With reference to the third Article, wherein we are bound to defend the privileges of the Parliament, liberties of the kingdoms, and the King"s Majesty"s person and authority, in the defence of the true Reformed religion: albeit G.o.d, in his righteous judgment, hath left the nations so far to the counsels of their own hearts, as to suffer them to set up Magistrates, wanting the qualifications requisite, and to fill places of power and trust with insufficient and disaffected persons, who have no respect to the interest of religion, and this nation in particular to give up the rights and privileges of Parliament, and kingdom, to the will and l.u.s.t of the English, and so to betray the interest both of religion and civil liberty for unworthy by-ends; yet we purpose and promise, that we shall always in our capacities bear witness against these courses, and shall not by any means corroborate them, or encourage and countenance the maintainers and abettors of them. And if ever the Lord in his mercy shall be pleased to open a door of relief, and break the cords of the unG.o.dly, we shall not be wanting in all lawful and suitable endeavors to promote, to our power, the recovery of that liberty and freedom which we have lost, and to have those acts and oaths, which impede Reformation, rescinded: and that all the righteous laws, made in favor of the Covenanted Reformation, may be put in full force, and duly executed.
We shall earnestly pray to G.o.d that he would give us able men, men of truth, fearing G.o.d and hating covetousness, to bear charge over his people, and that all places of power and trust in church, state, or army, may consist of, and be filled with men of known good affection to the cause of G.o.d, and of a Christian and blameless conversation; and when it shall please the Lord to give us such magistrates and judges supreme and subordinate, then we will, in the terms of the covenant, yield allegiance to them, and loyally subject to their good government, not from any by-end or sinistrous principle, but out of sincere obedience to G.o.d"s commandment; and shall willingly support and defend them, with our estates and lives, in their persevering and defending the true reformed Protestant religion, in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, and suppressing all kinds of false religion in their dominions, and in the administration of justice and punishment of iniquity; but while the Lord, in his just displeasure for our sins, withholds such from us, we intend to wait till he turn away his anger, and not to stretch forth our hands to iniquity, in owning and countenancing such as are not duly qualified; as, particularly, those that are Popish or Prelatical in their professed principle and practice, and by oaths engage themselves to maintain, and accordingly to defend, the Prelatical form of church government, who oppose and encroach upon the true government of Christ"s house by their supremacy, and tolerate Sectarian errors in their dominions, and that every one of them supreme and subordinate; and shall not corroborate their unjust authority, by pacing them cess and supply, for upholding their corrupt courts and armies, employed in an unjust and antichristian quarrel; or, by compearing before their judicatories, either to defend or pursue lawsuits, or upon any other account.
Because we are not in a case to bring to due trial and punishment, condign, according to the merit of their offences, malignants and evil instruments, according to the fourth Article; therefore, we shall endeavour to keep ourselves, as far as possible, from any compliance with, or approbation of their cause and courses, opposite to the cause and work of G.o.d; and shall endeavour to keep at a distance from everything that may anyways import a unitive conjunction, a.s.sociation, or confederacy with them, or strengthening them in their opposition to the cause of G.o.d--the covenanted interest. We shall, through grace, endeavour to represent before the throne of justice their wicked courses; and pray that G.o.d would defeat their inventions, though we shall always, as becomes Christians, implore the throne of grace for mercy to their souls, so far as it may be consistent with G.o.d"s eternal purpose of electing love. Moreover, we shall always endeavour to guard against all unwarrantable and irregular ways, not approven in G.o.d"s Word, of punishing malignants and incendiaries, for their opposition to reformation.
Whereas, in the fifth Article, we are bound to endeavour, that the kingdoms may remain united in a most firm peace and union to all posterity; which union did consist in a uniformity in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, though, as was said, it is now laid aside, and a union entered into which establishes multiformity therein, and so is the opposite of this Covenanted Union. We shall, therefore, deny our consent unto, and approbation of this union, and shall, as we have in weakness been witnessing against it formerly, so continue to do for the future, and shall not corroborate or strengthen the same; but upon the contrary, if the Lord afford opportunity, shall do our utmost to have the _union of the kingdoms settled_ upon the true covenanted basis; and shall lay out ourselves, as far as possible, to entertain correspondence and sympathy with every one in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, who do, or shall, to our knowledge, adhere to this League and Covenant.
