall, yet▪ a great performance towards it.

That which the apostles and primitive times did so much and so long pray for, though never long with much quietnesse enjoyed, that which our Fathers in these latter times have fasted, prayed and mourned af­ter, yet attained not; even the cause which many dear Saints now with God, have furthered by extreamest sufferings, poverty, imprisonment, banishment, death, ever since the first dawning of Reformation: That and the very same is the very cause and work that wee are come now, through the mercy of Jesus Christ, not only to pray for, but swear to. And surely it can be no other, but the result and answer of such prayers and teares of such sincerity & sufferings, that three Kingdomes should be thus born, or rather new born in a day; that these Kingdomes should be wrought about to so great an en­gagement, then which nothing is higher, for to this end Kings raigne, Kingdomes stand, and States are upheld.

It is a speciall grace and favour of God unto you [Page] Brethren, Reverend and Honourable, to vouchsafe you the opportunity, and to put into your hearts (as this day) to engage your lives and estates in matters so much concerning him and his glory. And if thou should doe no more but lay a foundation stone in this great work, and by so doing engage posterity after you to finish it, it were honour enough: But there may yet further use be made of you, who now are to take this oath, you are designed as chief master Builders and choice instruments for the effecting of this setled Peace and Reformation; which if the Lord shall please to finish in your hands, a greater happinesse on earth, nor a greater means to aug­ment your glory and crown in heaven, you are not ca­pable of. And this let me further adde for your encou­ragement of what extensive good and fruit in the suc­cesse of it, this very oath may prove to be, we know not. God hath set his Covenant like the Heavens, not onely for duration, but like also for extension: The Heavens move and roule about, and so communicate their light, and heat, and vertue, to all places and parts of the earth; so doth the Covenant of God, so may this gift bee given to other Covenants that are framed to that pattern. How much this solemne League and oath may provoke other reformed Churches to a further Refor­mation of themselves; what light and heat it may com­municate abroad to other parts of the world, it is only in Him to define to whom is given the utmost ends of the earth for his inheritance, and worketh by his exceeding great power great things out of as small beginnings.

But howsoever, this I am sure of, it is a way in all probability most likely to enable us to preserve & defend our religion against our common enemies, and possible a more sure fundation this day will be laid for ruining Popery [Page] and Prelacy, the chief of them, then as yet we have been led unto in any age.

For Popery, it hath been a Religion ever dexterous in fencing and muniting it self by association and joynt strength, all sorts of Professors amongst them are cast into Fraternities and Brother hoods, and these Orders carefully united by Vow one with another and under some more generall notion of common dependancie. Such States also & Kingdomes as they have thus made theirs; they endeavour to improve and secure by strict combinations and leagues each to other, witnesse of late yeares that La Sainte ligue, the holy league. It will not bee unworthy your consideration, whether seeing the preservation of Popery hath been by Lea­gues and Covenants, God may not make a League or Covenant to be the destruction of it: Nay the very rise of Popery seemeth to bee after such a manner by Kings, that is, Kingdomes assenting and agreeing per­haps by some joynt Covenant (the text saith with one minde, why not then with one mouth) to give their po­wer and strength unto the Beast, and make war against the Lamb. Rev. 17. where you read the Lamb shall o­vercome the Beast, and possibly with the same wea­pons, hee is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, hee can unite Kings and Kingdoms, and give them one minde also to destroy the Whore and bee her utter ruine, And may not this dayes work be a happy beginning of such a blessed expedition?

Prelacie another common enemy, that we Covenant and swear against, what hath it been, or what hath the strength of it been, but a subtile combination of Cler­gy men formed into a policy or body of their own in­vention, framing themselves into Subordination and Dependencie one upon another; so that the interest of [Page] each is improved by all, & a great power by this means acquired to themselves, as by sad experience we have lately found: The joynts and members of this body, you know were knit together by the sacred engagement of an Oath, the Oath of Canonicall obedience as they cal­led it: You remember also with what cunning and indu­strie they endeavoured lately to make this Oath and Covenant more sure for themselves and their posterity. And intended a more publike, solemn and universal en­gagement, then since Popery this cause of theirs was ever maintained or supported by. And questionlesse, Ireland and Scotland also must at last have been brought into this holy league with England. But blessed be the Lord, and blessed be his good hand the Parliament, that from the indignation of their spirits against so horrid a yoke, have dashed out the very brains of this project, and are now this day present before the Lord to take and give possession of this blessed Ordinance, even an Oath and Covenant as solemne and of as large extent as they intended theirs; uniting these three Kingdoms into such a League and happy combination, as will doubt­lesse preserve us and our Reformation against them, though their iniquity in the misteries of it should still be working amongst us. Come therefore (I speak in the words of the Prophet) let us joyne our selves to the Lord, and one to another, and each to all, in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten.

