The nullity of the pretended-assembly at Saint Andrews & Dundee

A Solemn Acknowledgement of publick Sins and Breaches of the Covenant; And a solemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therin, namely those which do in a more special way relate unto the Dangers of these Times.

WE Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts within this King∣dom, by the good hand of God upon us, taking in serious consideration the many sad afflictions and deep distresses wherwith we have been exercised for a long time past, and that the Land after it hath been sore wasted with the Sword and the Pesti∣lence, and threatned with Famine, and that shame and contempt hath been poured out from the Lord against many thousands of our Nation who did in a sinful way make War upon the Kingdom of England, contrary to the Testimony of his Servants and desires of his People, and that the remnants of that Army returning to this Land, have spoiled and oppressed many of our Brethren, and that the Malignant party is still numerous, and retaining their former Principles, wait for an opportunity to Raise a New and Dangerous War, not only unto the rending of the bowels of this Kingdom, but unto the dividing us from England, and overturning of the work of God in all the three Kingdoms: And considering also that a cloud of calamities doth still hang over our heads, and threaten us with sad things to come, We cannot but look upon these things as from the Lord, who is righteous in all his wayes, feeding us with the bread of tears, and making us to drink the waters of affliction, until we be taught to know. How evil and bitter a thing it is, to depart from him, by breaking the Oath and Covenant which we have made with him, and that we may be humbled before him by confessing our sin, and forsaking the evil of our way.

Therefore being pressed with so great necessities and straits, and warranted by the word of God, and having the example of Gods

people of old, who in the time of their troubls, and when they were to seek delivery and a right way for themselvs, that the Lord might be with them to prosper them, did humble themselves before him, and make a free and particular confession of the sins of their Princes, their Rulers, their Captains, their Priests and their People, and did en∣gage themselves to do no more so, but to reform their wayes, and be stedfast in his Covenant; and remembring the practise of our Pre∣decessors in the year 1596. wherein the Gen. Assembly, and all the Kirk Judicatories, with the concurrence of many of the Nobility, Gentry & Burgesses, did with many tears acknowledge before God the breach of the National Covenant, & engaged themselves to a re∣formation, even as our Predecessors and theirs had before done in the Gen. Assembly and convention of Estates in the year 1567. And perceiving that this Duty, when gone about out of conscience and in sincerity, hath alwaies been attended with a reviving out of trou∣bles, and with a blessing and success from Heaven: We do humbly and sincerely as in his sight, who is the searcher of hearts, acknow∣ledge the many sins and great transgressions of the Land: We have done wickedly, our Kings, our Princes, our Nobles, our Judges, our Officers, our Teachers, and our People: Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly-spoken unto us, we have not hearkened to his voice, al∣beit he hath followed us with tender mercies, we have not been al∣lured to wait upon him and walk in his way; and though he hath striken us, yet we have not grieved: nay, though he hath consumed us, we have refused to receive correction. We have not remembered to render unto the Lord according to his goodness, and according to our own vowes and promises, but have gone away backward by a continued course of back-sliding, and have broken all the Articles of that solemn League and Covenant which we swore before God, Angels and Men.

Albeit there be in the Land many of all ranks, who be for a Te∣stimony unto the truth, & for a name of joy & praise unto the Lord, by living godly, studying to keep their garments pure, and being sted∣fast in the Covenant and Cause of God; yet we have reason to ac∣knowledge that most of us have not endeavored with that reality, sincerity, and constancy, that did become us, to preserve the work of Reformation in the Kirk of Scotland; many have satisfied them∣selves with the purity of the Ordinances, neglecting the power ther∣of; yea, some have turned aside to crooked wayes, destructive to

both. The prophane, loose, and insolent carriage of many in our Ar∣mies, who went to the Assistance of our Brethren in England, and the tamperings and unstraight dealing of some of our Commissioners and others of our Nation in London, the Isle of Wight, and other places of that Kingdom, have proved great lets to the work of Re∣formation, and setling of Kirk government there, wherby Error and Schism in that Land have been encreased, and Sectaries hardened in their way. We have been so far from endeavoring the extirpation of Prophaness, and what is contrary to the power of godliness, that prophanity hath been much winked at, and prophane persons much countenanced, and many times imployed, untill iniquity and ungod∣liness hath gone over the face of the Land as a flood; nay, sufficient care hath not been had, to separate betwixt the precious and the vile, by debarring from the Sacrament all ignorant and scandalous persons, according to the Ordinances of this Kirk.

