upon the mountains, say unto Zion, "Behold thy God reigneth." I tell
you, within these two years, an honest man's feet were not beautiful
upon the streets of Edinburgh. We might have gone home to our houses
again, and shaken the dust off our feet for a conviction against this
unthankful generation; but now (God be praised) they are beautiful, and
we are comely in their eyes, not for any thing in us, for we lay all
down at the feet of Christ; but because we are gone up upon mount Zion,
and as the Lord's messengers, have cried, "Behold thy God reigneth." I
pray you, if ye have any love to the kirk of Christ, withdraw both your
tongues and pens from this mountain, and apply them against it; apply
your wits, engines, spirits, and all your strength to beat down this
mountain; yea, tread upon it, and use the sharp threshing instruments
which God hath put into your hands, and thresh upon that mountain, till
it be beaten small as the chaff.
Shall I pass you that are commons? Truly my delight hath not been so
great upon this mountain, as to make me overlook you. My good people,
beloved in Christ, have ye nothing to contribute for this work? Have ye
not so much power as the mountains and hills have? Or, have ye not such
substance as the vallies? Yet something ye have, give it, and it will be
acceptable, something against the mountain, and something for the work.
If ye have no more against the mountain, let me have your tears,
prayers, and strong cries; I am sure there is as great value in them, as
in the rams' horns that blew down Jericho: send up your prayers, and cry
with the Psalmist, "Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down, touch the
mountains, and they shall smoke; cast forth lightning, and scatter them;
shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them; send thine hand from above,
and deliver me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange
children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, their right hand is a right hand
of falsehood." As ye have your tears and prayers against this mountain,
lend me also what ye have for the going up of this work: if ye have no
more, let us have your shouts and hearty crying, "grace, grace be unto
it." Time will not suffer me to speak any more, yet time shall never
bereave you or me of this. Let us all resolve so long as our life is in,
even to the last gasp, as God will help us, that this shall be our last
cry, Grace, grace be unto this work of reformation in the kirk of
Scotland.
To this grace I recommend you, and close with that wish of the Apostles
in the New Testament. _The grace of God be with you all._ Amen.
THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.
[Illustration]
THE 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; agreed upon by Commissioners from the Parliament
and Assembly of Divines in England, with Commissioners of the Convention
of Estates, and General Assembly in Scotland; approved by the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and by both Houses of Parliament and
Assembly of Divines in England, and taken and subscribed by them_, Anno
1643; _and thereafter, by the said authority, taken and subscribed by
all Ranks in Scotland and England the same year; and ratified by the Act
of Parliament of Scotland_, Anno 1644: _And again renewed in Scotland,
with an Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, by all Ranks_,
Anno 1648, _and by Parliament_ 1649; _and taken and subscribed by_ King
Charles II. at Spey, June 23, 1650; and at Scoon, January 1, 1651.
We Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers
of the Gospel, 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 Jesus
Christ, the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty and his
posterity, 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, conspiracies, attempts, and
practices of the enemies of GOD, against the true religion and
professors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms,
ever since the reformation of religion; and how much their rage, power,
and presumption are of late, and at this time, increased and exercised,
whereof the deplorable state of the church and kingdom of Ireland, the
distressed estate of the church and kingdom of England, and the
dangerous estate of the church and kingdom of Scotland, are present and
public testimonies; we have now at last, (after other means of
supplication, remonstrance, protestation, and sufferings,) for the
preservation of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and
destruction, according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in
former times, and the example of GOD'S people in other nations, after
mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and
solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us
for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most High GOD, do swear,
I. That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace of
GOD, endeavour, in our several places and callings, the preservation of
the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government against our common enemies; the reformation
of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine,
worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of GOD, and
the example of the best reformed Churches: and shall endeavour to bring
the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and
uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church-government,
directory for worship and catechising; that we, and our posterity 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 shall, in like manner, without respect of persons endeavour
the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, church-government by
Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors, and Commissaries, Deans, Deans
and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical Officers
depending on hierarchy,) superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and
whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power
of godliness, lest 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.
