I - Preamble

A Solemn Acknowledgement of publick Sins and Breaches of the Covenant: And a solemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therein, namely those which do in a more speciall way relate unto the dangers of these times.

WEE Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts within this Kingdom, by the good hand of GOD upon us, taking in serious consideration the many sad aflictions and deep distresses wherewith we have been exercised for a long time past, and that the Land after it hath been sore wasted with the Sword and the Pestilence, and threatened with Famine, and that shame and contempt hath been poured out from the Lord against many thousands of our Nation who did in a sinfull way make War upon the Kingdom of England, contrary to the Testimony of his Servants and desires of his People, and that the remnants of that Army returning to this Land have spoiled and oppressed many of our Brethren, and that the Malignant party is still numerous, and retaining their former principles wait for an opportunity to raise a new and dangerous War, not onely unto the rending of the bowels of this Kingdom, but unto the dividing us from England, and overturning of the work of God in all the three Kingdoms: And considering also that a cloud of calamities doth stil hang over our heads and threaten us with sad things to come, We cannot but look upon these things as from the Lord who is righteous in all his ways feeding us with the bread of tears, and making us to drink the waters of affliction untill we be taught to know how evil and bitter a thing it is to depart away from him, by breaking the Oath and Covenant which we have made with him, and that we may be humbled before him by confessing our sinne, and forsaking the evil of our way.

Therefore being pressed with so great necessities and straits, and warranted by the word of God, and having the example of Gods people of old, who in the time of their troubles, and when they were to seek delivery and a right way for themselves, that the Lord might be with them to prosper them, did humble themselves before him, and make a free and particular confession of the sins of their Princes, their Rulers, their Captains, their Priests and their people, and did ingage themselves to do no more so, but to reform their wayes and be stedfast in his Covenant; And remembering the practise of our predecessours in the year 1596. Wherein the General Assembly, and all the Kirk Judicatories, with the concurrence of many of the Nobility, Gentry and Burgesses, did with many tears acknowledge before God the breach of the Nationall Covenant, and ingaged themselves to a Reformation, even as our predecessors and theirs had before done in the Generall Assembly and convention of Estates in the year 1567. And perceiving that this duty, when gone about out of conscience and in sincerity, hath always been attended with a reviving out of troubles, and with a blessing and successe from Heaven; We do humbly and sincerely as in his sight, who is the searcher of hearts, acknowledge the many sins and great transgressions of the Land; We have done wickedly our Kings, our Princes, our Nobles, our Judges, our Officers, our Teachers, and our People: Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly spoken unto us we have not hearkened to his voice, Albeit he hath followed us with tender mercies, we have not been allured to wait upon him and walk in his way; and though he hath stricken us, yet we have not grieved: Nay though he hath consumed us, we have refused to receive correction; We have not remembred to render unto the Lord according to his goodnes and according to our own vows and promises, but have gone away backward by a continued course of backsliding, and have broken all the articles of that Solemn League and Covenant which we swore before God, Angels and men.