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our liberties, laws and estates: We alfo declare, That the forefaid Confeffions are to be interpreted, and ought to be understood of the forefaid novations and evils, no less than if every one of them had been expreffed in the forefaid Confeffions; and that we are obliged to deteft and abhor them, amongst other particular heads of papistry abjured therein. And therefore, from the knowledge and confcience of our duty to God, to our king and country, without any worldly refpect or inducement, fo far as human infirmity will fuffer, wifhing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect; We promise and fwear by the GREAT NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD, to continue in the profeffion and obedience of the forefaid religion; and that we shall defend the fame, and refift all these contrary errors and corruptions, according to our vocation, and to the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands, all the days of our life.

And in like manner, with the fame heart we declare before God and men, that we have no intention nor defire to attempt any thing that may turn to the dishonour of God, or to the diminution of the king's greatnefs and authority: but, on the contrary, we promife and fwear, That we fhall, to the uttermost of our power, with our means and lives, ftand to the defence of our dread fovereign the king's majefty his perfon and authority, in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true religion, liberties and laws of the kingdom: as also, to the mutual defence and affiftance every one of us of another, in the fame cause of maintaining the true religion and his majesty's authority, with our best counfel, our bodies, means and whole power, against all forts of perfons whatsoever; fo that whatsoever fhall de done to the leaft of us for that cause, shall be taken as done to us all in general, and to every one of us in particular. And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly fuffer ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoever fuggeftion, combination, allurement or terror, from this bleffed and loyal conjunction: nor fhall caft in any let or impedi

ment

ment that may stay or hinder any fuch refolution as by comX: mon confent shall be found to conduce for fo good ends; but on the contrary, fhall by all lawful means labour to further and promote the fame: and if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by word or writ, we, and every one of us, shall either suppress it, or, if need be, fhall incontinent make the fame known, that it may be timeoufly obviated. Neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion, combination, or what else our adverfaries, from their craft and malice, would put upon us; seeing what we do is fo well warranted, and arifeth from an unfeigned defire to maintain the true worship of God, the majesty of our king, and the peace of the kingdom, for the common happiness of ourselves and our pofterity.

And because we cannot look for a bleffing from God upon our proceedings, except with our profeffion and subscription we join such a life and conversation as befeemeth Christians who have renewed their covenant with God: we therefore faithfully promise for ourselves, our followers, and all others under us, both in publick, and in our particular families and perfonal carriage, to endeavour to keep ourfelves within the bounds of Christian liberty; and to be good examples to others of all godliness, foberness, and righteousness, and of every duty we owe to God and man.

And, That this our union and conjunction may be observed without violation, We call the LIVING GOD THE SEARCHER OF OUR HEARTS to witness, who knoweth this to be our fincere defire and unfeigned refolution, as we shall answer to JESUS CHRIST in the great day, and under the pain of God's everlasting wrath, and of infamy and lofs of all honour and respect in this world: moft humbly beseeching the LORD to strengthen us by his HOLY SPIRIT for this end, and to blefs our defires and proceedings with a happy success; that religion and righteousness may flourish in the land, to the glory of GOD, the honour of our king, and

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peace and comfort of us all. In witness whereof, we have fubscribed with our hands all the premises.

HE article of this covenant, which was at the first subscription re

Tfered to the determination of the General Affembly, being now

determined; and thereby the five articles of Perth, the government of the kirk by bishops, and the civil places and power of kirkmen, upon the reafons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Affembly, declared to be unlawful within this kirk; we subscribe according to the determination forefaid.

FINIS.

SOLEMN LEAGUE

AND

COVENANT

FOR

REFORMATION AND DEFENCE

OF

RELIGION,

The Honour and Happiness of the KING, and the Peace and Safety of the Three KINGDOMS of Scotland, England,

and Ireland.

Taken and Subfcribed feveral Times by King CHARLES II. and by all Ranks in the faid three kingdoms."

WITH

An Act of the General Affembly 1643, and an Act of Parliament 1644. Ratifying and Approving the faid League and Covenant.

Jer. 1. 5. Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant, that fhall not be forgotten.

Prov. xxv. 5. Take away the Wicked from before the King, and his Throne fhall be established in Righteousness.

2 Chron. xv. 15. And all Judah rejoiced at the Oath; for they had sworn with all their heart.

Gal. iii. 15. Though it be but a Man's Covenant, yet if it be confirmed by an Oath, no Man difannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Affembly at Edinburgh, August 17. 1643. Seff. 14.

The General Affembly's Approbation of the Solemn League and Covenant.

HE Affembly having recommended unto a committee, appointed of eftates, and the commiffioners of the honourable houses of the parliament of England, for bringing the kingdoms to a more near conjunction and union, received from the aforefaid committees the covenant aftermentioned, as the refult of their confultations: and having taken the fame, as a matter of fo publick concernment and of so deep importance doth require, unto their graveft confideration, did with all their hearts, and with the beginnings of the feelings of that joy, which they did find in fo great measure upon the renovation of the National Covenant of this kirk and kingdom, All with one voice approve and embrace the fame, as the most powerful Mean, by the bleffing of GOD, for settling and preferving the true proteftant religion, with perfect peace in his majesty's dominions, and propagating the fame to other nations, and for establishing his majesty's Throne to all ages and generations. And therefore, with their best affections, recommend the fame to the honourable convention of estates, that, being examined and approved by them, it may be sent with all diligence to the kingdom of England, that, being received and approven there, the fame may be, with publick humiliation, and all religious and answerable folemnity, fworn and fubfcribed by all true profeffors of the reformed religion, and all his majesty's good subjects in both kingdoms.

A. Johnstoun.

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