ART. 6.

We shall also according to our Place and Calling, in this Common Cause of Religion, Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms,affist and defend all thofe that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; and Shall not fuffer our felves directly or indirectly, by whatsoever Combination, Perfwafion or Terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this bleffed Union and Conjunction; whether to make defection to the contrary Part, or to give our felves to detestable Indifferency or Neutrality in this Caufe, which fo much concerns the Glory of God, the Good of the Kingdom, and the Honour of the King: But shall all the dayes of our lives zealonfly and conftantly continue therein against all oppofition, and mote the fame according to our power against all Letts and Impediments whatfoever: And what we are not able of our felves to fupprefs or overcome,we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented and removed : All

pro

which we fhall do in the fight of God.

From which Article it it is plainly to be seen, That those who do believe themselves to lie under the Obligation of this Covenant, are and ought to be looked upon as a Party already formed and combined together against the whole Nation befides, having a common Band to unite and tie them faft together: And this is fuch an Union as they look upon as facred and indiffoluble. And the Ends, in order to which they are thus combined, are in their efteem fuch, as that nothing can excufe the leaft intermiffion in their pursuance after them, befides an abfolute Impoffibility, and even in that cafe it is lawful for them only, to delay fo long, asto expect a more favourable feason: For they are according to this Article, Never to be wrought over to so much as a detestable Indifferency or Neutrality in this Caufe of God; but zealously and constantly to continue therein against all oppofition, all letts and impediments whatsoever.

And

And having now laid down the Six Articles of the Covenant, I fhall only add a few of the laft words of the large and folemn Conclufion of it; wherein they pray God to bleẞtheir proceedings herein with fuch fuccefs as may be an encouragement to other. Churches, groaning under, or in danger of the Yoke of Antichristian Tyranny, to joyn in the fame or like Affociati on or Covenant, to the Glory of God, the Enlargement of the Kingdom of Jefus Chrift, and the Peace and Tranquillity of Chriftian Kingdoms and common-wealths.

It hath been often faid in the be half of the Prefbyterians, that they did not engage in the late War under a lefs Authority than that of the Two Houses of Parliament: What Authority the Two Houses of Parliament have in raising a War against the King shall be no part of this Enquiry, nor whether the Lords and Gentlemen who at that time staid at Westminfter were the Two Houfes of Parliament? Be these two things as they will, although it is not unknown what

may

may be faid as to both thofe Cafes ; yet however the Covenant, hath informed us of another fort of Authority under which a War may be raised at any time against all the Kings in Europe Because in these words is held forth a publick Invitation to all Subjects whatsoever, who do either really groan under, or are in any danger of any thing, which our folk have pleafed to call, or themselves fhall chance to fancy to bea Yoke of Antichriftian Tyranny, to enter either into this or the like Affociation or Covenant. Now I fuppofe, that it is no eafie task to make out, that all Kingdoms have Parliaments endued with fo large a fhare of the Soveraignty, as that they have Authority to take up Arms against their respective Princes: And if there were fuch Parliaments every where, this Invitation is only made to the Christian Churches, without taking the least notice of Parliaments; nay with a full affurance that there. were no fuch Parliaments to be taken notice of. So that by this Doctrine

the

the Church alone may enter into af fociation against the State upon the fcore of Religion (especially if it can but cry out Antichrift) may engage the Subjects of all Europe against their Soveraigns, be they Princes or Commomwealths.

I know very well that those who urge the taking away of the Declaration enjoyned concerning the renouncing of the Covenant, have one evafion whereby to avoyd entring into the merits of the Caufe, and that is this, The feeming unreasonableness of that Claufe; Alfo I hold that there lieth no obligation upon me, or any o• ther Perfon from the Oath commonly called the Solemn, &c. Is it not unjust that one man fhould be bound to fwear to the Obligations of another? As plaufible foever as this may feem, no doubt it is but an evasion; for it is well known whom they mean by that other Person whom they fuppofe to be obliged, and befides to make this Cafe feem much harder than it is indeed; They endeavour to perfwade us, that this renunciation is what really it is

F

not;