III. We shall, with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy, in our
several vocations, endeavour, with our estates and lives, mutually to
preserve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties
of the kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's person
and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion, and
liberties of the kingdoms; that the world may bear witness with our
consciences of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions
to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatness.
IV. We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the discovery of all
such as have been or shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil
instruments, 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
Covenant; that they may be brought to public trial, and receive condign
punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or
the supreme judicatories of both kingdoms respectively, or others having
power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.
V. And whereas the happiness of a blessed 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 settled by
both Parliaments; we shall each one of us, according to our place and
interest, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and
union to all posterity; and that justice may be done upon the wilful
opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent article.
VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common
cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdoms, assist and defend
all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining
and pursuing thereof; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or
indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be
divided and withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether
to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a
detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much
concerneth the glory of GOD, the good of the kingdom, and honour of the
King; but shall, all the days of our lives, zealously and constantly
continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same, according
to our power, against all lets and impediments whatsoever; and, what we
are not able ourselves to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal and make
known, that it may be timely prevented or removed: All which we shall do
as in the sight of God.
And, because these kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations
against GOD, and His Son JESUS CHRIST, as is too manifest by our present
distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof; we profess and declare,
before GOD and the world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own
sins, and for the sins of these kingdoms; especially, that we have not
as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel; that we have
not laboured for the purity and power thereof; and that we have not
endeavoured to receive CHRIST in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of Him
in our lives; which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so
much abounding amongst us: and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire,
and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge,
both in public 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 these churches and kingdoms in truth and
peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, the
Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we
shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be
disclosed; most humbly beseeching the LORD to strengthen us by His HOLY
SPIRIT for this end, and to bless our desires and proceedings with such
success, as may be deliverance and safety to His people, and
encouragement to other Christian churches, groaning under, or in danger
of, the yoke of antichristian tyranny, to join in the same or like
association and covenant, to the glory of GOD, the enlargement of the
kingdom of JESUS CHRIST, and the peace and tranquility of Christian
kingdoms and commonwealths.
THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.
ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
_At Edinburgh, August 17th, 1643, Sess._ 14.
The Assembly having recommended unto a committee, appointed by them to
join with the committee of the honourable Convention of Estates, and the
commissioners of the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, for
bringing the kingdoms to a more near conjunction and union, received
from the aforesaid committees the covenant after-mentioned, as the
result of their consultations: and having taken the same, as a matter of
so public concernment and of so deep importance doth require, unto their
gravest consideration, did with all their hearts, and with the
beginnings of the feelings of that joy, which they did find in so great
measure upon the renovation of the National Covenant of this kirk and
kingdom, all with one voice approve and embrace the same, as the most
powerful mean, by the blessing of GOD, for the settling and preserving
the true protestant religion, with perfect peace in his majesty's
dominions, and propagating the same to other nations, and for
establishing his majesty's throne to all ages and generations. And
therefore, with their best affections, recommended the same to the Hon.
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 same may be, with public humiliation,
and all religious and answerable solemnity, sworn and subscribed by all
true professors of the reformed religion, and all his majesty's good
subjects in both kingdoms.
THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.
EXHORTATION AT WESTMINSTER.
_BY PHILIP NYE._[6]
A great and solemn work (Honourable and Reverend) this day is put into
our hands; let us stir up and awaken our hearts unto it. We deal with
God as well as with men, and with God in His greatness and excellency,
for by Him we swear; and at the same time we have to do with God and His
goodness, Who now reacheth out unto us a strong and seasonable arm of
assistance. The goodness of God procuring succour and help to a sinful
and afflicted people (such are we) ought to be matter of fear and
trembling, even to all that hear of it. We are to exalt and acknowledge
Him this day, Who is fearful in praises, swear by that name which is
holy and reverend, enter into a covenant and league that is never to be
forgotten by us nor our posterity, and the fruit I hope of it shall be
so great, as both we and they shall have cause to remember it with joy;
and such an oath as for matter, persons, and other circumstances, the
like hath not been in any age or oath we read of in sacred or human
history, yet sufficiently warranted in both.
