54 The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. VoL. If. K. Charles I. '' other in the example of a real reformation, that the Lord may turn ~ " away .his wrath and heavy indignation, and. efbbliih thefe churches " and k111gdoms 1!1 truth and pe:;ce. And th1s covenant we make in " the prefence of almighty God, the fearcher of all hearts, with a true "intention to perform the fame, as we ihall anlwer at that great day " when the fecrets of all hearts £hail be dilclo(ed ; moft hutJ1bly befeech~ " ing the Lord to firengthen us by his holy fpirit for this end , and to " blefs our defires and proceedir1gs with fucb fuccefs, as may be a deli– " verance and fafety to his people, and encolli agement to the chrifrian " churches, groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of antichrii1ian " tyranny, to join with the f.1me or like attefiation Jnd covenant, to " the glory of God, the enlargement of the kingdom of Jefus Chrifr, " ~nd the peace and tranquility of clli!fhan kingdoms and common– " wealths." .Jvlaimcr of taking it. R ulhw. Vol. V. p. 473· 'Hamil. M. p. 240· Monday September 25· was appointed r,..r (ubfcribing this covenan t, when both houfes, with the jcots comm .fii>~lc,s, ur•d afiembly of divines, being met in the church of St. Marga' c/s h- ~/lmii?J'ier, the reverend Mr. !.Yhite of Dorchefter opened the folem•11ty w1tt1 p·ay~r; after him Mr. Hende~fon and Mr. Ny fpoke in jufii ficarion of taking tl •e covenant from fcripture precedents, and difplayed the ad'lantage the church had received from fuch facred combinations. Mr. Henderfon fpoke next, and declared that the fiates of Scotland had refolved to al1ii1. the parliament of England, in carry ing on the ends and defigns of this co•venant ; then Mr. Nye read it from the pulpit with an audible voice article by article, each perfon fi ahd ing uncoverred, with his right hand lifted up bare to heaven, worihipping the great name of God, and [wearing to the per– formance of it. Dr. Gouge concluded the folemnity with prayer, after which the houfe of commons went up into the chancel, and fubfcribed their names in one roll of parchment, and the aifembly in another, in both which the covenant was fairly tranfcribed. Lord's day following it was tender'd to all perfons within the bills of mortality, being read in the feveral churches to their congregations as above. Off. I5. it was taken by the boufe of lords, after a fermon preached by Dr. 'Temple, from Nehemiah x. 29. and an exhortation by Mr. Coleman. Oflober 29. it was ordered by the committee of fiates in Scotland to be [worn to, and fubfcribed all over that kingdom, on penalty of the confifcation of goods and rents, and fuch other punilhment as his majefiy and the parliament 'lhould infliCt on the refufers. All the lords of the council were fum– moned to fign the covenant Nov. 2. and thofe who did not, to appear again the 14th of the fame month, under the feverefi penalties, when fame ·of the king's .party not attending were declared enemies ·to religion, and
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