According to the sixth Article, considering what danger we and all our brethren, under the bond and owning the obligation of these covenants, are in, and may be exposed unto, from the Popish and Prelatical malignant faction still prevailing, and from this backslidden church; and being sensible of the many defects which have been amongst us, in the duty of defending and a.s.sisting one another in maintaining the common cause of religion and liberty, we do here solemnly enter into a bond of a.s.sociation with all that do now renew these covenants, "with the Acknowledgement of the Public Sins and Breeches, and the Engagement of Duties thereof, and concert and a.s.sert the old covenanted cause and quarrel," as our fathers stated and contended for it, from the year 1638 to the year 1650. Which cause of the covenanted reformation in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, and all interests, or rights, religious or civil, contended for during the foresaid s.p.a.ce of years, conducing to promote the same, we faithfully promise to prosecute, propagate, preserve and maintain, to the utmost of our power, with our lives and all that we have; and to adhere to all the faithful testimonies, protestations and declarations, in the defence of the foresaid covenanted reformation, agreeable to, and founded on G.o.d"s Word, ever since the foresaid year 1650, not regarding the foul aspersions of rebellion, combination or schism, or what else our adversaries, from their craft and malice, would put upon us; seeing what we do is so well warranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned desire to maintain the true religion, to obtain the protection and preserve the honour of righteous government, and promote the peace and happiness of the kingdoms.
And for the better performance of what we here engage to, we shall sympathize, bear all burdens, embark our interest with, a.s.sist and defend all those, who enter into, or join this a.s.sociation and Covenant, and shall reckon whatsoever is done to the least of us, for this cause, as done to us all in general and to every one of us in particular: and shall account it a breach of Covenant, if seeing our brethren pursued for this very cause, and having sufficient means to comfort and a.s.sist them, any of us shall either make peace with the persecutors, bind up their hands by oaths and bonds from resisting them, refuse to hide, harbor, or supply their brethren, decline to venture, in lawful and necessary attempts for their relief, or withdraw from their dutiful support; and being thus united and a.s.sociated in this cause, as we resolve and oblige ourselves to abide in this firm conjunction, and neither consent nor concede to any combination or counsel, suggestion, persuasion, allurement or terror, that may have any known tendency or influence, whether direct or indirect, to seduce us either to a division amongst ourselves, or defection to our adversaries, or a base indifferency and neutrality between the two; but shall, with all zeal, fidelity and constancy, communicate our best help, counsel and concurrence, for promoting all resolutions, which by common consent shall be found to conduce to the good of the cause, and shall endeavor to discover, oppose and suppress, all contrivances or counsels, that may cast in any let or impediment, that may be obstructive or prejudicial to the same. So we shall likewise desire, design and endeavor, (whenever the Lord in his providence shall offer opportunity) to get the defections, unworthy neutralities, and unhappy divisions, which have long and lamentably wounded, and wrecked this church, removed and remedied. And shall be willing, with all tender sympathy and compa.s.sion, to embrace and welcome with the utmost bowels of kindness and respect that we can, all who shall confess and forsake these defections, and according to their stations, as ministers or private Christians, shall, by all proper means, labor to satisfy the conscience of the G.o.dly, that are through these defections and scandals justly offended, and that according to the rules of Christ, delivered in his word, and received in this church, in her Reforming times, and join cordially with us in the prosecution of this cause; and we shall be willing also, at their desire, to acknowledge and forsake, for peace and unity, whatever we can rationally be convinced to be bad in our conduct and management, as we must acknowledge, that in all things we fail, and come exceedingly short of that perfection, which we should and would be at.
And because there be many who heretofore have not made conscience of the oath of G.o.d--but some, through fear, others by persuasion, and upon base ends, and human interests, have entered thereinto, who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord, in swearing falsely by his name; therefore, we, who do now renew our covenants with reference to these duties, and all other duties contained therein, do, in the sight of him who is the searcher of hearts, solemnly profess, that it is not upon any politic advantage, or private interest, or by-end, or because of any terror or persuasion from men, or hypocritically or deceitfully, that we do again take upon us the oath of G.o.d; but honestly and sincerely, and from the sense of our duty. And that, therefore, denying ourselves and our own things, and, laying aside all-self interests and ends, we shall, above all things, seek the honour of G.o.d, the good of his cause, and the wealth of his people; and that, forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnal confidences, we shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of his Word, and hearken to the voice of his servants. In all which, professing our own weakness, we do earnestly pray to G.o.d who is the Father of mercies, through his Son JESUS CHRIST, to be merciful unto us, and to enable us, by the power of his might, that we may do our duty, unto the praise of his grace in the churches. Amen.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 4: In the Preface to this edition, the reader may perceive the same spirit in 1880.ED.]
