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

ARTICLE 4.

We shall with all faithfulness endea∣vour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries, Malig∣nants or evil Instruments, by hindering the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from His People, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making any Faction or Parties among the People contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may be brought to publick tri∣al, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the Supreme Iudicatories of both Kingdoms respectively, or others, having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.

It is very well known what the meaning of Incendiaries and Malig∣nants is, in this Article: And it is shrewdly to be suspected, That those who are perswaded of the Obligati∣on of this Oath, are likewise per∣swaded, that those Incendiaries and

Malignants, have not as yet been brought to condign punishment; and whatever benefit the Covenanters themselves may receive by an Act of Oblivion, it is much to be suspected, that those who are covenanted against are looked upon as not capable of receiving any advantage by it: And there is reason to believe, that those who scruple the Validity of that Act of Parliament which declares against the Obligation of the Covenant, are by no means to be trusted, lest, if opportunity should serve, they would not likewise scruple the Validity of that Act of Parliament which gave them Indempnity. For thus, accord∣ing to their own Grounds, they may argue, The Act of Oblivion is against the Covenant, and then it followeth in the next place, that it is against their Consciences; It is against the Oath of God lying upon themselves and upon the whole Nation and upon all Posterity, and no humane Act or Power can absolve them or any one else from it; and every thing done against the Covenant is null and void,

the whole Nation being bound up by it to all Ages. For therefore it was That the Covenant was hung up in the Parliament, as a Compass whereby to steer their Debates, and to dictate to all, who shall succeed in that place and capacity, what obligation doth be∣fore God lie upon the Body of this Na∣tion, as I have before observed. Now upon these mens suppositions, there is no Security to be had, but that they who passed an Act of Oblivion, to pardon any thing done against the Covenant, are involved in guilt and liable to punishment for so doing; and are upon those very accounts to expect, when Providence shall put an opportunity into the hands of these Zealots, the very same Return which the Prophet made to Ahab, 1 King. 20. v. 42. Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go a Man whom I have ap∣pointed to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

The next thing which I shall ob∣serve in this Article is this, That those Persons who covenanted together,

among other things, to maintain the Liberties of the Kingdom, have so far forgot themselves, as that in that very Covenant they have set up an Arbitrary Government: The Rule of condign punishment here set down, is not any known Law, no, not so much as a new one of their own ma∣king; but, as the degree of their of∣fences shall require or deserve, or the Supreme Iudicatories of both Kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge conve∣nient. By which words it is plain, that they did not look upon it as sufficient to take an arbitary Power into their own hands, but likewise did delegate it to as many else besides as they pleased.