ENGLAND AND SCOTLANDS COVENANT VVith their God;
VIZ.
- In The Protestation,
- In The Vow and Covenant,
- In The League and Covenant for Reformation and preservation of Religion, the Honour and Happinesse of the King, and the Peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament, that these Covenants be printed and published.
Printed for Edw. Husbands, and are to be sold at his Shop in the middle Temple. 1643
IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons now asse [...]bled in Parliament, That the Preamble, together with the Protestation which the Members of this House made the third day of May, shall be forthwith Printed, and the Copies Printed brought to the Clerk of the said House to attest under his hand, to the end that the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses may send them down to the Sheriffes and Iustices of Peace of the severall Shires, and to the Citizens and Burgesses of the severall Cities, Boroughes and Cinque Ports respectively. And the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, are to intimate unto the Shires, Cities, Boroughs and Cinque Ports, with that willingnesse all the members of this House made this Protestation: And further to signifie, that as they justifie the taking of it in themselves, so they cannot but approve it in all such as shall take it.
VVE the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses in the Commons House of Parliament, finding to the great griefe of our hearts that the designes of the Priests and Iesuits, and other adherents to the See of Rome, have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly, to the undermining and danger of the ruine of the true reformed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established: And finding also that there have beene, and having just cause to suspect that there still are, even during the sitting in Parliament, endeavours to subvert the fundamentall Laws of England and Ireland, and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government, by most pernicious and wicked Counsels, Practices, Plots and Conspiracies: And that the long inter [...]ission, and unhappy breach of Parliam [...]ents, hath occasioned many i [...]le all Taxations, whereupon the Subject hath been prosecuted and grieved. And that divers Innovations and [Page 3] Superstitions have been brought into the Church, multitudes driven out of his Majesties Dominions; jealousies raised and fomented betwixt the King and his people; a Popish army levied in Ireland, and two Armies brought into the bowels of this Kingdome, to the hazard of his Majesties-Royal Person, the consumption of the Revenues of the Crown and Treasure of this Kingdome? And lastly finding great cause of jealousie, that endeavours have been, and are used to bring the English Armie into a misunder standing of this Parliament, thereby to encline that Army, with force to bring to p [...]sse those wicked councels, have therefore thought good to joyn themselves [...] Declaration of our united Affections and Resolutions, and to make this ensuing Protestation.
I A. B. Doe in the presence of Almighty God, Promise, Vow, and Protest, to maintaine and defend, as far as lawfully I may, with my life, power, and estate, the true Reformed Protestant Religion, expressed in the [Page 4] Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realm, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royall Person, Honour and Estate; as also the Power and Priviledges of Parliament; The lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and every person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the s [...]me. And to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppose, and by all good wayes and meanes indeavour to bring to condigne punisHment, all such as shall either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained. And further, that I shall in all just and Honourable wayes indeavour to preserve the Vnion and Peace between the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland; And neither for hope, feare, nor other respect, shall relinquish this Promise, Vow, and Protestation.
WHereas some doubts have been raised by severall persons out of this House, concerning the meaning of these words contained in the Protestation lately made by the Members of this House, ( viz.) The true reformed Protestant Religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish innovations within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine; This House doth declare, That by those words, was, and is meant, onely the publike Doctrine professed in the said Church, so far as it is opposite to Popery and Popish Innovations, And that the said words are not to be extended to the maintaining of any forme of Worship, Discipline, or Government, nor of any Rites or Ceremonies of the said Church of England.
Resolved upon the Question.
THat this House doth conceive that the Protestation made by them, is fit to be taken by every person that is well affected in Religion, and to the good of the Commonwealth; And therefore doth declare, That what person soever shall not take the Protestation, is unfit to beare Office in the Church or Commonwealth.
The Vow and Covenant appointed by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, to be taken by every Man, in the Cities of London, Westminster, the Suburbs and Liberties thereof; and throughout the whole Kingdome.
