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good means, that, without the effufion of more blood, there may be fuch a bleffed pacification betwixt his majefly and his fubjects, as may tend to the good of religion, his majefty's true honour and fafety, and happiness of his people; did therefore give commiflion to John earl of Loudon, lord chancellor, lord Maitland, lord Wariftoun, and Mr. Robert Barclay, to repair to England, and endeavour the effectuating of these ends contained in the covenant of treaties, conform to their inftruc tions.

And the faid eftates having taken the proceedings above-written to their confideration, do find and declare, That the Lords of council, and confervers of peace, did behave themfelves as faithful confellors, loyal fubjects, and good patriots, in tendering their humble endeavours for removing the diftractions betwixt his majefty and his fubjects, and in cal ling the commiffioners for the common burdens, and by joint advice appointing the late meeting of convention, wherein they have approven themfelves anfwerable to the duty of their places, and that truft com. mitted to them; and therefore ratifies and approves their whole proceedings therein, and declares the faid convention was lawfully called, and alfo full and free in itself, confifting of all the members thereof, as any convention bath been at any time bygone; and ratifies and approves the feveral acts made by them, or their committee, for injoining the covenant. And alfo, The faid eftates of parliament (but prejudice of the premiffes, and of the general ratification above-mentioned) ratifies, approves and confirms the forefaid mutual league and covenant, concerning the reformation and defence of religion, the honour and happiness of the king, and the peace and fafety of the three kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland; together with the acts of the kirk and eftate authorizing the fame League and Covenant; together alfo with the forefaid articles of treaty agreed upon betwixt the faid commiffioners of the convention of cftates of Scotland, and the commiffioners of both the houses of parliament of England, concerning the faid Solemn League and Covenant.And the faid eftates ordain the fame acts, with the League and Covenant above-specified, Acts authorizing the fame, and the articles of treaty forefaid, to have the full force, and ftrength of perfect laws and acts of parliament, and to be observed by all his majesty's lieges, conform to the tenors thereof respective. Of the which League and Covenant,the tenor follows.

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THE

Solemn League and Covenant

FOR

Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happinefs of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland; agreed upon by Commiffioners from the Parliament and Affembly of Divines in England, with Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates and General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, and by both Houfes of Parliament and Affembly of Divines in England, and taken and fubfcribed by them, anno 1643; and thereafter, by the faid Authority, taken and fubfcribed by all Ranks in Scotland and England the fame Year; and ratified by Act of the Parliament of Scotland, anno 1644; and again re· newed in Scotland, with an Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, by all Ranks, anno 1648, and by Parliament 1649; and taken and fubfcribed by King Charles, II. at Spey, June 23, 1650; and at Scoon, January 1, 1651.

WE

E noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, citizens, burgeffes, minifters of the gofpel, and commons of all forts, 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 happinets of the king's majesty and his pofterity, and the true publick liberty, fafety, 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, especially 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 ftate of the church and kingdom of Ireland, the diftreffed eftate 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 fupplication, remonftrance, proteftation and fufferings) for the

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prefervation

prefervation of ourfelves and our religion from utter ruin and deftruction, 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 fubfcribe, and each one of us for himlelf, with our hands lifted up to the most high GOD, do fwear,

I. THA

HAT we fhall 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, against our common enemies; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline and government, according to the word of GOD, and the example of the beft reformed churches: and shall 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.

II. That we fall in like manner, without refpect of perfons, endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy, (that is, church-government by arch-bishops, bishops, their chancellors, and commiffaries, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other ecclefiaftical officers depending on that hierarchy) fuperftition, herely, fchifm, profaneness, and whatfoever fhall be found to be contrary to found doctrine and the power of godliness; left we partake in other mens fins, 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.

III. We fhall, with the fame fincerity, reality and conftancy in our feveral vocations, endeavour, with our eftates and lives mutually to preferve the rights and privileges of the parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms; and to preierve and defend the king's majesty's per fon 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 jult power and greatness.

IV. We fhall alfo, with all faithfulness, endeavour the discovery of all fuch as have been or fhall be incendiariés, malignants, or evil inftruments, by hindering the reformation of religion, dividing 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 Cove nant; that they may be brought to publick trial, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences fhall require or deferve, or

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the fupreme judicatories of both kingdoms refpectively, or others having power from them for that effect, fhail judge convenient.

V. And whereas the happiness of a bleffed peace between these 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 posterity; and that justice may be done upon the wilful oppofers thereof, in manner expreffed in the precedent article..

VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common caufe of religion, liberty and peace of the kingdoms, affift and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and purfuing thereof; and fhall not fuffer ourselves directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, perfuafion or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this bleffed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a deteftable indifferency or neutrality in this caufe, which fo much concerneth the glory of GOD, the good of the kingdom, 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 ourselves to fupprefs or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed: all which we shall do as in the fight of GOD.

And, because these kingdoms are guilty of many fins, 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 fins, and for the fins of thefe kingdoms: efpecially that we have not as we ought, valued the ineftimable bleffing 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 caufes of other fins and tranfgreffions fo much abounding amongst us and our true and unfeigned purpose, defire and endeavour for ourfelves, 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 eftablish thefe churches and kingdoms in truth and peace. And this covenant we make in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, the fearcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the fame, as we fhall answer at that great day, when the fecrets of all hearts fhall be difclofed; moft humbly befeeching the Lord to ftrengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end; and to bless our defires and proceedings with fuch fuccefs, as may be deliverance

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deliverance and fafety to his people, and encouragement to other Chrif tian churches, groaning under, or in danger of the yoke 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 Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Chriftian kingdoms and common

wealths.

FINIS

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