An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, injoining the taking of the late Solemn League and Covenant throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales. 2d February 1643-4.

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Hereas a Covenant for the Preservation and Reformation of Religion, the Maintenance and Defence of Laws and Liberties, hath been thought a fit and excellent Means to acquire the Favour of Almighty God towards the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland; and likewife to unite them, and, by uniting, to strengthen and fortifie them against the Common Enemy of the true reformed Religion, Peace and Profperity of thefe Kingdoms; And whereas both Houfes of Parliament in England, the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Kingdom of Scotland, have already taken the fame; It is now ordered and ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the fame Covenant be folemnly taken in all Places throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales. And for the better and more orderly taking thereof, thefe Directions enfuing are appointed and enjoined ftrictly to be followed.

Inftructions for the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant throughout the Kingdom.

I.

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Hat the Speakers of both Houfes of Parliament do fpeedily fend (to the Lord General, and all other Commanders in Chief, and Governors of Towns, Forts, Caftles, and Garrifons; as alfo to the Earl of Warwick, Lord High Admiral of England) true Copies of the faid Solemn League and Covenant, to the End it may be taken by all Officers and Soldiers under their feveral Commands.

2. That all the Knights and Burgeffes now in Parliament do take special Care, fpeedily to fend down into

their feveral Counties (which are, or fhall hereafter be under the Power of the Parliament) a competent Num ber of true Copies of the faid League and Covenant, unto the Committees of Parliament, in their feveral Counties; And that the faid Committees do within fix Days at the most difperfe the faid Copies to every ParishChurch or Chappel in their several Counties, to be delivered unto the Minifters, Church-wardens, or Constables of the feveral Parishes.

3. That the faid Committees be required to return a Certificate of the Day when they received the faid Copies, as alfo the Day they fent them forth, and to what Parishes they have fent them; with Certificate they are to return to the Clerk of the Parliament, appointed for the Commons Houfe, that fo an Account may be given of it, as there fhall be Occafion.

4. That the several Ministers be required to read the faid Covenant publickly unto their People, the next Lord's Day after they receive it, and prepare their People for it, against the Time that they fhall be called to

take it.

5. That the faid League and Covenant be taken by the Committees of Parliament, in the Place where they refide, and tendered alfo to the Inhabitants of the Town, within feven Days after it comes to the faid Committees Hands.

6. That the faid Committees, after they have taken it themselves, do fpeedily difperfe themselves through the faid Counties, fo as Three or Four of them be together, on Days appointed, at the chief Places of Meeting for the feveral Divifions of the faid Counties: And fummon all the Ministers, Church-wardens, Conftables, and other Officers unto that Place, where, after a Sermon preached by one appointed by the Committee for that Purpose, they caufe the fame Minister to tender the League and Covenant unto all fuch Minifters and other Officers, to be taken and fubfcribed by them, in the Prefence of the faid Committees.

7. That the faid Committees do withal give the faid Ministers in Charge, to tender it unto all the rest of

their Parishoners the next Lord's Day, making then unto their faid Parifhoners fome folemn Exhortation concerning the Taking and Obferving thereof: And that the faid Committees do alfo return to the feveral Parishes, the Names of all fuch as have taken the Cove, nant before them, who yet hall alfo fubfcribe their Names in the Book or Roll with their Neighbours, in their feveral Parishes: And if any Minister refufe or ne glect to appear at the faid Summons, or refuse to take the said Covenant before the Committee, or to tender it to his Parish, that then the Committees be careful to appoint another Minifter to do it in his Place.

8. That this League and Covenant be tendered to all Men, within the feveral Parishes, above the Age of Eighteen, as well Lodgers as Inhabitants.

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9. That it be recommended to the Earl of Manchefter, to take fpecial Care that it be tendered and taken in the University of Cambridge.

10. That, for the better Encouragement of all Sorts of Perfons to take it, it be recommended to the Affembly of Divines, to make a brief Declaration, by way of Exhortation to all Sorts of Perfons to take it, as that which they judge not only lawful, but (all Things con. fidered) exceeding expedient and neceffary for all that wish well to Religion, the King and Kingdom to join in, and to be a fingular Pledge of God's gracious Goodnefs to all the Three Kingdoms,

11. That if any Minister do refufe to take, or to tender the Covenant, or any other Perfon or Perfons, do not take it the Lord's Day that it is tendered, that then it be tendered to them again the Lord's Day fol lowing; and if they ftill continue to refuse it, that then their Names be returned by the Minifter that tenders it, and by the Church-wardens or Conftables unto the Com, mittees, and by them to the House of Commons, that fuch further Courfe may be taken with them, as the Houfes of Parliament fhall fee Caufe.

12. That all fuch Perfons as are within the feveral Parishes, when Notice is given of the taking of it, and do abfent themfeives from the Church at the Time of

taking it, and come not in afterwards to the Minister and Church-wardens, or other Officers, to take it in their Prefence before the Return be made, be returned as Refufers

13. The Manner of the taking it to be thus: The Minifter to read the whole Covenant diftinctly and audibly in the Pulpit, and, during the Time of the reading thereof, the whole Congregation to be uncovered, and at the End of his reading thereof, all to take it ftanding, lifting up their Right Hands bare; and then af terwards to fubfcribe it feverally, by writing their Names (or their Marks, to which their Names are to be added) in a Parchment Roll, or a Book, whereinto the Covenant is to be inferted, purpofely provided for that End, and kept as a Record in the Parish.

14. That the Affembly of Divines do prepare an Exhortation for the better taking the Covenant: And that the faid Exhortation, and the Declaration of the King, doms of England and Scotland, joined in the Armies, for the Vindication and Defence of their Religion, Liberties and Laws, against the Popish, Prelatical and Malignant Party, and paffed the 30th of January last *, be publickly read, when the Covenant is read, according to the Fourth and Sixth Articles: And that a fuffi, cient Number of the Copies of the faid Declaration be fent by the Perfons, appointed to fend the true Co. pies of the faid Covenant, in the first and fecond Articles.

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* Which Declaration is printed by Order of the Convention of Eftates in Scotland, and of the Parli ament in England 1644.

An Exhortation to the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant, for Reformation, and Defence of Religion; the Honour and Happiness of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland.

F the Power of Religion, or folid Reafon; if Loy

try; or Love to themselves, and natural Affection to their Pofterity; if the Example of Men touched with a deep Senfe of all thefe, or extraordinary Succefs from God thereupon, can awaken an embroiled bleeding Remnant to embrace the fovereign and only Means of their Recovery, there can be no Doubt, but this Solemn League and Covenant will find, wherefoever it shall be tendered, a People ready to entertain it with all Cheerfulness and Duty.

And where it not commended to the Kingdom by the concurrent Encouragement of the Honourable Houses of Parliament, the Affembly of Divines, the renowned City of London, Multitudes of other Perfons of eminent Rank and Quality in this Nation, and the whole Body of Scotland, who have all willingly fworn and fubfcribed it, with rejoicing at the Oath, fo gracioufly fe conded from Heaven already, by blafting the Counfels, and breaking the Power of the Enemy more than ever; yet it goeth forth in its own Strength, with fuch con. vincing Evidence of Equity, Truth and Righteousness, as may raise in all (not wilfully ignorant, or miferably feduced) inflamed Affections to join with their Brethren in this happy Bond, for putting an End to the prefent Miferies, and for faving both of King and Kingdom from utter Ruin, now fo ftrongly and openly laboured by the Popish Faction, and fuch as have been bewitched and befotted by that viperous and bloody Generation.

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