The modern pleas for comprehension, toleration, and the taking away the obligation to the renouncing of the covenant considered and discussed.

ARTICLE 1.

That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the Grace of God, endeavour in our several Places and Callings the preservation of the Reform∣ed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government against our Common Ene∣mies: 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 endea∣vour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest Con∣junction and Vniformity in Religion, in Confession of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for Worship and Catechizing; That we and our Posteri∣ty after us, may as Brethren, live in Faith and Love, and that the Lord may

delight to dwell in the midst of us.

In which Article it is easie to ob∣serve many things lyable to very just and material Exceptions; as first, By what Authority can any private man in England, if he keeps himself with∣in his own Place and Calling, inter∣meddle either in the Preservation or Alteration of the Religion and Go∣vernment of the Church and King∣dom of Scotland? Nay, by what Authority can any Person in this King∣dom whatever, be he in what Pub∣lick Capacity he will (His Majesty on∣ly excepted, or those who act by Com∣mission from Him) have any thing to do with the Concerns in that King∣dom? And secondly, this first Part of the Article may upon very good Grounds be supposed to be incon∣sistent with the remaining Parts of it: For we are sworn to preserve the Do∣ctrine, Discipline, &c. of Scotland, and withall, to bring the three Kingdoms to the nearest Uniformity in Religion, Con∣fession of Faith, form of Church-Go∣vernment, Directory for Worship and

Catechizing; So that Scotland must necessarily be our Pattern; and yet in the same breath we are sworn to reform England and Ireland, accord∣ing to the Word of God, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches: And it is more than possi∣ble, that our own Church, as it is al∣ready by Law established, or at least some other Church beyond the Seas, may come altogether as near the Word of God, as that of Scotland: And what is to be done in that Case? And in the third place, all the other Dissenters whatever, besides the Pres∣byterians, are highly concerned to see that the Covenant is not looked up∣on as a thing of any obligation; be∣cause that that is express for Unifor∣mity, and as such, is not less than ab∣solutely inconsistent with Liberty of Conscience; and as hard thoughts soever as the smaller Sects have enter∣tained concerning the Bishops; they are much more concerned to secure themselves against not a few, nor the least Considerable, among their own dear Brethren,