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 our 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 private, in all duties we owe to God and man, is 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 Anti-Christian 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 tranquillity of Christian kingdoms and commonwealths.

THE NEGATIVE OATH.

I, A. B. do swear from my heart that I will not, directly, nor indirectly, adhere unto, or willingly assist the King in this war, or in this cause against the Parliament, nor any forces raised without the consent of the two houses of Parliament, in this

cause or war. And I do likewise swear, that my coming and submitting myself under the power and protection of the Parliament, is without any manner of design whatsoever, to the prejudice of the proceedings of this present Parliament, and without the direction, privity, or advice of the King, or any of his council or officers, other than what I have now made known. So help me God, and the contents of this Book.

Reasons why the University of Oxford cannot submit to the Covenant, the Negative Oath, the Ordinance concerning Discipline and Directory, mentioned in the late Ordinance of Parliament for the Visitation of that place.

WHEREAS by an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the visitation and reformation of the University of Oxford, lately published, power is given to certain persons therein named as Visitors, to inquire concerning those of the said University that neglect to take the solemn League and Covenant, and the Negative Oath being tendered unto them, and likewise concerning those that oppose the execution of the Ordinances of Parliament concerning the Discipline and Directory, or shall not promote or cause the same to be put in execution, according to their several places and callings; we the Masters, Scholars, and other officers and members of the said University, not to judge the consciences of others, but to clear ourselves before God and the world from all suspicion of obstinacy, whilst we discharge our own, present to consideration the true reasons of our present judgment concerning the said Covenant, Oath, and

Ordinances; expecting so much justice, and hoping for so much charity, as either not to be pressed to conform to what is required in any the premises, further than our present judgments will warrant us; or not condemned for the refusing so to do, without clear and real satisfaction given to our just scruples.

SECTION J.

Of the Preface to the Covenant.

The exceptions against the Introductory Preface to the Covenant, although we insist not much upon, because it may be said to be no part of the Covenant; yet among the things therein contained, the acknowledgment whereof is implicitly required of every Covenanter,

1. We are not able to say, That the rage, power, and presumption of the enemies of God (in the sense there intended) is at this time increased. 2. Nor can truly affirm, that we had used, or given consent to, any supplication or remonstrance to the purposes therein expressed. 3. Nor do conceive the entering into such a mutual League and Covenant to be a lawful, proper, and probable means to preserve ourselves and our religion from ruin and destruc

tion.

4. Nor can believe the same to be according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms or the example of God's people in other nations; when we find not the least footstep in our histories of a sworn covenant ever entered into by the people of this kingdom upon any occasion whatsoever: nor can readily remember any commendable example of the like done in any other nation; but are rather told by the

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defenders of this Covenant, that' the world never saw the like before.

SECTION II.

Of the Covenant in Gross.

FIRST, we are not satisfied how we can submit to the taking thereof, as it is now imposed under a penalty.

2

1. Such imposition (to our seeming) being repugnant to the nature of a covenant, which being a contract, implieth a2 voluntary mutual consent of the contractors, whereunto men are to be induced by persuasions, not compelled by power. Insomuch that the very words of this Covenant in the preface, conclusion, and .whole frame thereof, run in such a form throughout, as import a consent rather grounded upon prudential motives than extorted by ri

gour.

2. Without betraying the liberty, which by our protestation we are bound, and in the third article of this Covenant must swear, with our lives and fortunes to preserve. To which liberty the imposition of a new oath, other than is established by act of Parliament, is expressed in the Petition of Rights and by the Lords and Com

1 "Such an oath as for matter, persons, and other circumstances, the like hath not been in any age, or oath read of in "sacred or human stories." M. Nye, Covenant with Narrative,

p. 12.

2

Factum est duorum pluriumve in idem placitum consensus.' L. i. ff. de Pactis.

3" Whereas many of them have had an oath administered unto them, not warrantable by the laws and statutes of this realm; they do humbly pray, that no man hereafter be compelled to take such an oath.-All which they most humbly pray-as their rights and liberties according to the laws and statutes of this realm." Petition of Right, 3 Carol.

mons in their Declarations1 acknowledged to be contrary.

3. Without acknowledging in the imposers a greater power than, for aught that appeareth to us, hath been in former times challenged; or can consist with our former protestation, (if we rightly understand it,) in sundry of the

most material branches thereof.

Neither, secondly, are we satisfied, although the Covenant should not be imposed upon us at all, but only recommended to us, and then left to our choice;

1. How we should in wisdom and duty, (being subjects,) of our own accord and free will, enter into a Covenant, wherein he, whose subjects we are, is in any wise concerned, without his consent, either expressed or reasonably presumed; it being in his power (as we conceive) by the equity of the law, Numb. xxx. to annul and make void the same at his plea

sure.

2. How we can (now that his Majesty hath by his public Interdict sufficiently made known his pleasure in that behalf) enter into a Covenant, the taking whereof he hath expressly forbidden, without forfeiting that obedience, which, (as we are persuaded,) by our natural allegiance and former oaths, we owe unto all such his Majesty's commands, as are not in our apprehensions repugnant to the will of God, or the positive laws of this kingdom.

1 It is declared, 16 Jan. 1642, "That the King cannot compel men to be sworn without an act of Parliament." Exact. Collect. p. 859, 860.

2 Proclam. of 9 Octob. 19 Car.