Reasons
against
the
rendering
of
Our
sworne
and
subscribed
Confession
of
Faith
.
1.
IF
wee
should
rendér
Our
subscribed
Covenant
,
wee
can
not
bee
free
of
the
great
guiltinesse
of
Perjurie
before
GOD
:
for
as
Wè
were
drawn
by
necessitie
to
enter
into
a
mutuall
Union
and
Conjunction
amongst
Our selves
.
So
are
Wee
bound
not
only
by
the
Laws
of
GOD
and
nature
,
but
by
Our
solemne
Oath
and
Subscription
,
against
all
dangerous
or
divisive
motions
,
by
all
lawfull
meanes
to
promove
and
observe
the
same
without
violation
,
and
not
suffer
our selves
by
whatsoever
suggestion
,
allurement
,
or
terror
,
directly
or
indirectly
to
be
divided
,
or
drawn
from
it
:
And
it
is
too
manifest
,
that
no
mo●ion
can
be
more
divisive
upon
the
one
side
,
nor
can
we
upon
the
other
part
more
directly
give
way
to
division
,
then
willingly
,
and
with
our
own
consent
to
render
the
band
of
our
union
and
conjunction
to
be
destroyed
,
that
no
testimony
thereof
may
be
any
more
extant
.
2.
Wee
would
distinguish
(
except
wee
will
decave
our selves
)
between
Res
Iurata
,
that
which
is
sworn
,
and
Iuratio
our
swearing
thereof
:
for
although
all
the
generall
and
particular
points
contained
in
our
subscribed
Covenant
were
to
be
insert
in
another
Covenant
,
to
be
made
by
the
expresse
commandement
of
authority
;
yet
to
rander
our
sworne
Confession
,
were
both
to
passe
from
our
swearing
thereof
,
a●
si
res
esset
integra
,
as
if
we
had
never
sworne
and
subscribed
;
and
also
to
destroy
that
which
we
have
beene
doing
,
as
a
thing
unlawfull
,
and
to
be
repented
of
.
It
were
not
only
to
make
our
oath
to
be
no
oath
,
our
subscription
no
subscription
,
and
our
testimony
no
testimony
,
but
really
to
acknowledge
and
Confesse
our selves
in
this
to
have
beene
transgressours
;
so
that
we
can
neither
clame
any
right
to
the
promise
of
GOD
,
nor
think
our selves
obliged
in
any
duety
to
GOD
by
vertue
of
that
oath
.
It
must
ever
be
remembred
that
oaths
and
perjuries
are
multiplied
,
not
only
according
to
the
diversity
of
the
things
that
are
sworne
,
but
according
to
the
sweareing
of
the
same
thing
at
diverse
times
;
so
oft
as
we
sweare
and
subscribe
the
same
thing
,
by
so
many
oathes
and
obligations
are
we
bound
unto
GOD
,
and
consequently
the
rendering
of
our
subscription
,
is
the
renunceing
of
that
individuall
b●nd
and
obligation
,
although
possibly
by
another
we
may
s●●nd
bound
or
sworne
.
3.
Our
voluntary
renewing
of
our
Covenant
with
GOD
,
carieth
greater
evidence
of
a
free
service
to
GOD
:
then
if
it
had
beene
done
by
expresse
commandement
of
authority
:
Because
the
power
of
GOD
makeing
his
people
so
willing
,
and
the
readinesse
and
sincerity
of
the
people
is
so
much
the
more
manifest
,
like
as
the
LORD
from
heaven
hath
testified
his
acceptance
by
the
wonderfull
workings
of
his
Spirit
in
the
hearts
both
of
pastors
and
people
,
to
their
great
comfort
and
strengthning
in
every
duety
,
above
any
measure
that
ever
hath
beene
heard
of
in
this
Land
;
And
therefore
to
give
any
token
of
recalling
the
same
were
unthankfully
to
misregard
the
work
of
GOD
,
and
to
quite
all
the
comforts
and
corroborations
that
the
people
of
GOD
have
to
their
great
joy
experienced
at
this
time
.
4.
We
have
decla●ed
before
GOD
and
the
world
,
that
this
our
Covenant
,
as
it
now
stand●th
sworne
and
subscribed
,
is
lawfull
and
necessary
,
that
it
is
done
in
obedience
to
the
commandement
of
GOD
,
conforme
to
the
practice
of
the
godly
,
and
according
to
the
laudable
example
of
our
religious
progenitors
,
who
by
the
like
oath
have
obliged
us
to
the
substance
and
tenor
of
this
:
And
therefore
if
we
should
now
by
rendering
our
Covenant
un●o
that
which
we
have
done
,
we
should
deny
the
commandement
of
God
,
condemne
the
examples
in
scripture
,
and
the
practis●s
in
this
kirk
,
and
precondemne
all
like
commendable
cou●ses
to
be
taken
by
posterity
in
the
like
exigence
.
5.
No
Covenant
in
things
civile
can
be
alt●red
or
rescinded
without
consent
of
the
parties
with
whom
it
is
made
;
But
Our
Covenant
is
a
religious
Covenant
made
with
GOD
and
amongst
Our selves
,
and
therefore
can
not
be
rendered
without
the
expresse
consent
of
the
meanest
of
all
the
subscribers
▪
who
justly
for
their
comfort
may
crave
of
Us
all
the
benefite
and
performance
thereof
.
6.
There
is
no
appearance
that
such
as
affect
the
prelates
and
their
courses
,
will
be
moved
to
sweare
and
subscribe
all
the
parts
of
this
Covenant
:
As
for
instance
,
To
labour
by
all
meanes
to
recover
the
former
puritie
and
libertie
of
the
Gospel
,
as
it
was
established
and
professed
,
before
the
novations
alreadie
introduced
,
or
to
declare
that
they
undoubtedly
do
believe
,
that
the
innovations
and
evils
contained
in
Our
Supplications
;
Complaints
,
and
Protestations
are
abjured
in
the
Confession
of
Faith
,
as
other
heads
of
Poperie
expresly
contained
therein
.