We are now entring upon a work of the greatest mo­ment and concernement, to us, and to our posterity after us, that ever was undertaken by any of us, or any of our. Forefathers before us, or neighbouring Nations about us; if the Lord shall blesse this our beginning, it will bee a happie day, and we shall be a happy people. An Oath is a duty of the first commandment, and therfore [Page] of the highest and noblest order and rank of duties, therefore must come foorth attended with choycest graces, especially with these two, humility, and fear. Fear, not onely of God, which ought to bee in an emi­nent measure, Gen. 31. 53. Iacob swear by the feare of his father Isaac, as if hee coveted to inherit his fathers grace, as well as his fathers God: But also feare of an Oath, it being a dreadfull duty, and hath this peculiar, it is established by the Oath of God, I have sworne that unto mee every tongue shall sweare, Isa 45. 23. It is made the very Character of a Saint, hee feares an Oath Eccles. 9. 2.

Humility is another grace requisite, set your hearts before God in an humble obedient frame; Deut. 6. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and sweare by his Name. The Apostle Paul was sensible of this en­gagement, even in the very act of this duetie, Rom 1. 9, I call God to witnesse whom I serve in my spirit; Although it be a work of the lips, yet the heart and the whole man must be interessed if we expect this worship to be acce­ptable, Psal. 119 108. Accept the free will offering of my mouth, and teach me thy judgements.

Also it must bee done in the greatest simplicity and plainnesse of spirit, in respect of those with whom wee Covenant. We call God as a witnesse betwixt us who searcheth the heart: With him is wisedome and strength, the deceived & deceiver is his, Iob 12. 19. He hath wise­dome to discover, and strength to punish, if our hearts be not upright to our Brethren in this matter. Let us be contented with this, that the words of our Covenant be bands, it may not be so much as in the desire of our harts that they should become snares, no not to the weakest and simplest person that joyneth with us. In the whole work make your addresse unto God, as Iacob did to his [Page] [...] there bee the like fear and jealousie over: your spirits, Gen. 27. 12. My Father peradven­ture will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

I take liberty with more earnestnesse to presse this care upon you, because I have observed Oaths and Cove­nants have been undertaken by us formerly, and by the command of authority, the fruit whereof, though great yet not answered our expectation; the Lord surely hath been displeased with the slightnesse of our hearts in the work. I beseech you bee more watchfull, and stirre up your hearts with more industry this day then ever before: As it is the last Oath you are likely to take in this kinde, so it is our last refuge, tabula post naufra­gium. If this help not, wee are likely to remaine to our dying day an unhappy people, but if otherwise, You will indeed sweare with all your hearts, and seek the Lord with your whole desire, God will bee found, and give you rest round about, 2 Chor. 15, 15.

And having sworn, and entred into this solemne en­gagement to God and man, make conscience to doe ac­cordingly, otherwise it is better thou shouldest not vow Ecclesiast. 5. As it is said of fasting, it is not the bowing down of the head for a day, so of this solemne swearing it is not the lifting up of the hand for a day, but an honest and faithfull endeavouring after the contents of this Covenant all our dayes, A truce breaker is reckoned up amongst the vilest of Christians, 2. Tim. 3. 3. so a Covenant-breaker is listed amongst the worst of Hea­thens, Rom. 1. 31, But hee that sweareth and changeth not, though he swear to his hurt, that is, he that wil keep his Covenant and Oath though the contents of it prove not for him, nay possibly against him, yet hee will keep it for his Oaths sake, such a one shall have his habitation with the most High, and dwell in his Tabernacle, Psal. 15. [Page] And as for you, Reverend Brethren, that are Ministers of the Gospel, there is yet another obligation will lie upon you, let us look to our selves, and make provision to walk answerable to this our Covenant for the Gos­pels sake; it will reflect a great aspertion upon the truth of the Gospel, if wee should bee false or unconstant in any word or purpose, though in a matter of lesse con­sequence, as you can easily collect from that apology of Paul 2 Cor. 1 17, 18. how much more in such a case as this is, if we should bee found to purpose, nay more, to vow, and covenant, and swear, and all this, according unto the flesh, and with us there should be, notwithstanding all these obligations, yea, yea, and nay, nay?

