had been previously entered into and signed by his majesty, and
various men of rank and station in the kingdom, in anticipation of
the threatened Spanish invasion, and as a counter association to the
Holy League, which had been formed by the most powerful popish
princes in Europe with a view to extirpate the reformed religion.
When the national covenant was renewed in 1638, and once more
subscribed by all classes of the community, the Bond which
accompanied it was altered to suit the circumstances of the times.
It expressed a solemn determination on the part of those who
subscribed it to aim at "a personal reformation," as well as a
resolution to withhold their sanction from the late innovations in
religion, "till they be tried and allowed in free Assemblies, and in
Parliaments." These are the words--"And because we cannot look for a
blessing from God upon our proceedings, except with our profession
and subscription we join such a life and conversation as beseemeth
Christians who have renewed their covenant with God. We therefore
faithfully promise for ourselves, our followers, and all others
under us, both in public, and in our particular families and
personal carriage, to endeavour to keep ourselves within the bounds
of Christian liberty, and to be good examples to others of all
godliness, soberness, and righteousness, and of every duty we owe to
God and man" (Dunlop's Confessions vol. II., p. 136.). The following
corresponding clause is contained in the Solemn League and Covenant,
which was ratified by the parliaments both of England and Scotland,
and subscribed generally by the people of both kingdoms in 1643, and
renewed in Scotland in 1648.--"And because these kingdoms are guilty
of many sins and provocations against God, and his Son Jesus Christ,
as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits
thereof, we profess and declare before God and the world, our
unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins, and for the sins of
these kingdoms, especially that we have not, as we ought, valued the
inestimable benefit of the gospel; that we have not laboured for the
purity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to
receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our
lives, which ar