Neither have the Priviledges of the Parliaments and Liberties of the Subject been d••ly tendered, but some amongst our selves have labored to put into the hands of our King, an arbitrary and unlimi∣ted power destructive to both; and many of us have been accessory of late to those means and wayes, whereby the freedom and privi∣ledges of Parliaments have been encroached upon, and the Subjects oppressed in their Consciences, Persons, and Estates: Neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might harden the King in his evil way; but upon the contrary, he hath not only been per∣mitted, but many of us have been instrumental to make him exercise his power in many things tending to the prejudice of Religion and of the Covenant, and of the Peace and safety of these Kingdoms; which is so far from the right way of preserving his Majesties Per∣son and Authority, that it cannot but provoke the Lord against him unto the hazard of both; nay, under a pretence of relieving and do∣ing for the King whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the House of God, some have ranversed, and violated most of all the Articles of the Covenant.

Our own consciences within, and Gods judgments upon us with∣out, do convince us of the manifold wilful renewed breaches of that Article which concerneth the discovery and punishment of Malig∣nants, whose crimes have not only been connived at, but dispensed with and pardoned, and themselves received unto intimate fellow∣ship with our selves, and entrusted with our Counsels, admitted un∣to

our Parliaments, and put in places of Power and Authority for managing the publick Affairs of the Kingdom, whereby in Gods justice they got at last into their hands the whole power and strength of the Kingdom, both in Judicatories and Armies, and did imploy the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful Engagement in War against the Kingdom of England, notwith∣standing of the dissent of many considerable members of Parliament, who had given constant proof of their integrity in the Cause from the beginning, of many faithful testimonies and free warnings of the servants of God, of the supplications of many Synods, Presbyteries and Shy••es, and of the Declarations of the Gen. Assembly and their Commissioners to the contrary: Which engagement as it hath been the cause of much sin, so also of much misery and calamity unto this Land, and holds forth to us the grievousness of our sin of complying with Malignants in the greatness of our judgment, that we may be taught never to split again upon the same Rock, upon which the Lord hath set so remarkable a Beacon. And after all that is come to pass unto us because of this our trespass, and after that grace hath been shewed unto us from the Lord our God, by breaking these mens yoke from off our necks, and putting us again into a capacity to act for the good of Religion, our own safety, and the Peace and safety of this Kingdom, should we again break his Commandment and Covenant by joyning once more with the people of these abo∣minations, and taking into out bosome those Serpents which had formerly stung us almost unto death: This as it would argue great madness and folly upon our part, so no doubt, if it be not avoided, will provoke the Lord against us to consume us until there be no remnant nor escaping in the Land.

And albeit the Peace and Union betwixt the Kingdoms be a great blessing of God unto both, and a Bond which we are obliged to preserve unviolated, and to endeavour that justice may be done upon the opposers thereof: Yet some in this Land, who have come under the Bond of the Covenant, have made it their great study how to dissolve this Union, and few o•• no endeavors have been used by any of us for punishing of such.