7.
Although
all
the
points
of
the
subscribed
Covenant
were
ratified
by
act
of
Parliament
,
yet
could
we
not
render
the
subscribed
Covenants
:
Because
acts
of
Parliament
are
changeable
,
and
of
the
nature
of
a
civile
ratification
:
And
it
is
necessarie
,
that
this
Our
Oath
being
a
religious
and
perpetuall
obligation
,
should
stand
in
vigour
for
the
more
firme
establishing
of
religion
in
Our
owne
time
,
and
in
the
generations
following
.
8.
All
the
world
may
justly
wonder
at
Our
inconstancie
,
and
Our
enemies
who
in
their
insolencie
are
readie
to
insult
upon
Us
at
the
least
occasion
,
would
not
cease
to
mock
at
Us
,
and
traduce
Us
as
perjured
Covenant-breakers
,
and
troublers
of
the
peace
of
the
kirk
and
kingdome
,
without
any
necessary
cause
.
9.
Although
we
do
not
compare
the
Scriptures
of
God
wi●h
a
written
confession
of
faith
,
yet
as
the
rendering
of
the
Bible
w●s
the
sin
of
Traditores
of
old
,
and
a
signe
of
the
denyall
of
the
truth
contained
therein
:
so
the
rendering
of
Our
Confession
of
faith
,
so
solemnly
sworne
and
subscribed
,
for
staying
the
●●urse
of
defection
,
and
for
barring
of
Poperie
,
and
all
other
corrupt●o●s
of
religion
,
could
be
interpreted
to
be
no
lesse
,
then
a
reall
denyall
of
Our
Faith
before
men
,
in
a
time
when
GOD
calleth
for
the
Confession
thereof
.
10.
Many
fair
promises
have
beene
made
,
for
not
urging
of
articles
already
concluded
,
and
for
not
troubling
us
with
any
further
novations
,
which
being
beleived
,
have
ensnared
many
,
and
drawne
them
on
to
doe
that
which
otherwise
they
would
not
have
done
,
all
which
promises
have
beene
broken
and
denyed
,
when
the
performance
was
craved
.
And
why
shall
We
not
expect
the
like
in
this
case
,
especially
where
the
challenge
will
be
found
to
be
more
hard
and
difficile
?
Objections
answered
.
Ob.
1.
IT
may
be
objected
that
the
Confession
of
Faith
being
confirmed
by
the
Kings
Authoritie
were
much
to
be
pr●ferred
to
this
,
which
seemeth
to
have
no
expresse
command●ment
of
authoritie
.
Ans.
1.
Our
Covenant
wanteth
not
the
warr
and
civile
and
eccle●i●sticall
,
which
authorised
the
former
Covenant
:
2.
Although
rash
and
unadvised
oathes
be
unlawfull
,
yet
voluntary
covenanting
with
God
is
m●re
free
service
to
God
(
as
hath
beene
said
before
)
then
that
which
is
comm●nded
by
Authoritie
.
3.
We
ought
not
to
do
ill
that
good
may
come
of
it
,
and
must
resolve
to
choose
affliction
rather
then
iniquitie
.
Ob.
2.
The
rendering
of
the
whole
copies
of
the
subscribed
Covenant
were
a
ready
meane
to
remove
all
feares
of
the
Kings
wrath
against
the
subscribers
.
Ans.
1.
It
is
more
fearefull
to
fall
in
the
band
of
the
living
GOD.
2.
They
wrong
the
King
who
t●reaten
his
good
subjects
With
his
Wrath
,
for
covenanting
with
GOD
,
in
defence
of
religion
and
of
his
Majesties
Person
and
Authoritie
.
3.
It
were
more
righteous
with
God
to
turn
his
Majesties
Heart
and
hand
against
Vs
,
for
d●●ling
thus
deceatfully
in
his
Covenant
.
O●
3.
If
this
be
not
granted
,
his
Majestie
will
grant
neither
●●ssemblie
nor
Parliament
for
establishing
Religion
,
and
setling
the
peace
of
the
kirk
and
kingdome
.
Ans.
1.
The
good
providence
of
God
so
sensible
in
this
whole
〈…〉
beginning
,
will
incline
the
heart
of
so
just
and
gratious
a
king
,
to
〈◊〉
more
kindely
and
benignely
with
his
good
Subjects
.
2.
We
have
law
,
reason
,
and
custome
for
craving
and
expecting
of
〈…〉
remedies
of
the
grievances
and
feares
of
the
whole
kirk
a●d
c●untrey
.
Ob.
4.
The
end
of
the
making
of
our
Covenant
was
,
that
we
might
be
delivered
from
the
innovations
of
religion
,
which
being
obteined
,
our
Covenant
should
cease
,
as
having
no
further
use
.
Ans.
1.
As
acts
of
Parliament
against
poperie
did
not
abolish
our
former
Confess●●n
of
faith
,
wherein
poperie
was
abjured
,
So
Acts
of
Parli●ment
to
be
made
against
these
innovations
can
not
make
our
Co●●nant
to
be
unprofitable
.
2.
Although
the
innovations
of
religion
〈◊〉
the
o●●●sion
of
makeing
this
Covenant
,
yet
our
intention
was
a●●i●st
th●se
,
and
against
all
other
innovations
and
corruptions
to
e●●ablish
religion
by
an
euerlasting
Covenant
never
to
be
forgotten
.