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HE article of this Covenant, which was at the first fubfcription

Treferred 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 subcribe according to the determination aforefaid.

FINI S.

SOLEMN LEAGUE
SOLEMN

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 subscribed several times by King CHARLES II. and by all Kanks 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, and let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

Prov. xxv. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

2 Chron. xv. 15. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: For they had fworn with all their heart.

Gal. iii. 15.

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-Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed by an oath, no man difannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Aflembly at Edinburgh, Auguft 17. 1643. Seff. 14.

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

THE

HE Affembly having recommended unto a Committee appointed by them to join with the Committee of the honourable Convention 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 forefaid Committees the Covenant after mentioned, as the refult of their confultations: And having taken the fame, as a matter of fo public concernment, and fo 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 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 fettling and preferving the true Protestant religion, with perfect peace in his Majefty's dominions, and propagating the fame to other nations, and for eftablishing his Majefty's Throne to all ages and generations. And therefore, with their beft affections, recommend the fame to the honourable Convention of Estates, that, being examined and approved by them, it may be fent with all diligence to the kingdom of England, that, being received and approven there, the fame may be, with public 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

Charles I. Parl .3 Seff. 1. Ac 5.

ACT anent the ratification of the calling of the Convention, ratification of the League and Covenant, articles of treaty betwixt the kingdoms of Scotland and England, and remanent acts of the Convention of Eftates, and committee thereof.

At Edinburgh, July 15. 1644.

HE Eftates of Parliament, presently conveened by virtue of the laft act of the last Parliament holden by his Majefty, and the three Estates, in anno 1641, confidering, that the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council, and Commiffioners for conferving the articles of the treaty, having, according to their interefts and truft committed to them by his Majefty and Eftates of Parliament, used all means, by fupplications, remonftrances, and fending of Commiffioners, for fecuring the peace of this Kingdom, and removing the unhappy diftractions betwixt his Majefty and his fubjects in England, in fuch a way as might serve most for his Majefty's honour, and good of both kingdoms; and their humble and dutiful endeavours for fo good ends having proven ineffectual, and their offer of mediation and interceffion being refufed by his Majefty; and thereby finding the weight and difficulty of affairs, and the charge lying on them to be greater than they could bear; did therefore, in the month of May 1643, meet together with the Commiffioners for the common burdens, that, by joint advice, fome refolution might be taken therein; and in refpect of the danger imminent to the true Proteftant religion, his Majesty's honour, and peace of their kingdoms, by the multitude of Papifts and their adherents in arms in England and Ireland, and of many other public and important affairs, which could not admit delay, and did require the advice of the reprefentative body of the kingdom; appointed and caufed indict a meeting of the Convention of Eftates (his Majefty having formerly refused their humble defires for a Parliament) to be on the 22d of June following; which diet being frequently kept by the Noblemen, Commiffioners of fhires and burghs, and they finding thefe dangers against this kirk and ftate ftill increafing, refolved, after ferious deliberation and advice of the General Affembly, and joint concurrence of the Commiffioners authorized by the Parliament of England, that one of the chiefeft remedies, for preventing of these and the like dangers, for prefervation of religion, and both kingdoms from ruin and deftruction, and for procuring of peace, That both kingdoms fhould, for these ends, enter into Covenant; which was accordingly drawn up, and chearfully embraced and allowed.And at laft, a treaty was agreed unto by both kingdoms, concerning the faid Covenant, and affiftance craved from this kingdom by the kingdom of England, in purfuance of the ends exprefled therein:

therein:- And the Eftates being still defirous to ufe all good means, that, without the effufion of more blood, there may be fuch a blessed pacification betwixt his Majefty and his fubjects, as may tend to the good of religion, his Majefty's true honour and fafety, and happinefs of his people; did therefore give commiffion 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 inftructions.

And the faid Estates having taken the proceedings above written to their confideration, to find and declare, That the Lords of council and confervers of peace, did behave themselves as faithful counfellors, loyal fubjects, and good patriots, in tendering their humble endeavours for removing the diftractions betwixt his Majefty and his fubjects, and in calling the Commiffioners for the common burdens, and by joint advice appointing the late meeting of Convention, wherein they have approven themselves anfwerable to the duty of their places, and that trust committed 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 hath been at any time bygone; and ratifies and approves the feveral acts made by them, or their committee, for enjoining the Covenant.And also, the faid Estates 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 refor mation 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 Estate authorizing the fame League and Covenant; together alfo with the forefaid articles of treaty agreed upon betwixt the faid Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates of Scotland, and the Commiffioners of both the Houses of Parliament of England, concerning the faid Solemn League and Covenant.-And the faid Eftates ordains the fame acts, with the League and Covenant above specified, acts authoriz ing the fame, and the articles of treaty forefaid, to have the full force and strength of perfect laws and acts of Parliament, and to be obferved by all his Majefty's lieges, conform to the tenors thereof refpective. Of the which League and Covenant,-the tenor follows.

THE

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