THE

Solemn League and Covenant.

W

EE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgeffes, Ministers of the Gofpel, and Commons of all Sorts in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England 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 Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, the Honour and Happiness of the King's Majefty and his Pofterity, and the true Publick Liberty, Safety, and Peace of the Kingdoms, wherein every one's private Condition is included; And calling to Mind the treacherous and bloody Plots, Confpiracies, Attempts, and Practices of the Enemies of GOD, against the True Religion, and Profeffors thereof in all Places, efpecially in these Three Kingdoms, ever fince the Reformation of Religion, and how much their Rage, Power and Prefumption are of late, and at this Time increased and exercifed; whereof the deplorable Eftate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the diftreffed Estate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous Eftate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are prefent and publick Teftimonies. We have now at laft, (after other Means of Supplication, Remonftrance, Proteftations and Sufferings) for the Prefervation of our felves and our Religion from utter Ruin and Destruction, according to the commendable Practice of thefe Kingdoms in former Times; and the Example of GOD's People in other Nations, after mature Deliberation, refolved and determined to enter into a mutual and folemn League and Covenant: Wherein we all Jubfcribe, and each one of us for himself, with our Hands lifted up to the moft High GOD, do Swear:

I. That

I.

That we shall fincerely, really, and conftantly, through the Grace of GOD, endeavour in our feveral Places and Callings, the Prefervation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Difcipline and Government, againft our common Enemies; The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline, and Government, according to the Word of GOD, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches; And fhall endeavour to bring the Churches of GOD in the Three Kingdoms to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in Religion, Confeffion of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for WorShip and Catechifing; That We and our Pofterity after us, may, as Brethren, live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us..

2. That we shall in like manner, without Refpect of Perfons, endeavour the Extirpation of Popery, Prelacy (that is, ChurchGovernment by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellours and Commiffaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons, and all other Ecclefiaftical Officers, depending on that Hierarchy) Superftition, Herefy, Schifm, Prophaneness, and whatfoever fhall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine and the Power of Godliness; Left we partake in other Men's 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 Kingdoms.

3. We fhall with the fame Sincerity, Reality and Conftancy, in our several Vocations, endeavour with our Eftates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms; And to preferve and defend the King's Majefty's Perfon and Authority, in the Prefervation and Defence of the True Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms; That the World may bear Witness with our Confciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no Thoughts or Intentions to diminish His Majefty's Just Power and Greatness.

4. We fhall alfo with all Faithfulness endeavour the Discovery of all fuch as have been, or fhall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil Inftruments, by hindering the Reformation of Religion, divi

ding

ding the King from his People, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making any Faction or Parties amongst the People, contrary to this League and Covenant, That they may be brought to publick Tryal, and receive condign Punishment, as the Degree of their Offences fhall require or deferve, or the Supreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms refpectively, or others having Power from them for that Effect, fhall judge convenient.

5. And whereas the Happiness of a Blessed Peace between thefe Kingdoms, denied in former Times to our Progenitors, is by the good Providence of GOD granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and fettled by both Parliaments, We fhall each one of us, according to our Place and Intereft, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm Peace and Union to all Pofterity, And that fuftice may be done upon the wilful Oppofers thereof, in Manner expreffed in the precedent Article.

6. We fhall also, according to our Places and Callings in this common Caufe of Religion, Liberty, and Peace of the Kingdoms, affift and defend all thofe that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and purfuing thereof; and fhall not fuffer our felves directly or indirectly by whatfoever Combination, Perfwafion, or Terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction, whether to make Defection to the contrary Part, or to give our felves to a deteftable Indifferency, or Neutrality in this Caufe, which fo much concerneth the Glory of GOD, the Good of the Kingdoms, and Honour of the King; But fhall all the Days of our Lives zealously and conftantly continue therein, against all Oppofition, and promote the fame according to our Power, against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever; and what we are not able our felves to fupprefs or overcome, we fhall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed: All which we fhall do as in the Sight of GOD.

And, because these Kingdoms are guilty of many Sins and Provocations against GOD, and his Son Jefus Chrift, as is too manifeft by our prefent Diftreffes and Dangers, the Fruits thereof, we profefs and declare before GOD and the World, our unfeigned Defire to be humbled for our own Sins, and for the Sins of these King

F

doms,

doms, especially that we have not, as we ought, valued the ineftimable Benefit of the Gospel, that we have not laboured for the Purity and Power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to receive Chrift in our Hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our Lives; which are the Causes of other Sins and Tranfgreffions fo much abounding amongst us, and our true and unfeigned Purpose, Defire, and Endeavour for our felves and all others under our Power and Charge, both in Publick and in Private, in all Duties we owe to GOD and Man, to amend our Lives, and each one to go before another in the Example of a real Reformation; That the Lord may turn away his Wrath, and heavy Indignation, and Establish thefe Churches and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace. And this Covenant we make in the Prefence of Almighty GOD the Searcher of all Hearts, with a True Intention to perform the fame, as we shall answer at that Great Day, when the Secrets of all Hearts fhall be disclosed: Moft humbly befeeching the Lord to strengthen us by His holy Spirit for this End, and to Bless our Defires and Proceedings with fuch Success, as may be Deliverance and Safety to his People, and Encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under, or in Danger of the Toke of Antichriftian Tyranny, to join in the fame, or like Affociation and 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.

Weft