otland.

No greater event had ever stirred the kingdom, no deeper joy had lighted
up her coasts, no higher honor had exalted her people, no brighter glory
had overspread her mountains and moors. That holy Covenant had lifted
her into relationship with God; the kingdom had become Hephzibah, and
the land, Beulah; the nation was married to the Lord.

The Covenant bound the Covenanter, the Church, the nation, and
posterity, under a solemn oath,--

To adhere to the Reformed religion with all the heart through all time
to come;

To labor with all lawful means to recover the purity and liberty of the
Gospel, by removing all human innovations from the Church;

To abhor and detest the corrupt doctrines and practices of Romanism;

To resist under the oath of God all the evils and corruptions contrary
to the Reformed religion;

To defend the country and support the government, while country and
government defend and preserve true religion;

To stand in mutual defence of one another in maintaining the Gospel and
the Reformed Church;

To permit nothing to divide the Covenanted ranks, or diminish their
power, or swerve them from their high purpose;

To become good examples of Godliness, soberness, and righteousness in
the performance of every duty due to God and man;

To fear none of the foul aspersions that may be cast upon this Covenant,
seeing it is warranted by the Word of God, and is for the maintenance of
His Church;

To recognize the LIVING GOD as the Searcher of hearts, and Jesus Christ
as the Judge, before whom all shall stand in judgment.

Such was the high range of thought, motive, purpose, and action reached
by this Covenant of the fathers, who called upon God in the day of
trouble, and were heard in that they feared. The men who led in this
solemn transaction were distinguished for learning, piety, high-souled
purpose, devotion to their country, and zeal for the glory of Christ.
They were among the excellent of the earth. But the mighty current of
religious enthusiasm that had set in drew to itself, and carried on its
bosom, multitudes who were superficial and vacillating. These quickly
fell away when the counter current set forward; some of them even
became violent persecutors of the Covenanters.

[Illustration: KING JAMES VI.

King James VI. came to the throne of Scotland in 1578, and reigned till
1625. He was crowned when a boy of 12 years. He subscribed the National
Covenant, saying, "I praise the