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TO THE READER.
THE Design of Publishing this Treatise, especially at this time, is to evince to the World, what have been the Prin∣ciples of the Church of Scotland, and Her Faithful and Constant Wrestlings against abjur'd Prelacy, that bitter Root of Human Invention, obtruded upon this Church, contrary to Her Received Reformation, and diametrically opposite to the Word of GOD, and our Covenants, both National and Solemn League. The Scope and Design of this Treatise, consists in these Two; First, In asserting and proving from Scripture, the irrevocable Tye and Obligation, this Land lies under to prosecute the Ends, and Designs of these solemn Sworn Covenants. Secondly, In answering some Objections adduced for debilitating their Obligations. This Treatise, by the Blessing of GOD upon the Conscientious Perusal, may be a Mean to discover our Ancient and Received Principles, and Practices in adhering to these Covenants, even to the Effusion of much Blood; and also, how far we are degenerated from our First Love and Wonted Zeal to, and Apostacy from our Covenant-Engagements, so as the Sense of our Covenant-Obligations, is not only slipt out of the Memories of some, but also out of the Judg∣ments of not a few. If the Reader find any thing not so well con∣nected, let it not be imputed to the Author, but to the Pen of him who gathered it from the Author's Mouth.