For what is there almost in this Covenant, which was not for Subftance, either expreffed, or manifeftly lucluded in that folemn Proteftation of May 5th 1641, wherein the whole Kingdom ftands engaged until this Day? The finful Neglect whereof doth (as we may justly fear) open one Floodgate the more to let in all thefe Calamities upon the Kingdom, and caft upon it a Neceffity of renewing Covenant, and of entring into this.

If it be faid, the Extirpation of Prelacy, to wit, the whole Hierarchical Government (ftanding as yet, by the known Laws of the Kingdom) is new, and unwarrantable: This will appear to all impartial Understandings (though new) to be not only warrantable, but neceffary; if they confider (to omit what fome fay, That this Government was never formally established by any Laws of this Kingdom at all) that the very Life and Soul thereof is already taken from it by an Act paffed this present Parliament, fo as (like Jezabel's Carcafe, of which no more was left but the Skull, the Feet, and the Palms of her Hands) nothing of Jurif diction remains, but what is precarious in them, and voJuntary in those who fubmit unto them: That their whole Government is at best but a human Constitution, and fuch as is found and adjudged by both Houses of Parliament, (in which, the Judgment of the whole Kingdom is involved and declared) not only very prejudicial to the Civil State, but a great Hindrance alfo to the perfect Reformation of Religion; Yea, who knoweth it not to be too much an Enemy thereunto, and deftructive to the Power of Godliness, and pure Adminiftration of the Ordinances of Chrift? Which moved the Well-affected, almost throughout this Kingdom, long fince to petition this Parliament (as hath been defired before, even in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and of King James) for a total Abolition of the fame. Nor is any Man hereby bound to offer any Violence to their..

* See Collection of Acts, Num. 26.

their Perfons, but only in his Place and Calling to ens deavour their Extirpation in a lawful Way.

And as for thofe Clergymen, who pretend, that they (above all others) cannot covenant to extirpate that Government, becaufe they have (as they fay) taken a folemn Oath to obey the Bishops in icitis & honeftis† : They can tell, if they pleafe, That they that have fworn Obedience to the Laws of the Land, are not thereby prohibited from endeavouring by all lawful Means the Abolition of those Laws, when they prove inconvenient or mifchievous. And if yet there fhould any Oath be found, into which any Ministers or others have entred, not warranted by the Laws of God and the Land, in this Cafe they must teach themselves and others, that fuch Oaths call for Repentance, not Pertinacy in them.

If it be pleaded, That this Covenant croffeth the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance; There can be no thing further from Truth; for this Covenant binds all, and more strongly engageth them to preferve and defend the King's Majefty Perfon and Authority, in the Prefervation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms.

That Scruple, That this is done without the King's Confent, will foon be removed, if it be remembred, that the Proteftation of the first of May, before-menti oned, was in the fame Manner voted and executed by both Houfes, and after (by Order of one House alone) fent abroad to all the Kingdoms, his Majefty not ex cepting against it, or giving any Stop to the taking of it, albeit he was then refident in Perfon at Whitehall.

Thus Ezra and Nehemiah, (Ezra x. Neh. ix.) drew all the People into a Covenant, without any special Commiffion from the Perfian Monarchs (then their Sovereigns) fo to do, albeit they were not free Subjects but Vaffals, and one of them (Neb. i.) the menial Servant of Artaxerxes, then by Conqueft King of Judah

alfo.

Nor hath this Doctrine or Practice been deemed fedition,

tie. In lawful and honeft Things.

ditions or unwarrantable by the Princes, that have fate upon the English Throne, but juftified and defended by Queen Elizabeth of bleffed Memory, with the Expence of much Treafure and noble Blood, in the united Provinces of the Netherlands, combined not only without, but against the unjust Violence of Philip of Spain. King James followed her Steps, fo far as to approve their Union, and to enter into League with them as free States; which is continued, by his Majefty now reigning, unto this Day; who both by his Expedition for Relief of Rochelle in France, and his strict Confederacy with the Prince of Orange, and the States General, notwithstanding all the Importunity of Spain to the contrary, hath fet to his Seal that all that had been done by his Royal Ancestors, in Maintenance of those who had fo engaged and combined themfelves, was just and warrantable.