We have suffered many of our Brethren in severall parts of the Land, to be oppressed of the common Enemy, without compassion or relief: There hath been great murmuring and repining because of expence of means and pains in doing of our duty; Many by per∣swasion

or terror, have suffered themselves to be divided and with∣drawn, to make defection to the contrary part; Many have turned off to a detestable indifferency and neutrality in this Cause, which so much concerneth the glory of GOD, and the good of these King∣doms; Nay, many have made it their study to walk so, as they might comply with all times, and all the Revolutions thereof. It hath not been our care to countenance, encourage, intrust and em∣ploy such onely, as from their hearts did affect and minde Gods Work; But the hearts of such many times have been discouraged, and their hands weakened, their sufferings neglected, and themselves slighted, and many who were once open Enemies, and alwayes secret underminers countenanced and employed; Nay, even those who had been looked upon as Incendiaries, and upon whom the Lord had set marks of desperate Malignancy, Falshood and Deceit, were brought in, as fit to manage Publick Affairs; Many have been the lets and impediments that have been cast in the way to retard and obstruct the Lords Work, and some have keeped secret, what of themselves they were not able to suppresse and overcome.

Besides these and many other breaches of the Articles of the Co∣venant in the matter thereof, which concerneth every one of us to search out and acknowledge before the Lord, as we would wish his wrath to be turned away from us; So have many of us failed ex∣ceedingly in the manner of our following and pursuing the duties contained therein, not onely seeking great things for our selves, and mixing of private Interests and ends concerning our selves, friends and followers, with those things which concern the Publick Good, but many times preferring such to the Honour of God and good of his Cause, and retarding Gods Work, untill we might carry along with us our own interests and designes. It hath been our way to trust in the means, and to rely upon the Arm of Flesh for successe, Albeit the Lord hath many times made us meet with disappointment therein, and stained the pride of all our Glory, by blasting every car∣nall confidence unto us: We have followed for the most part the counsels of flesh and blood, and walked more by the rules of Policie then Piety, and have hearkened more unto men then unto God.

Albeit we made solemn publick profession before the World of our unfained desires to be humbled before the Lord for our own sins, and the sins of these Kingdoms, especially for our under valuing of the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, and that we have not la∣boured

for the power thereof, and received Christ into our hearts, and walked worthy of him in our lives, and of our true and unfai∣ned purpose, desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and private, in all duties which we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a Real Reformation, that the Lord might turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and establish these Kirks and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace; Yet we have refu∣sed to be reformed, and have walked proudly and obstinatly against the Lord, not valuing his Gospel, nor submitting our selves unto the obedience thereof, nor seeking after Christ, nor studying to honour him in the Excellencie of his Person, nor employ him in the vertue of his Offices, not making conscience of publick Or∣dinances, nor private nor secret duties, nor studying to edifie one another in love. The ignorance of God and of his Son Jesus Christ, prevailes exceedingly in the Land; The greatest part of Masters of families amongst Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses and Com∣mons neglect to seek God in their Families, and to endeavour the Reformation thereof; And albeit it hath been much pressed, yet few of our Nobles and great ones ever to this day could be perswa∣ded to perform Family duties themselves and in their own persons; which makes so necessary and usefull a duty to be mis••regarded by others of inferior rank; Nay, many of the Nobiiity, Gentry and Burrows who should have been examples of Godlinesse and sober walking unto others, have been ring-leaders of excesse and rioting. Albeit we be the Lords people engaged to him in a solemn way, yet to this day we have not made it our study, that Judicatories and Armies should consist of, and places of power and trust be filled with men of a blamelesse and Christian conversation, and of known integrity and approven fidelity, affection and zeal unto the Cause of God, but not onely those who have been neutrall and indifferent, but dis-affected and Malignant, and others who have been prophane and scandalous, have been intrusted, By which it hath come to passe that Judicatories have been the seats of injustice and iniquity, and many in our Armies by their mis-carriages have become our plague unto the great prejudice of the Cause of God, the great scandall of the Gospel, & the great increase of loosness & prophanity through∣out al the Land. It were impossible to reckon up al the abominations that are in the land, but the blaspheming of the name of God, swea∣ring by the Creatures, prophanation of the Lords day, uncleanness,

