es hurt or weakened: whereas
indeed Religion is the main pillar and upholder of civill authority, or
Magistracie, and it is the resisting, and not the receiving of the
Government of CHRIST, which hath overturned civill powers. If the Throne
be established by righteousnesse (as we are plainly taught by the Word of
God) then it is overthrowne by unrighteousnesse and iniquity.

VII. That they beware of all things which may ensnare their consciences,
as evill councell, evill company, false informations, rash promises, and
especially that they beware of taking any Oathes, subscribing any Bonds,
which may relate to the Covenant and Cause of God, unlesse such Oaths or
Bonds be approved by the General Assembly or their Commissioners for the
publique affairs of the Kirk.

VIII. That they do not cast away their confidence, nor sink into despair,
because of the present dangers and difficulties, but live by faith, waite
for better times, and continue stedfast as seeing him who is invisible,
firmly beleeving that such a course as is not of God but against him, will
come to naught.

IX. To remember, that as the violation of the Covenant by some in
_England_ doth not set us free from the observation thereof, and as no
laws nor authority on earth can absolve us from so solemn an obligation to
the most High God (which not onely hath been professed by this Kirk but in
a Petition of the City of _London_, and in publique Testimonies of many of
the Ministery of _England_). So we are not acquited and assoiled from the
obligation of our solemn Covenant, because of the troubles and confusions
of the times; But that in the worst of times all those duties, whereunto
by Covenant we oblige ourselves, do still lie upon us, for we have sworn
(and must perform it) concerning that Cause and Covenant wherein we
solemnly Engaged, _That we shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and
constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promove the same
according to our power against all lets and Impediments whatsoever._ And
if against all lets and impediments whatsoever, then the altering of the
way of opposition, or of the kinde of impediments doth not alter the
nature, or the Joye of the Covenant, but we are obliged to all the duties
therein contained.

We doe also exhort and charge in CHRISTS Name the Prince of Pastors, all
the Ministers within this Kirk, that in no wayes they be accessary to this
sinful Engagement, but in all their conference