Westminster Assembly and English Parliament, af∣firm, "The honourable houses of Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, the renowned city of London, and multitudes of other persons of all ranks and qua∣lity in this nation, and the whole body of Scotland, have all sworn it, rejoicing at the oath so graciously seconded from heaven. God will, doubtless, stand by all those, who with singleness of heart shall now enter into an everlasting covenant with the LordExhortation to take the Covenant, FEBRUARY 1644.." Ru∣therford and his sixteen faithful brethren, affirm, that "this Solemn League was actually sworn and taken by the whole body of Scotland,—also by the honourable houses of the parliament of England, the Assembly of Divines, the renowned city of London, and multitudes not only of the people, but of persons of eminent rank and quality throughout that nation, and the nation of Ireland, and all this by the authority of the powers, civil and ecclesiastic. Who can have for∣got, how deliberately it was resolved, and how unani∣mously it was concluded? The respective authorities of both church and state in Scotland, did all with one voice approve and embrace the same, as the most power∣ful mean by the blessing of God for settling and preser∣ving the true Protestant religion, with perfect peace in these nations, and propagating the same to other na∣tions, did ordain it to be, with humiliation and all reli∣gious solemnities, received, sworn and subscribed by all ministers and professors within this kirk, and sub∣jects within this kingdom,—which was accordingly done by the whole body of the land, and in many congregations attended with the feelings of that joy, and comfortable influence of the Spirit of God,—which they did find in so great a measure upon the re∣novation of the national covenant in 1638.—And this solemn oath of God being taken by the honoura∣ble houses of the Parliament of England, by the re∣nowned city of London, by the reverend Assembly of Divines,—the Lords and Commons, upon the account of its being thought a fit and excellent means to ac∣quire the favour of God towards the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, and to establish 0