The parties engaging in this league, are three kingdoms, famous for the
knowledge and acknowledgment of Christ above all the kingdoms in the
world; to swear before such a presence should mould the spirit of man
into a great deal of reverence. What then to be engaged, to be
incorporated, and that by sacred oath, with such an high and honourable
fraternity? An oath is to be esteemed so much the more solemn, by how
much greater the persons are that swear each to other; so in this
business, where kingdoms swear mutually.
And as the solemnity of an oath is to be measured by the persons
swearing, so by the matter also that is to be sworn to. God would not
swear to the covenant of Works, He intended not to honour it so much, it
was not to continue, it was not worthy of an oath of His; but to the
Covenant of Grace, which is the Gospel, He swears, and repents not of
it. God swears for the salvation of men, and of kingdoms: and if
kingdoms swear, what subject of an oath becometh them better than the
preservation and salvation of kingdoms, by establishing the kingdom of a
Saviour amongst them, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who is a
Mediator and Saviour for nations as well as particular persons?
The end also is great and honourable, as either of the former. "Two are
better than one," saith He, Who knoweth what is best, and from Whom
alone every thing hath the goodness it hath. Association is of divine
offspring; not only the being of creatures, but the putting of them
together. The cluster as well as the grape is the work of God. Consort
and harmony amongst men, especially amongst saints, is very pleasing
unto the Lord. If, when but two or three agree and assent upon any thing
on earth, it shall be confirmed in heaven, and for this, because they
gather together in His name; much more when two or three kingdoms shall
meet, and consent together in His name, and for His name, that God "may
be one, and His name one amongst them," and His presence amidst them.
That prayer of Christ seemeth to proceed from a feeling sense of His own
blessedness, "Father, that they may be one, as Thou in Me." Unity among
His churches and children must needs therefore be very acceptable unto
Him: for out of the more deep sense desires are fetcht from within us,
the more pleasing will be the answer of them unto us. Churches and
kingdoms are near to God, His patience towards them, His compassions
over them more than particular persons sheweth it plainly. But kingdoms
willingly engaging themselves for His kingdom, His Christ, His saints,
the purity of religion, His worship and government, in all particulars,
and in all humility sitting down at His feet to receive the law, and the
rule from His mouth: what a price doth He set upon such? Especially,
when (as we this day) sensible of our infirmity, and of an unfaithful
heart not steady with our God, but apt to start from the cause, if we
feel the knife or the fire; who bind ourselves with cords, as a
sacrifice to the horns of the altar; we invocate the name of the great
God, that His vows, yea, His curse may be upon us, if we do not this;
yea, though we suffer for so doing, that is, if we endeavour not so far
as the Lord shall assist us by His grace, to advance the kingdom of the
Lord Jesus Christ here upon earth, and make Jerusalem once more the
praise of the whole world, notwithstanding all the contradictions of
men.
What is this but the contents and matter of our oath? What do we
covenant? What do we vow? Is it not the preservation of religion, where
it is reformed, and the reformation of religion, where it needs? Is it
not the reformation of three kingdoms, and a reformation universal, in
doctrine, discipline, and worship, in whatsoever the word shall discover
unto us? To practise is a fruit of love; to reform, a fruit of zeal; but
so to reform, will be a token of great prudence and circumspection in
each of these churches: and all this to be done according to God's
word, the best rule, and according to the best reformed churches, and
best interpreters of this rule. If England hath obtained to any greater
perfection in so handling the word of righteousness, and truths that are
according to godliness, as to make men more godly, more righteous: and,
if in the churches of Scotland any more light and beauty in matters of
order and discipline, by which their assemblies are more orderly: or, if
to any other church or person, it hath been given better to have learned
Christ in any of His ways, than any of us, we shall humbly bow, and kiss
their lips that can speak right words unto us, in this matter, and help
us into the nearest uniformity with the word and mind of Christ in this
great work of Reformation.