And what had become of the Religion, Laws and Liberties of our Sifter Nation of Scotland, had they not entred into fuch a Solemn League and Covenant at the Beginning of the late Troubles there: Which Course, however it was at first, by the Popish and Prelatick Projectors, reprefented to his Majefty, as an Offence of the highest Nature, juftly deferving Chaftisement by the Fury of a puiffant Army; yet when the Matter came afterwards in cool Blood to be debated, firft by Commiffioners of both Kingdoms, and then in open Parliament here, (when all thofe of either House who are now engaged at Oxford, were prefent in Par liament, and gave their Votes therein) it was found, adjudged and declared by the King in Parliament, That our dear Brethren of Scotland had done nothing but what became Loyal and Obedient Subjects, and were thereupon by Act of Parliament publickly righted in all the Churches of this Kingdom, where they had been defamed.

Therefore, however fome Men, hoodwink'd and blinded by the Artifices of thofe Jefuitical Engineers, who have long confpired to facrifice our Religion to the Idolatry of Rome, our Laws, Liberties and Perfons to

arbitrary

arbitrary Slavery, and our Eftates to their insatiable A. varice, may poffibly be deterred and amused with high Threats and Declarations, flying up and down on the Wings of the Royal Name and Countenance (now captivated and prostituted to ferve all their Lufts) to proclaim all Rebels and Traitors, who take this Covenant, yet let no faithful English Heart be afraid to join with our Brethren of all the Three Kingdoms in this Solemn League, as fometimes the Men of Ifrael (although under another King) did with the Men of Judah, at the Invitation of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxx.

What though thofe Tongues fet on Fire by Hell do rail and threaten? That God who was pleafed to clear up the Innocency of Mordecai and the Jews, a gainst all the malicious Afperfions of wicked Haman to his and their Sovereign, fo as all his Plotting produced but this Effect, That (Efther ix.) When the King's Commandment and Decree drew near to be put in Execution, and the Enemies of the Jews hoped to have Power over them, it was turned to the contrary, and the Jews had Rule over them that hated them, and laid Hands on fuch as fought their Hurt, fo as no Man could withstand them; and the fame God, who but even as Yesterday, vouchfafed to difperfe and scatter those dark Clouds and Fogs, which overshadowed that Loyal and Religious Kingdom of Scotland, and to make their Righteoufnefs to fhine as clear as the Sun at Noon day, in the very Eyes of their greatest Enemies, will doubtlefly stand by all thofe, who with Singlenefs of Heart, and a due Sense of their own Sins, and a Neceflity of Reformation, fhall now enter into an everlasting Covenant with the Lord, never to be forgotten, to put an End to all thofe unhappy and unnatural Breaches between the King and fuch as are faithful in the Land; caufing their Righteousness and Praife to Spring forth before all the Nations, to the Terior and Confufion of thofe Men of Blood, the confederate Enemies of God and the King, who have long combined, and have now raked together the Dregs and Scum of many Kingdoms, to bury all the Glory, Honour and Liberty of this Na

tion in the eternal Grave of Dishonour and Deftruction.

Friday 9 February 1643-4.

N Exhortation touching the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant, and for fatisfying of fuch Scruples as may arife in the taking of it, was this Day read the first and fecond Time; And by Vote upon the Question affented unto, and ordered to be forthwith printed.

Ο

H. ELSYNG Cler. Parl. D. Com.*

Friday 29 January 1644—5.

Rdered by the Commons affembled in Parliament, That the Solemn League and Covenant be, on every Day of Faft and publick Humiliation, publickly read in every Church and Congregation within the Kingdom: And that every Congregation be enjoyned to have one of the faid Covenants, fairly printed in a fair Letter, in a Table, fitted to hang up in fome publick Place of the Church to be read.

H. ELSYNG Gler. Parl. D. Com.

In the Petition of the diftreffed Chriftians in the North of Ireland, To the General Affembly met at Edinburgh, May 1644. are thefe Words, anent Covenanting there, viz.

-Your

Our Judgment is with the Lord, and your Reward is with God, not only for your two Years vifiting and watering a barren Vineyard, but alfo for your Zeal and Care to have your Reformation spread amongst other oppreft and born-down Churches; whereof you have given an ample and famous Testimony, in fending

L

Here did follow the Solemn League and Covenant, printed by an Ordinance of Parliament February 1643--4. with the Names of 228 Members of the House of Commons, who had then taken it.