VVHereas the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament have declared, That there hath [Page 7] been, and now is a Popish and Trayterous Plot for the subversion of the true Protestant reformed Religion, and the Liberty of the Subject; And that in pursuance thereof, a Popish Army hath been raised, and now is on foot in divers parts of this Kingdom: And have further in a solemn manner Declared, Vowed, and Covenanted, That in order to the security and preservation of the true Protestant Religion, and Liberty of the Subject, they will not consent to the laying down of Arms, so long as the Papists now in open War against the Parliament, shall by force of Arms be protected from the Iustice thereof. And whereas the Lords and Commons have Declared, that there hath been a treacherous and horrid Designe lately discovered, by the great blessing, and speciall Providence of God, of divers persons to joyn themselves with the Armies raised by the King, and to destroy the Forces raised by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster, with the Suburbs, and by Arms to force the Parliament: [Page 8] And the said Lords and Commons finding by constant experience, that many wayes of force and treachery are continually attempted, to bring to utter ruine and destruction the Parliament and Kingdom, and that which is dearest, the true Protestant Religion: and that for the preventing, and withstanding the same, they have thought fit, That all who are true hearted, and lovers of their country, should binde themselves each to other in a sacred Vow and Covenant, in manner and form as followeth, and accordingly:
I A. B. in humility and reverence of the Divine Majestie, declare my hearty sorrow for my own sins, and the sins of this Nation, which have deserved the Calamities and Iudgements that now lye upon it; And my true intention is, by Gods grace to endeavour the amendment of my own wayes; And that I do abhor and detest the said wicked and treacherous Designe lately discovered; and that I never gave nor will give my assent to the execution [Page 9] thereof, but will, according to my power and Vocation, oppose and resist the same, and all other of the like nature: And in case any other like Design shall hereafter come to my knowledge, I will make such timely discoverie as I shall conceive may best conduce to the preventing thereof. And whereas I do in my conscience beleeve, That the Forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament are raised and continued for their just Defence, and for the Defence of the true Protestant Religion and Liberties of the Subject, against the Forces raised by the King: I do here in the presence of Almighty God, Declare, Vow, and Covenant, That I will, according to my power and vocation, assist the Forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament, against the Forces raised by the King without their consent; And will likewise assist all other persons that shall take this Oath, in what they shall do in pursuance thereof; And will not directly or indirectly adhere unto, nor shall willingly assist the Forces [Page 10] raised by the King without the consent of both Houses of Parliament. And this V [...]w and Covenant I make in the presence of Almighty God, the Searcher of all hear [...]s, with a true intention to perform the same, as I shall answer at the great Day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed.
The excellent Usefulnesse of this COVENANT.
VNion with God, Conformity to God, and Vnity of the three Kingdoms are things most desirable: In the first we are happy: In the second holy: In the third is strength, peace and safety. These are the kindly fruits of this Covenant, and a Covenant that brings forth those, how gladly should it be [Page 12] embraced, and how willingly received? They are lovely Bands that binds us to be happy, holy, and safe. The heart of man is backsliding, and a Covenant is like a hedge or wall to stop us from going back: it being a good and ready answer to a tempter or tentation: How shall I do this, and break my Covenant? Surely we have been too loose toward God, having almost lost a Religion, too loose in our lives, and too dis-united among our selves: and well it may be thought that a main end of this Rod which now lyes upon us, is to beat us into this Covenant; that thereby we may be knit faster to God, to holinesse, and each to other by this Band of Vnity. Yet the taking, is not the chief part of a Covenant, but the keeping. The benefits of a Covenant are then sure and stedfast to us, when we are stedfast in the Covenant: Now a main cause of unstedfastnesse in the Covenant, is forgetfulnesse of it. To prevent this, the Covenant is presented in this form, that being set up before us, it may be daily seen, and by seeing remembred, and by remembring performed [Page 13] And withall let us remember this; that all the wayes of God are mercy and truth to them that fear him, and keep his Covenant. But because no man is strong in his own strength, let us seek strength of Him who is both our strength and our Redeeme, that by Him we may be enabled to keep our Covenant with him, that so hee may delight to dwell with us, to be called our God, and to call us his people; upon which happy condition, attend Peace, Prosperity, and all blessings of Heaven and Earth, temporall and eternall.