That we may all who take the Covenant this day, he constant, immoveable, and abound in this work of the Lord, that we may not start aside, or give back, or goe on uncomfortably, there is a twofold grace or qualifi­cation to bee laboured after.

1 Wee must get courage, spirits that are bold and resolute. It is said in Haggai, that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel Governour of Iudah, and the spirit of Ioshua the High Priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came, and did work in the house of the Lord, the vvork of Gods house: Reformation-work especially, is a stirring work; read Stories, you finde not any where Reformation made in any age, either in Doctrine or Discipline, without great stirre and oppo­sition. This was foretold by the same Prophet. Chap. 2. vers. 7. the promise is, Hee will fill his house with glory but what goeth before, vers 6, Yet once it is a little while and I will shake the Heavens, and the Earth, and the Sea, and the dry land that is, all Nations, as in the words fol­lowing, This place is applyed Heb 12, to the removing Jewish Rites, the moveables of Gods house. The like [Page] you [...] in the Apostles times, Acts 17, the truth bei [...] preached, some beleeved, others did not; here beginnet [...] the stirre, vers. 6. those that beleeved not. tooke unt [...] themselves certaine lewd fellows of the baser sort, and ga­thered a company, and set all the City in an uproare: and vvhen they had done so, complained of the brethren to the Rulers, as men that turn the world upside down, ver. 6 Read also Acts 21. 27, 30. 31. In such a work therefore men had need bee of stout, resolute, and composed spi­rits, that vve may bee able to goe on in the maine, and stirre in the middest of such stirres, and not bee amazed at any such doings. It may possibly happen, that even amongst your selves there vvill bee out cryes, Sir, you vvill undo all, saith one, you vvill put all into confusion saith another, if you take this course, saith a third, vve can expect nothing but bloud: but a vvise States-man, like an experienced Sea-man, knovveth the compasse of his vessel, and though it heave and tosse, and the passen­gers cry out about him, yet in the middest of all hee is himself, turneth not aside from his work, but steereth on his course. I beseech you let it be seriously considered, if you meane to doe any such work in the house of God as this is; if you meane to pluck up what many yeares agoe was planted, or to build up what so long agoe was pulled downe, and to goe thorough with this work, and not bee discouraged, you most begge of the Lord this excellent spirit, this resolute stirring spirit, otherwise you will bee out spirited, and both you and your cause slighted and dishonoured.

2 On the other hand wee must labour for humility, prudence, gentlenesse, meeknesse. A man may bee very zealous and resolute, and yet very meek and mercifull: Jesus Christ was a Lyon, and yet a Lambe also; in one place hee telleth them hee commeth to send fire on the [Page] earth: and in another place rebuketh his Disciples for their fiery spirits, Luk. 9. 54: There was the like com­position in Moses, and in Paul, and it is of great use, espe­cially in this worke of Reformation. I have not obser­ved any disputes carried on with more bitternesse in mens writings, and with a more unsanctified heat of spi­rit, yea and by godly men too, then in contraversies a­bout discipline, Church Government, Ceremonies, and the like. Surely to argue about Government with such ungoverned passions, to argue for Reformation with a spirit so unreformed, is very uncomely Let us be zealous, as Christ was, to cast out all, to extirpate and root out every plant his heavenly Father hath not planted; and yet let us doe it in an orderly way, and with the spirit of Christ, whose servants we are, The ser­vant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meeknesse instructing those that op­pose, 2 Tim. 2. 24 25. We solemnly engage this day our utmost endeavours for Reformation; let us remember this, that too much heat, as well as too much coldness, may harden men in their wayes, and hinder Refor­mation.

