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At of the Commiffion of the General Assembly for renewing the Solemn League and Covenant.

Edinburgh, October 6, 1648.

He Commiffion of the General Affembly, confidering that a great Part of this Land have involved themselves in many and grofs Breaches of the Solema League and Covenant, and that the Hands of many are grown flack in following and pursuing the Duties contained therein, and that many, who not being come to fufficient Age when it was firft fworn and subscribed, have not hitherto been received into the fame; Do, upon thefe and other grave and important Confiderations, appoint and ordain the Solemn League and Covenant lo be renewed throughout all the Congregations of this Kingdom; and, because it is a Duty of great Weight and Confequence, Minifters, after the Sight hereof, would be careful to take Pains, in their Doctrine and otherwife, that their People may be made fenfible of thefe Things where'n they have broken the Covenant, and be prepared for the renewing thereof with suitable Affections and Difpofitions: And that thefe Things may be the better performed, we have thought it neceffary to condescend upon a folemn Acknowledgment of publick Sins and Breaches of the Covenant, and a folemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therein, namely, thole which do in a more fpecial Way relate unto the Dangers of thefe Times; and this Solemn Acknowledg ment and Engagement, fent herewith, fhall be made Ufe of, and the League and Covenant fhall be renewed in fuch Manner as follows. First, There fhall be Intima. tion of a folemn publick Humiliation and Faft the fecond Sabbath of December, to be kept upon the next Thurf day, and Lord's Day thereafter; at which Intimation, the League and Covenant, and the publick Acknowledg ment of Sins, and Engagement unto Duties, are to be publickly

publickly read by the Minifter, in the Audience of all the People; and that they are to be exhorted to get Copies thereof, that they may be made acquainted therewith; and the Humiliation and Faft is to be keeped the next Thursday thereafter, in Reference to the Breaches of the Covenant, contained in the Solemn Publick Acknowledgment, as the Caufes thereof; and the next Lord's Day thereafter, which is alfo to be spent in publick Humiliation and Fafting, immediately after the Sermon, which is to be applied to the Bufinefs of that Day, the Publick Acknowledgment and Engagement is again to be publickly read, and thereafter Prayer is to be made, containing the Confeffion of the Breaches mentioned therein, and begging Mercy for these Sins, and Strength of God for renewing the Covenant in Sincerity and Truth; after which Prayer, the Solemn League and Covenant is to be read by the Minister, and then to be fworn by him and all the People, who are to engage themselves for Performance of all the Duties contained therein, namely, these which are mentioned in the Publick Acknowledgment and Engagement, and are oppofite unto the Sins therein confeffed: And the Action is to be closed with Prayer to God, that his People may be enabled, in the Power of his Strength, to do their Duty, according to their Oath, now renewed in fo folemn a Way. It is alfo hereby provided, That all thofe, who renew the League and Covenant, fhall again fubfcribe the fame; and that none be admitted to the renewing or fubfcribing thereof, who are excluded by the other Act and Direction fent herewith.

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At of the Commiffion of the General Affembly, concerning the debarring of Perfons Acceffary to the late unlawful Engagement in War, from renewing the Covenant, receiving the Communion, and from Exer, cife of Ecclefiaftick Offices; with an Advice to Pref byteries for Celebration of the Communion.

T

Edinburgh, October 6, 1649.

He Commiffioners of the General Affembly having found it neceffary, that the Solemn League and Covenant be renewed, after fo great and evident Breaches thereof, by many in this Kingdom; and confidering, how manifeftly the Caufe of God hath been endangered heretofore, by too fudden receiving unto the Covenant thofe who have been in actual Õppofition thereunto, before fufficient Trial and Evidence had of their Repeutance; do therefore appoint and ordain, That all Pref byteries and Minifters within this Church, in their feve ral Bounds and respective Charges, take fpecial Care, at the Time of renewing the League and Covenant, that none who have bad Charge in the Army, which, under the Conduct of Duke Hamilton, engaged in War against the Kingdom of England, or with the Forces that were in and about Stirling, under the Command of the Earl of Lanerk and George Monro; or have taken and fubfcribed any Oaths, Bonds or Declarations for carrying on these finful Courfes, or any other Oath of Bond condemned by the General Affembly, as deftructive to the Covenant; or have been Forcers, Urgers or Seducers of others to join in the faid Engagements and Services fo deftructive to Religion, or have been active Promoters thereof, be admitted to fubfcribe, or renew the Oath of the League and Covenant, or to exercise any Office or Power in any of the Judicatories of this Kirk. And further, confidering that it is referred to us from the late General Affembly, to give Advertisement to the

Pref

Prefbyteries of a fit Opportunity of celebrating the Sa crament of the Lord's Supper, and to fend fuch Advice, as we should find neceffary for the Time; we have thought fit to advertise Presbyteries, that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper may be celebrated after renewing of the Covenant, as Ministers have Conveniency in their feveral Congregations; and that we have found it neceffary, that all, who are involved in the afore-mentioned Guiltinefs, be fufpended from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, until the General Affembly fhall take fuch Courfe as they think fit, concerning the receiving of them unto the Covenant and Communion.

A. KER.

The Alt of the Committee of Eftates of Parliament for renewing the Solemn League and Covenant.

THE

Edinburgh, October 14, 1648,

HE Committee of Eftates, being very fenfible of the grievous Backlidings of this Land, in the ma fold Breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, made and fworn to the most high God; do therefore unanjmoufly and heartily approve the feasonable and pious Refolution of the Commiffion of the General Affembly, for a folemn Acknowledgment of publick Sins and Provocations, especially the Breaches of the Covenant, and a Solemn Engagement to a more confcionable Performance of the Duties therein contained, and for renewing the Salern League and Covenant; and do require and ordain,

That the Direction of the faid Commiffions of Affembly, in their Act of the Sixth of this Month, for a publick Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, be carefully followed; that the Faft and Humiliation appointed by them, be religiously obferved; and

that

that the Solemn League and Covenant be fincerely and cordially renewed and fubfcribed, in the Manner they have prefcribed, in their faid Act. Extractum,

Mr. THO. HENDERSON.

Charles I. Parl. 2. Seff. 2. A&. 2.

AE for a folemn Faft and Humiliation, to be kept by all the Members of this Parliament, in Relation to pub lick Sins and Breaches of Covenant; and for their renewing the League and Covenant, and Engagement to the Duties therein contained.

TH

At Edinburgh, January 5, 1649.

He Estates of Parliament, taking to their ferious Confideration, the great Sins and Provocations of the Land, and the great Calamities and Distresses wherewith they have been exercised, and which yet hang over their Heads; and being defirous to return unto the Lord, by humbling themselves before him, with fincere Confeffion of their Sins, and Engagements to do no more fo, but to reform their Ways, and be ftedfaft in his Covenant; and confidering that, in Relation to the general Sins of the Land, the Commiffion of the General Affembly appointed a folemn Acknowledgment of publick Sins, and Breaches of Covenant, and a publick Engagement to the Duties therein contained; therefore the faid Eftates, in the Senfe of their own Sins, and of their Acceffion to the Breaches of the whole Land, do refolve, that all the Members of the prefent Parlia ment humble themselves in the Parliament-house before the Lord, in a folemn Acknowledgment of their Sins and Breaches of Covenant, and engage themselves to a more strict Obfervance of publick Duties, especially of those that relate to the Dangers of the Time; and allo;

that

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