VVE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdomes of England, Scotland and Ireland, by the Providence of God, living under one King, and being of one Reformed Religion, having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, the honour and happinesse of the Kings Majesty, and His Posterity, and the true publique Liberty, [Page 14] Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms, wherin every ones private condition is included, and calling to minde the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts, and practices of the Enemies of God, against the true Religion, and professours thereof in all places, especially in these three Kingdomes ever since the Reformation of Religion, and how much their rage, power and presumption, are of late, and at this time increased and exercised; whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdome of Ireland, the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdome of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are present and publike Testimonies; We have now at last, (after other means of Supplication, Remonstrance, Protestations, and Sufferings) for t [...]e preservation of our selves & our Religion, from utter ruine and Destruction, according to the commendable practice of these Kingdomes in former times, and the Example of Gods people in other Nations; after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us for himself, [Page 15] with our hands lifted up to the most high God, do swear:
I. THat we shal sincerely, really and constantly, through the Grace of God, indeavour in our severall places & callings, the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government, against our common Enemies, the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government, according to the Word of God, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches; And shall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms, to the neerest Conjunction and Vniformity in Religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Church-government, Directory for Worship and Catechizing; That we and but Posterity after us, may as Brethren, live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.
II. That we shall in like manner, without respect of persons, indeavour [Page 16] the extirpation of Poperie, Prelacie, (that is, Church-government, by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, their Chancellours and Commissaries, Deane, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchie) Superstition, Heresie, Schism, Prophanenesse, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of Godlinesse; lest we partake in other mens sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdomes.
III. We shall with the same sincerity, reallity and constancie, in out severall Vocations, indeavour with our Estates and Lives, mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament, and the Liberties of the Kingdomes, and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdomes, that the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our loyaltie, and that we have no [Page 17] thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just Power and Greatnesse.
IV. We shall also with all faithfulnesse indeavour the discovery of all such as have been, or shall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evill Instruments, by hindering the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from his People, or one of the Kingdomes from another, or making any Faction or parties amongst the people, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may be brought to publique triall, and receive condigne punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the supreme Iudicatories of both Kingdomes respectively, or others, having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.
V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes, denyed in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good Providence, of God, granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments, wee shall each one of us, according to our place and interest, indeavour that they may remain [Page 18] conjoyned in a firm Peace and Vnion to all posterity; And that Iustice may be done upon the wilfull Opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the present Articles.
VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common Cause of Religion, Liberty and Peace of the Kingdomes, assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof, and shall not suffer our selves, directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, perswasion or terror, to be divided, and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or give our selves to a detestable indifferencie or neutrality in this Cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdomes, and honour of the King; but shall all the dayes of our lives, zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same according to our power, against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever; and what wee are [Page 19] not able our selves to suppresse or overcome, wee shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed; All which we shall do as in the sight of God.
And because those Kingdomes are guilty of many sins and provocations against God, and his Son Iesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof: We professe and declare before God and the world, our unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins, and for the sins of these Kingdoms, especially, that we have not as we ought, valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, that we have not laboured for the purity & power thereof; and that we have not indeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our lives, which are the causes of other sins and transgressions, so much abounding amongst us; And our true and unfeigned purpose, desire & indeavour for our selves & all others under our power & charge, both in publique and in private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and [Page 20] each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavie indignation, and establish these Churches and Kingdomes in truth and peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we shall answer at that great Day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end, and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe, as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and incouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoak of Antichristian Tyranny; to joyn in the same, or like Association and Covenant, to the glory of God, the inlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ, and the Peace and Tranquillity of Christian Kingdomes and Common-wealths.