Brethren, let us come to this blessed work, with such a frame of heart, with such a minde for the present, with such resolutions for the time to come; let us not bee wanting to the opportunity God hath put into our hands this day; and then I can promise you, as the Pro­phet, Consider this day and upwards, even from this day, that the foundation of the Lords work is laid. Consider it, from this day will I blesse you, saith the Lord. Nay, we have received as it were the first fruits of this promise, for as it is said of some mens good works they are manifest beforehand, 1 Tim. 5. Even so may be said of the good work of this day, it is manifest before hand, God [Page] hath as it were before hand testified his acceptance; while wee were thinking and purposing this free will Offering, he was protecting and defending our Armie, causing our enemies the enemies of this work to flie before us, and gave us a victory, not to be despised, sure­ly this Oath and Covenant shall be Iudahs joy, the joy and comfort of this whole Kingdome, yea, of all three Kingdomes.

Jesus Christ King of the Saints govern us by his Spi­rit, strengthen us by his power, undertake for us accor­ding as he hath sworn, even the Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham, that hee would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse be­fore him all the dayes of our life, Luke 1. Grant unto us also, that when this life is finished, and wee gathered to our Fathers, there may be a generation out of our loynes to stand up in this cause, that his great and reve­rent Name may be exalted from one generation to an­other, untill hee himself shall come, and perfect all with his own hand by his own wisedome: even so come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.

ALthough the time bee farre spent, yet am I bold (Honourable, Reverend, and be­loved in the Lord) to crave your pati­ence a little; it were both sin and shame to us in this so acceptable a time, in this day, which the Lord hath made, to bee silent and to say nothing: If we should hold our peace, wee could neither be answerable to God, whose cause and worke is in hand; nor of this Church and Kingdome, unto which we have made so large profession of duty, & ow much more; nor to our Native Kingdome, so abundant in affection toward you; nor to our own heart, which exceedingly rejoyce to see this day: We have greater reason then the leprous men sitting in a time of great ex­tremitie at the gate of Samaria, to say one to another, We do not well, this day is a day of good tydings, and we hold our peace? it is true, the Syrians are not yet sted; but our hope is through God, that the worke be­gun this day, being sincerely performed and faithfully pursued, shall put to flight, not onely the Syreans and Ba­bylonians, but all other enemies of the Church of God, of the Kings honour, and of our liberty and peace.

[Page] For it is acceptable to God and well pleasing in his sight, when his people come willingly in the day of his power (and how shall they not be willing in the day of his power?) to enter a religious Covenant, with him and amongst themselves whatsoever be the condition of the people of God, whether in sorrow and humilia­tion before deliverance, or in rejoycing & thanksgiving after deliverance? this is it, which the Lord waits for at their hands, which they have been used to performe, and with which hee hath been so well pleased, that it hath been the fountaine of many deliverances and blessings unto them. When a people beginneth to forget God, he lifteth up his hand against them and smitteth them: And when his people, humbled before him, lift up their hands not only in supplication, but in covenant before the most high God, he is pleased (such is his mercy and wonder­full compassion) first, to lift his hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God, as we have it three times in two verses of the 20. of Ezekiel, and next he stretcheth out his hand against his enemies and thers. It is the best work of Faith, to joyn in Covenant with God, the best work of love and Christian Communion to joyn in Co­venant with the people of God; the best work of the best zeal, to joyn in Covenant for Reformation, against the enemies of God and Religion; the best work of true loy­altie, to joyn in Covenant for the preservation of our King and Superiours; and the best proof of naturall affe­ction (and to be without naturall affection, is one of the great sinnes of the Gentiles) to joyn in Covenant for de­fence of our Native Countrey, Liberties, and Lawes; Such as for these necessary ends to withdraw and are not willing to enter into Covenant, have reason to enter into their own hearts and to look into their Faith, love. zeal, loyalty, and naturall affection.