drunkenness, excess & rioting, vanity of apparrel, lying & deceit, rai∣ling & cursing, arbitary & uncontrolled oppression, & grinding of the faces of the poor by landlords & others in place and power, are be∣come ordinary & common sins; And besides all these things, there be many other transgressions, whereof the land wherein we live is guilty: All which we desire to acknowledge and to be humbled for, that the world may bear witnes with us, that rightousnes belongeth unto God, and shame & confusion of face unto us as appears this day. And because it is needful for these who find mercy not only to confess, but also to forsake their Sin; therefore that the reality and sincerity of our repentance may appear, We do resolve, and solemnly engage our selves before the Lord, carefully to avoid for the time to come all these offences, whereof we have now made solemn pub∣lick Acknowledgment, and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto: And to testifie the integrity of our resolution herein, and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords strength to perform the same, we do again renew our solemn League and Covenant, promising hereafter to make conscience of all the du∣ties whereunto we are obliged in all the heads and Articles there∣of, particularly of these which follow:

1. Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and pre∣cious, the advancing and promoving the power thereof against all ungodliness and profanity, the securing and preserving the purity thereof against all error, heresie, and schism; and namely, Inde∣pendency, Anabaptism, Antinomianism, Arminianism, Socinia∣nism, Familism, Libertinism, Scepticism, and Erastianism, and the carrying on the work of uniformity shall be studied and endea∣voured by us before all wordly interest, whether concerning the King, or our selves, or any other whatsoever. 2. Because many have of late labored to supplant the liberties of the Kirk, we shall maintain and defend the Kirk of Scotland, in all her liberties and priviledges, against all who shall oppose or undermine the same, or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsoever. 3. We shall vindicate & maintain the liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their consciences, persons and Estates. 4. We shall carefully maintain and defend the union betwixt the Kingdoms, and avoid every thing that may weaken the same, or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those who have invaded the Kingdom of England. 5. As we have been alwaies loyal to our King, so we shall still endeavour to give unto God that which is

Gods, and to Caesar the things which are Caesars. 6. We shall be so far from conniving at, complying with, or countenancing of Ma∣lignancy, injustice, iniquity, prophanity, and impiety, that we shall not only avoid, and discountenance those things, and cherish and en∣courage these persons, who are zealous for the Cause of God, and walk according to the Gospel; But also shall take a more effectual course then heretofore in our respective Places and Callings, for pu∣nishing and suppressing these evils, and faithfully endeavor that the best and fittest remedies may be applied for taking away the causes thereof, and advancing the knowledge of God, and Holiness and Righteousness in the Land. And therefore in the last place, as we shall earnestly pray unto God, That he would give us able men fearing God, men of truth, and hating Covetousness, to judge and bear charge among his people, so we shall according to our Places and Callings, endeavor that Judicatories and all places of Power and Trust both in Kirk and State may consist of, and be filled with such men as are of known good affection to the Cause of God, and of a blameless and Christian conversation.

And because there may be many, who heretofore have not made conscience of the Oath of God, but some through fear, others by perswasion, and upon base ends, and humane interests, have entered therunto, who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord in swearing falsly by his name, Therefore we who do now renew our Covenant in reference to these duties and all other duties contained therin, Do in the sight of him who is the searcher of hearts, solemnly profess, That it is not upon any po∣litick advantage, or private interest, or by-end, or because of any ter∣ror or perswasion from men, or hypocritically and deceitfully, that we do again take upon us the Oath of God, But honestly and sin∣cerly, and from the sence of our duty, and that therefore denying our selves and our own things, and laying aside all self interest and ends, We shall above all things seek the honor of God, the good of his Cause, and the wealth of his people, and that forsaking the coun∣sels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnal confidences, we shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of his word, and hearken to the voice of his servants: In all which professing our own weakness, We do earnestly pray to God, who is the Father of mercies, through his Son Jesus Christ, to be merciful unto us, and to enable us by the power of his might, that we may do our duty unto the praise of his Grace in the Churches. Amen.