Honourable and reverend brethren, there cannot be a more direct and
effectual way to exhort and persuade the wise, and men of sad and
serious spirits (and such are you to whom I am commanded to speak this
day) than to let into their understandings the weight, and worth, and
great importance of the work, they are persuaded unto. This oath is
such, and, in the matter and consequence of it, of such concernment, as
I can truly say, It is worthy of us; yea, of all these kingdoms; yea, of
all the kingdoms of the world; for it is swearing fealty and allegiance
unto Christ, the King of kings; and giving up of all these kingdoms
which are in His inheritance, to be subdued more to His throne, and
ruled more by His sceptre, upon whose shoulders the government is laid,
and "of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no
end." Yea, we find this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it,
to have been the oath of the greatest angel that ever was, who setting
his feet upon two of God's kingdoms, the one upon the sea, the other
upon the earth, lifting up his hand to heaven, as you are to do this
day, and so swearing. The effect of that oath you shall find to be this,
"That the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord and His
Christ, and He shall reign forever." His oath was for the full and final
accomplishment, this of yours for a gradual, yet a great performance
towards it.
That which the apostles and primitive times did so much and so long pray
for, tho' never long with much quietness enjoyed; that which our fathers
in these latter times have fasted, prayed and mourned after, yet
attained not; even the cause which many dear saints now with God, have
furthered by extremest sufferings, poverty, imprisonment, banishment,
death, even ever since the first dawning of reformation: that and the
very same is the very cause and work that we are come now, through the
mercy of Jesus Christ, not only to pray for, but swear to. And surely it
can be no other, but the result and answer of such prayers and tears, of
such sincerity and sufferings, that three kingdoms should be thus born,
or rather new-born in a day; that these kingdoms should be wrought about
to so great an engagement, than which nothing is higher. For this end
kings reign, kingdoms stand, and states are upheld.
It is a special grace and favour of God unto you, brethren, (Reverend
and Honourable) to vouchsafe you the opportunity, and to put into your
hearts, as this day, to engage your lives and estates in matters so much
concerning Him and His glory. And if you should do no more, but lay a
foundation stone in this great work, and by so doing engage posterity
after you to finish it, it were honour enough: but there may yet further
use be made of you, who now are to take this oath. You are designed as
chief master-builders, and choice instruments for the effecting of this
settled peace and reformation; which, if the Lord shall please to finish
in your hands, a greater happiness on earth, nor a greater means to
augment your glory and crown in heaven, you are not capable of. And
this, let me further add for your encouragement, of what extensive good,
and fruit in the success of it, this very oath may prove to be, we know
not. God hath set His covenant like the heavens, not only for duration,
but like also for extension. The heavens move and roll about, and so
communicate their light, and heat, and virtue, to all places and parts
of the earth; so doth the covenant of God; so may this gift be given to
other covenants, that are framed to this pattern. How much this solemn
league and oath may provoke other reformed churches to a further
reformation of themselves; what light and heat it may communicate abroad
to other parts of the world, it is only in Him to define, to whom is
given the utmost ends of the earth for His inheritance, and worketh by
His exceeding great power great things out of small beginnings.
But however, this I am sure of, it is a way in all probability most
likely to enable us to preserve and defend our religion against our
common enemies; and possibly a more sure foundation this day will be
laid for ruining popery and prelacy, the chief of them, than yet hath
been led unto in any age. For popery hath been a religion ever dexterous
in fencing and mounting itself by association and joint strength. All
sorts of professors amongst them are cast into fraternities and
brotherhoods; and these orders carefully united by vow one with another,
and under some more general notion of common dependence. Such states
also and kingdoms, as they have thus made theirs, they endeavour to
improve and secure by strict combinations and leagues each to other;
witness of late years that _la sainte ligue_, the holy league. It will
not be unworthy your consideration, whether, seeing the preservation of
popery hath been by leagues and covenant, God may not make a league or
covenant to be the destruction of it. Nay, the very rise of popery
seemeth to be after such a manner, by kings, that is kingdoms assenting
and agreeing perhaps by some joint covenant (the text saith, "with one
mind," why not then with one mouth) to give their power and strength
unto the beast, and make war against the Lamb. For you read, "the Lamb
shall overcome the beast," and possibly with the same weapons. He is the
Lord of lords, and King of kings, He can unite kings and kingdoms, and
give them one mind also to destroy the whore, and be her utter ruin. And
may not this day's work be a happy beginning of such a blessed
expedition?