[Page] As it is acceptable to God, so have we for it the pre­cedent and example, not onely of the people of God of old, of the Reformed Churches of Germany, and the Low Countreyes; but of our owne Noble and Christian Progenitors in the time of the danger of Religion, which is expressed in the Covenant it self. The defect was; They went not on throughly to enter in a solemne Covenant; an happinesse reserved for this time; which had they done, the corruptions and calamities of these dayes might have been prevented: And if the Lord shal bee pleased to move, loose, and enlarge the hearts of his people in his Majesties Dominions to take this Cove­nant, not in simulation, nor in luke warmnesse, as those that are almost perswaded to bee Christians, but as be­commeth the people of God, it shall bee the prevention of many evils and miseries, and a meane of many and rich blessings, spirituall and temporall, to our selves, our little ones, and the Posterity that shall come after us for many Generations.

The neere and neighbouring example of the Church and Kingdome of Scotland, is in this case worthy of our best observation: When the Prelates there, were grown by their rents, and Lordly Dignities, by their ex­orbitant power over all sorts of his Majesties subjects, Ministers and others, by their places in Parliament, Councel, Colledge of Justice, Exchequer, and High Commission, to a monstrous dominion and greatnesse, and like Gyants, setting their one foot on the neck of the Church, and the other on the neck of the State, were become intolerable insolent; and when the peo­ple of God through their oppression in Religion, Liber­ties and Lawes, and what was dearest unto them, were brought so low, that they chused rather to die, then to live in such slavery, or to live in any other place, rather [Page] then in their own native Countrey; Then did the Lord say, I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, and I have heard their groaning, and am come downe to deli­ver them. The beginnings were small, and contemptible in the eyes of the presumptuous enemies, such as use to be the beginnings of the greatest works of God; but were so seconded and continually followed by the un­deniable evidences of Divine Providence, leading them forward from one step to another, that their Mountain became strong in the end. No tongue can tell what mo­tions filled the hearts, what teares were poured forth from the eyes, and what cryes came from the mouthes of many thousands in that Land, when they found an unwonted flame warming their breastes, and perceived the power of God raising them from the dead, and crea­ting for them a new world wherein should dwell Reli­gion and Righteousnes. When they were destitute both of moneys and munition, which next unto the spirits and armes of men, are the sinews of Warre, the Lord brought them forth out of his hid treasures; which was wonderfull in their eyes, and matter of astonishment to their hearts: When they were many times at a pause in their deliberations, and brought to such perplexity, that they knew not what to chuse or to do, for prosecu­ting the work of God, onely their eyes were toward him▪ not onely the feares and furies, but the plots also and policies of the Adversaries, opened the way unto them, their devices were turned upon their own heads and served for the promoting of the work of God. The purity of their intentions elevated above base and earthly respects, and the constant peace of their hearts in the midst of many dangers, did bear them out against the malicious accusations and aspersions put upon their actions; all which were sensible impressions of the good [Page] providence o [...] God, and [...]eg [...]e characters of his work▪ which as the Church and Kingdom of England exerci­sed at this time with greater difficulties then theirs have in part already found, so shall the Parallel be perfected to their greater comfort in the faithful pursuing of the work unto the end.

Necessity, which hath in it a kind of Soveraignty, & is a Law above all Laws, and therfore is said to have no Law, doth mightily presse the Church and Kingdom of Scotland at this time: It is no small comfort unto them that they have not beene idle and at ease, but have used all good and lawfull means of Supplications, Declara­tions and Remonstrances to his Majestie, for quenching the combustion in this Kingdome: And after all these, that they sent Commissioners to his Majestie, humblie to mediate for a reconcilement and Pacification; But the offer of their humble service was rejected, from no o­ther reason, but that they had no warrant nor capacity for such a Mediation; And that the intermixture of the Government of the Church of England with the Civill government of the kingdom, was such a mistery as could not be understood by them. Althoug it be true, which was at that time often replyed, that the eighth demand of the Treatie, and the answer given thereunto concern­ing the Uniformity of Religion, was a sufficient ground of capacity; and the proceedings of the Houses of Par­liament against Episcopal Government, as a stumbling block hindering Reformation, and as a prejudice to the Civil State, was ground enough for their information The Commissioners having returned from his Majestie without successe, and the miseries of Ireland, the distres­ses of England, and the dangers and pressures of the kingdom of Scotland, growing to greater extremity; such as were intrusted with the publick affairs of the King­dome [Page] [...] according to the practise of former times (his Majesty having denyed a Parliament) to call a Convention of the Estates for considering of the present affairs, and for providing the best remedies: which immediatly upon their meeting by the speciall providence of God, did receive information of diverse treacherous attempts of Papists in all the three King­domes, as if they had been called for that effect; And by the same providence, Commissioners were sent from both Houses of Parliament to consider with the Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland, of such Articles and Pro­positions as might make the conjunction betwixt the two Nations more beneficiall and effectuall for the se­curing of Religion and Libertie against Papists and Pre­lates with their adherents. Their Consultations with the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, did in the end bring forth a Covenant, as the onely meane af­ter all other have been assayed, for the deliverance of England and Ireland out of the deeps of affliction, pre­servation of the Church and Kingdome of Scotland from the extremity of miserie, and the safety of our Native King and Kingdomes from destruction and de­solation. This is the manifold necessity which Na­ture, Religion, Loyaltie, and Love hath laid upon them.

