The HIS T 0 R Y of tb.e PuRITANS. 49 Chap. II. '' of all the protefl:ant churches. In a deeper fenfe of this danger K. Charles r. '' (fay they) than we can exprefs, we addrefs .you in the bowels of~~ " Chrifl:, for your mofi fervent prayers and advice, what further to do " for the making our own and the kingdom's peace with God, and •·• for the uniting the protefl:ant party more firmly, that we may all " ferve God with one confent, and Hand up againfl antichrift as one " man.'" 'fhe commiilioners arrived at Edinburgh Aug. 9· and were favourably received by the affembly, who propofed as a preliminary, that the two nations lhould enter into a perpetual covenant for thernfelves and their pofl:erity, that all things might be done in God's houfe according to h1s will; and having appointed fame of their number to confult with the englijh commiffioners about a proper form, they chafe dele– gates for the Weflmirijter aff'embly, and unanirnoufly advifed the con– vention if Jtates to ailifl the parliament in the war, for the following reafons. r. "' Becaufe they apprehend the war was for religion. 2. Becaufe Reafons of '' the proteftant faith was in danger. 3· Gratitude for former afliftances !7' ~·;ffi~,, at the time of the.fcots reformation, required a fuitable return. 4· Be-]~,~ fore~/. •• caufe the churches of Scotland and England being imbarked in onefijling tbe " bottom, if one be ruined the other can't fu bfi{L 5· The profpeCl: offnghfh par– " uniformity between the two kingdoms in difcipline and worihip, will Rau%e~~· N ftrengthen the protefl:ant interefl at home and abroad. 6. The pre- Vol. V. " fent parliament had been friendly to the.fcots, and might be fo again. P· 47 2 • « 7· Though the king had fo lately cfl:abliihed their religion according to " their defires, yet they could not confide in his royal declarations, hav- " ing fo often foundfaCla verbis contraria." The inftruCl:ions of the cornmiilioners fent to the affembly at Wift– minfter, were to promote the extirpation of popery, prelacy, herefy, fchifm, fcepticifm and idolatry, and to endeavour an union between the two kingdoms in one confeffion of faith, one form of church govern– ment, and one direCtory of worihip. The committee for drawing up the folemn league and covenant deli- Committe4 vered it into the affembly, Aug. 17. where it was read, and highly ap- appointed t• plauded, by the mi niil:ers and iay-elders, none oppofing it except thefi,ramel a fok . • ·m r I · mm eague mg s comm1 lOners; 10 t 1at It paffed both the affembly and convention and"venant, in one day, and was difpatcbed next morning to Wiftminjier, with aHarnil. M. letter to_the two hou fes, wifhing that it might be confirmed, and fo-P· 2 39· lemnly !worn and fubfcribed in both kingdoms, as the furefl: and fl:riCl:- efl obligation to make them fl:and and fall together in the caufe of religion and liberty. VoL. II. H Mr.
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