ine of Dun, and others. The next was entered into at
Perth, in May, 1559. The third was made at Stirling, in August of the
same year. The fourth, at Edinburgh, in April, 1560. The Fifth, through
the exertions of John Knox and George Hay, at Ayr, in September, 1562.
In 1580, the National Covenant, drawn up by John Craig, and directed
against the whole of the Romish corruptions, was entered into; next
year, the General Assembly sanctioned the covenant, and the Church
received it; it was renewed in 1590, and also in 1596. On the 28th of
February, 1638, the covenant, with an addition that was virtually
directed against Prelacy, was renewed at Greyfriar's Church, Edinburgh;
thousands had assembled; the solemnity was accompanied with prayer and
fasting; and with the most profound emotions, the covenant was sworn
and subscribed. In order to carry into design its effect, in Glasgow,
November, of the same year, sat down the Assembly--celebrated for
overthrowing Prelacy in Scotland, and for its other acts of reformation.
And as a manifestation of attachment to the cause of the covenant, in
the consequent ever memorable times, there appeared on the banners of
the Scottish people, the memorable motto, "For Christ's Crown and
Covenant." These covenants are binding still on the people of Scotland.
It is their duty still to declare for their object. Making efforts to
maintain the kingly authority of Messiah, they ought to regard his
covenant. Only those who see his covenant, see properly his crown. But
to proceed. In consequence of negociations between the people of England
and those of Scotland, "the Solemn League And Covenant," between the
three kingdoms, was entered into. It was directed against Popery and
Prelacy, and every other species of error; it engaged the nations to
endeavour to attain to uniformity in religion; it recognised the duty of
obeying civil rulers in the Lord; and it was sworn by men of various
communities, but by them as all of one reformed religion. In August,
1643, it was approved by the Scottish Convention of Estates, and by the
General Assembly, on one day. It was sworn thereafter at St. Margaret's,
Westminster, by both Houses of Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, and
the Commissioners from Scotland. It was afterwards subscribed by both
Houses of Parliament, and by the Assembly of Divines, and generally by
persons of all ranks in the United Kingdom. It was renewed in Scotland
in 1648, and by the Parliament i