Nor is it unknown in this Honourable Reverend and wise Audience, what errours and heresies in doctrine; what Superstition and idolatrie in Worshippe, what Usurpation and Tyrannie in Government, what cruelty against the soules and bodies of the saints have been set on foot, exercised, and executed for many Generations, and now of late by the Romane Church; all which we hope through the blessing of God upon this work, shal be brought to an end. Had the Pope at Rome the know­ledge [Page] of what is doing this day in England, and were this Covenant written on the Plaster of the wall over against him, where he sitteth Belshazzar-like in his sacra­legious pomp, it would make his heart to tremble, his countenance to change, his head and Miter to shake, his joynts to loose, and all his Cardinals and Prelates to be astonished.

When the Reformed Churches, which by their Let­ters have been exciting us to Christian Communion and Sympathie in this time of the danger of Religion and distresse of the Godly, shall heare of this blessed con­junction for uniformity in Religion according to the word of God and the defence thereof; it shall quicken their hearts against the heavinesse of oppressing sorrows and feare; and be no other than a beginning of a Jubilee and joyfull deliverance unto them, from the Antichri­stian yoke and tyrannie.

Upon these and the like considerations wee are verie confident, that the Church and Kingdome of Scotland will most chearfully joyne in this Covenant, at the first motion whereof, their bowels were moved within them? And to give testimony of this our confidence, we who are Commissioners from the Generall Assem­bly, although we have no particular and expresse Com­mission for that end, not from want of willingnesse, but of foresight) offer to joyn our hearts and hands unto it, being assured that the Lord in his own time wil against all opposition even against the gates of Hell, crown it with a blessing from Heaven. The word of God is for it, as you have been now resolved by the consent and testimonie of a Reverend Assembly of so many godly, learned, and great Divines. In your own sense and ex­perience you will find, that although while you are as­saulted or exercised with worldly cares and fears, your [Page] [...] other times, when upon seeking of God in private or publike, as in the evening of a wel spent Sabbath; or day of Fast and Humiliation your disposition is more spiri­tual, and leaving the world behind you▪ you have found accesse unto God through Jesus Christ, the bent and in­clinations of your hearts will be strongest to go throgh with this work▪ It is a good testimony that our designes and wayes are agreeable to the will of God, if we affect them most when our hearts are furthest from the world and our temper is most spirituall and heavenly, and least carnall and earthly. As the Word of God, so the pray­ers of the people of God in all the Reformed Churches are for us, and on our side: It were more terrible then an Army to hear that there were any fervent supplications to God against us; blasphemies, curses, and horrid im­precations there be, proceeding from another spirit, and that is all. That Divine Providence also which hath maintained this Cause, and supported his Servants in a marvellous manner unto this day, and which this time past hath kept things in an equall ballance and vicissitud of successe, will we trust from this day-forth, through the weight of this Covenant, cast the ballance and make Religion and Righteousnesse to prevail, to the glory of God, the honour of our King, the confusion of our common enemies, and the comfort and safety of the people of God: Which he grant, who is able to doe a­bove any thing that we can ask or think.