[Footnote 5: The lawful supreme Magistrate.]
[Footnote 6: The persons and authority of such, when G.o.d of his mercy shall grant them to us.]
[Footnote 7: King Charles the First.]
[Footnote 8: Remonstrances, declarations and testimonies of old, and of late.]
[Footnote 9: Or any other corruptions thereof, Prelatic or Erastian, either tried or to be tried; such as indulgence, the toleration, the magistrates appointing fasts without advice and consent of the church, dissolving a.s.semblies, &c.]
[Footnote 10: Remonstrances, declarations and testimonies.]
[Footnote 11: To righteous governors, (when obtained), and to our country.]
[Footnote 12: The lawful supreme Magistrate"s.]
[Footnote 13: The person and authority of sovereigns having the qualifications which the Scriptures require.]
[Footnote 14: The lawful supreme Magistrate"s.]
[Footnote 15: The lawful supreme Magistrate.]
[Footnote 16: Lawful supreme Magistrates.]
[Footnote 17: Anno 1638.]
[Footnote 18: Lawful supreme Magistrates.]
[Footnote 19: After all supplications, remonstrances protestations and sufferings of our fathers, and our own grievous sufferings and contendings both before and since the late Revolution.]
[Footnote 20: When restored, according to their ancient foundation.]
[Footnote 21: The lawful supreme Magistrate"s.]
[Footnote 22: The lawful Magistrate"s.]
[Footnote 23: The lawful Magistrate, when obtained.]
[Footnote 24: Our Reformers.]
[Footnote 25: As they were then.]
[Footnote 26: The lawful supreme Magistrate.]
[Footnote 27: Such as the Curate of Carsphairn, and some others. But it is to be noted, that this sentence is not meant of those who either designed or actually executed that act of extraordinary justice upon the Archbishop of St. Andrews, who being an arch-traitor, and public incendiary, and implacable enemy to the work of G.o.d, and all the G.o.dly in the kingdom, was therefore justly put to death; though (because of the defect of justice in those that had authority,) the act, in respect of the persons executing, was singular and extraordinary. See the same vindicated, _Hind Let Loose_, head vi., page 633, &c.]
[Footnote 28: Ezek. vii. 16. But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the vallies, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.]
[Footnote 29: Ezek. ix. 4.----Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.]
[Footnote 30: Matt. xxii. 5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.]
[Footnote 31: 1 Tim. vi. 14. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.]
[Footnote 32: 2 Tim. lii. 5. Having a form of G.o.dliness, but denying the power thereof.]
[Footnote 33: Eph. in. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.----Col. ii. 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.]
[Footnote 34: Col. i. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.]
[Footnote 35: 2 Thes. ii. 10, 11, 12. Because they received not the love of the truth----For this cause G.o.d shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be d.a.m.ned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.]
[Footnote 36: Josh. xxiv. 15.----But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Gen. xviii. 19. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.]
[Footnote 37: 1 Tim. iii. 15----That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of G.o.d.----]
[Footnote 38: Psal. ci 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Jer. vii. 3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the G.o.d of Israel; amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Isa. I. 16, 17; _Cease to_ do evil. Learn to do well.----]
[Footnote 39: Jer. 1. 8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be ye as the he goats before the flocks.]
[Footnote 40: Zech. i 3. Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Psal. lx.x.xv. 3. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Verse 4th. Turn us, O G.o.d of our salvation and cause thine anger towards us to cease]
[Footnote 41: Psal. lx.x.xv. 9, 10. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Isa. x.x.xii. 17. And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and a.s.surance forever.
Zech. viii. 19----Therefore love the truth and peace.]
[Footnote 42: Note. The Confession of Faith is here adhered to, as it was received and approven by the General a.s.sembly of this church, by their Act of the 27th of Aug. 1647, Sess. 23, the 2d Article of the 31st Chap, being understood, as explained in that Act, and the 4th Sect, of the 23d Chap, being understood, as it is explained in our Informatory Vindication, page 196, 2d Edition.]
[Typographical errors excepted, and _Historical Introduction_ subst.i.tuted for _Preface_, this edition agrees with those of Paisley, 1820, and Belfast, 1835.--ED.]