Chap. VI. the HISTORY of the PURITANS. 613 " tion of the true reformed religion, and the laws and liberties of the K. Charles 1. " kingdom." 1638. The council being apprehenfrve of danger from thefe large afi'emblies They era and combinations of people, agreed that if they would return peaceable tables. to their houles, they might appoint force of their number of all ranks Rufhw. and orders to reprefent the reft, till his majefty's pleafure concerning their P. 734' Proteft fhould be further known. Accordingly four TABLES, as they were called; were eretled'atEdinburgh; one of the nobility, another of the gentry, a third of the burroughs, and a fourth of the tninifters. Thef prepared and digefted matters for the general table, formed of commiffioners, from the other four, where the laft and binding refolu- tions were taken. One of the firft things concluded upon by the TABLES, was the renew- 1638. ing their confelion of faith and the SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT, And renew fubfcribed by king fames and his royal houfhold March 2. 158o-a. and t aguetndn by the whole fcots nation in the year 1590. with ageneral band for main- eovenanc_ tenance of true religion and the king's perfon. To this covenant was now Nai(on's added a narrative of fundry ads of parliament, by which the reformed zo religion had been ratified fence that time,! with an admonition, wherein P the late innovations were renounced, and a bandof defence for adhering to each other in the prefent caufe. In their covenant they declare in the moft folemn manner, " That " they believe with their hearts, confefs with their mouths, and fubfcribe with their hands, that the confefon of faith then eftablifhed by at of " parliament is the true chriftian faith and religion, and the only ground " of their falvation.--They further declare their abhorrence of all kinds " of papiftry in general, and then enumerate fundry particulars of popifh " doctrine, difcipline, and ceremonies, as the pope's pretended primacy over the chriffian church ; his fivebaftard facraments, the doétrine of " tranfubftantiation the naafi, purgatory = prayers for the dead, " and in an unknown language -- juftafacationby works-- auricular " confefon croIfes, images, altars, dedicating of kirks, withall other " rites, fagns, and traditions, brought into the kirk without or contrary " to the word of God. All which they promife to oppofe to the utmolt " of their power, and to defend the ancient doélrine and difcipline of " their kirk all the days of their lives, under the pains contained in the " law, and danger both of body and foul, in the day of God's fearful " judgment, protefting, and calling the fearcher of all hearts to witnefs, " that their minds and hearts do fully agree with this their confefüon,. " prómifes oath and fubfcriptions. They proteft and promife under " the fame oath, hand-writing, and pains, to defend the king's royal perfon and authority with their goods, bodies, and lives in defence of thrift's
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