Two Confessions of the faith of the Waldenses
are valuable monuments. Some Waldenses who settled in Bohemia, are
understood to have become the followers of John Huss. These frequently
practised Covenanting. The Churches of the Waldenses and of the
Protestants of Germany, in November, 1571, entered into a solemn
covenant engagement, in which was made a profession of their faith, and
a resolution to adhere to the true Christian Reformed Religion. Previous
to this, by the famous league of Smalkald, renewed in 1536, the
Protestant princes and people of Germany became engaged to maintain
together the doctrine and truth of the gospel, and peace and
tranquillity in the empire and German nation. In the Reformed Churches,
Covenanting was common. According to Beza, on July 20, 1537, the capital
articles of the Christian religion and discipline were SWORN by the
Senate and people of Geneva. Berne and Lausanne also came to be included
in the league. The Churches of Holland, and of Hungary and Transylvania,
and others on the continent of Europe, had recourse in like manner to
solemn vows. The tendency to enter into such engagements survived the
wreck of the period that has elapsed since the days of the Reformation;
and was nobly illustrated in recent times, as when a number in the
Austrian dominions, when about to be cruelly expatriated for their
attachment to the truth, pledged themselves to adhere to it, by a
"Covenant of Salt." The practice extended to America. There settlers
from Europe, at Salem, in 1629, by Covenanting, solemnly incorporated
themselves into a Church of Christ. And afterwards the practice of
Covenanting in the adopted land obtained.

Secondly, and lastly. The Covenant engagements of the Church in Britain
and Ireland. Scotland was honoured, early in the Reformation, to declare
valiantly for the truth. Though a Hamilton, and a Wishart, and other
noble confessors and martyrs, were soon sacrificed, it pleased God to
place a safeguard around a Knox and others, that the truth might be
diffused. And when the rulers of the nation were wholly devoted to
Popery, in his goodness and mercy He saw meet to put it into the hearts
of some of the nobles, and of many of the people, to offer themselves
willingly, by Covenanting, to use means to effect its removal. The first
covenant against Popery was ratified at Edinburgh, in December, 1557. It
was signed by the Earl of Argyll, Glencairn, Morton, Archibald Lord
Lorne, John Ersk