desired union and nearest conjunction of the churches of England and Scotland, and conform to these instructions aforesaid."

When the Scottish commissioners arrived, they were received with great respect and solemnity by the Assembly; and the prolocutor made a formal address to them in the name of the Assembly, which was answered by Mr. Alexander Henderson, in behalf of the commissioners. Speeches were also made on the occasion by Dr. Hayle and Mr. Case. These commissioners from Scotland were welcomed to the Assembly, and invited to give their aid in the business on hand, and to take a part in all the proceedings of the Assembly. Mr. Henderson, in the name of his brethren, expressed the lively sympathy of the Scottish. nation with the present condition of England, and their readiness to lend their aid in whatever way they might be able; and especially, their cordial disposition to contribute their assistance in promoting the work in hand.

The Scottish commissioners were invited to take their seats as regular members of the Assembly; but this they declined, and chose rather to be considered as commissioners from the General Assembly of the church of Scotland, to deliberate and consult with this Assembly, on all matters which related to a conformity in religion, between the two nations; and in this capacity they acted, although they took their full share in the discussions of the Assembly.

But to effect communication, not only with the Assembly, but with the Parliament, a committee was appointed, consisting of certain select persons from the House of Lords, House of Commons, and the Assembly of Divines. Whatever the Scottish commissioners desired to communicate to any, or all these bodies, was transmitted through this committee.

CHAPTER IV.

Covenant approved by Parliament and the Assembly-Is solemnly sworn by the members of both Houses-Tendered to the people and taken by many-All persons in Office, and all persons Ördained required to take it.

As soon as the solemn League and Covenant was received by the Parliament of England, it was considered and approved, and then sent to the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, where its several articles and engagements were read and seriously deliberated on, and a resolution adopted, to swear and subscribe the same. The time fixed upon by parliament, was, Monday, the 25th of September, 1643. Accordingly, on the day appointed, the house of Commons, the Assembly of Divines, and the Scottish commissioners, convened in the church of St. Margaret's, Westminster, when the solemn transaction was opened by a prayer by Mr. White, of Dorchester, one of the assessors of the Assembly. After which, Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Nye, each spoke in justification of taking the covenant, and exhibited the advantages which the church, in former times, had received from such sacred combinations. The covenant was then read, article by article, by Mr. Nye; upon which, each person, standing up, with his head uncovered, with his bare right hand lifted up to heaven, worshipping the great name of God, swore to the performance of the engagements of this solemn league. The solemnity was concluded with a prayer by Dr. Gouge. The members of the house of Commons now retired into the chancel, and respectively subscribed their names on one roll of parchment; and the members of the Assembly did the same, on another roll; on both of which, the covenant had been fairly transcribed. The swearing and subscribing the solemn league and covenant was performed by the house of Peers on another day, namely, the 15th of October; on which occasion, a sermon was preached

by Dr. Temple, and an exhortation given, by Mr. Colman.

The next Lord's day after the covenant had been sworn by the House of Commons and Assembly of Divines, it was, by order of Parliament, read in all the churches, within the bills of mortality in London, and tendered to all persons present, and sworn and subscribed by as many as could be persuaded to do so.

The following is an exhortation to taking the covenant, agreed upon by the House of Commons, and ordered to be printed:

"Die veneris, Feb. 9, 1643.

"If the power of religion, or solid reason; if loyalty to the king, and piety to their native country, or love to themselves, and natural affection to their posterity; if the example of men touched with a deep sense of all these; or extraordinary success from God thereupon, can awaken an embroiled bleeding remnant to embrace the sovereign and only means of their recovery, there can be no doubt but this solemn league and covenant will find, wheresoever it shall be tendered, a people ready to entertain it with all cheerfulness and duty.

"And were it not commended to the kingdom by the concurrent encouragement of the honourable houses of parliament, the assemby of divines, the renowned city of London, multitudes of other persons, of eminent rank and quality of this nation, and the whole body of Scotland, who have all willingly sworn and subscribed it with rejoicing at the oath, so graciously seconded from heaven already, by blasting the counsels, and breaking the power of the enemy more than ever; yet it goeth forth in its own strength with such convincing evidence of equity, truth, and righteousuess, as may raise in all (not wilfully ignorant, or miserably seduced) inflamed affections to join with their brethren in this happy bond, for putting an end to the present miseries, and for saving both king and kingdom from utter ruin, now so

strongly and openly laboured by the popish faction, and such as have been bewitched and besotted by that viperous and bloody generation."—

"It then proceeds to answer objections against taking the covenant; as

Obj. 1. That it obliges to the extirpation of prelacy, which stands as yet by the known laws of the land.

"Answ. The life and soul of the hierarchy is already taken away; nothing of jurisdiction remaining; and since it is but a human constitution, if it be found a grievance, we may certainly endeavour its extirpation in a lawful way.

"Obj. 2. It is said to be inconsistent with the oath of canonical obedience.

"Answ. If men have sworn obedience to the laws of the land, may they not endeavour by lawful means the repealing those laws, if they are found inconvenient? Or if any ministers have taken oaths not warranted by the laws of God and the land, ought they not to repent of them?

'Obj. 3. But the covenant crosses the oaths of supremacy and allegiance.

"Answ. This is false, for it binds to the preservation of the king's person and authority, in the defence of the religion and liberties of the kingdom.

"Obj. 4. But it is done without the king's consent. "Answ. So was the protestation of May 5, which went through the whole kingdom, his majesty not excepting against it, though he was then at Whitehall. The same has been done by the united Netherlands under king Philip; and more lately in Scotland, his majesty himself declaring by act of parliament, that they had done nothing but what became loyal and obedient subjects."

Together with the aforesaid exhortation, the following orders and instructions were issued by the parliament, and directed to be printed and dispersed over the kingdom:

"Ordered, That copies of the covenant be sent to all commanders in chief, and governors of towns, forts,

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WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.

garrisons and soldiers, that it may be taken by a diers under their command.

"That copies be sent to the committees of p ment, in the several counties that are under the p of the parliament, and that the committees with days disperse the said copies, and cause them delivered to the ministers, church-wardens, or co bles of the several parishes.

"That the several ministers be required to the covenant to the people, the next Lord's day they have prepared the people to take it.

"That the committees of parliament take it th selves within seven days after they have received copies; and then disperse themselves throughout counties, so as three or four of them may be toge at the several places appointed for the people to it. That they summon all the ministers, chu wardens, constables, and other officers, to that pl and after a sermon preached by a minister w they shall appoint, they shall cause the said min to tender the covenant to all such ministers, and o officers, to be taken and subscribed in the presenc the committee.

"The said ministers are then to be required to der the covenant to all the rest of their parishion next Lord's day, and if any minister refuse, or neg to appear at the said summons, or refuse to take said covenant, the committee shall appoint anot minister to do it in his place.

"If any minister refuse to take, or tender the co nant; or if any other person refuses to take it afte second tender, upon two Lord's days, their nar shall be returned to the committee, and by them the house of commons; and all persons that abs themselves after notice given, shall be returned refusers."

So strict was the enforcement of these orders, th even the English who resided in foreign countri were not exempted from the obligation. Directio were sent to Mr. Strickland, the Parliament's agent the Hague, to tender the covenant to all the Engli