nd religion in their own
persons and families, and to advance and preserve the same allenarly in
their dominions; but in place thereof have come under oath and
obligation to countenance, protect end advance the Romish superstitions
and innovations in the worship of God and government of the Church,
which the Covenant binds these kingdoms to suppress and extirpate, and
in consequence of, and in conformity to, these obligations, do maintain
and defend, or tolerate and allow Prelacy and Sectarian errors in their
dominions, contrary to the true religion and sound doctrine, contrary to
justice and equity; yea, contrary to that trust especially committed to
the hands of Christian Magistrates, who for that end have the sword
given them, _that they may be a terror to evil doers_, preserve and
defend the true religion and professors thereof, and punish and
extirpate false religion and heresies, and bring the wheel over the
broachers, maintainers and abettors thereof; which did, and do exercise
an Erastian supremacy over the church, in proroguing, and dissolving
General Assemblies, appointing diets and causes of fasts and
thanksgivings; and by their civil authority causing them to be kept and
observed; which do not impartially execute justice upon all offenders,
witness the frequent indemnities and remissions granted to murderers; as
particularly, the passing without punishment the persons which
perpetrated the inhuman, barbarous and lawless action of the massacre of
Glencoe. Which waste and destroy the kingdom, by levying men and raising
money for maintaining a long and expensive war, undertaken neither for
the advancement of the true religion, nor for the advantage and safety
of the nation; but in favour of the house of Austria, which hath been,
and yet continues to be, one of the strong pillars of Antichrist's
kingdom, and inplacable enemies to the true reformed religion, as
appears by the persecution of the Protestants in Silesia, Hungary, &c.
And yet notwithstanding of all this, many in the land of all ranks have
sworn to bear true and faithful allegiance to them, without any
conditional restriction or limitation; so that it is not possible for
them, in a consistency with their oath, to disown their authority, and
deny them subjection, or refuse to defend their persons and government,
albeit they should proceed to the greatest pitch of arbitrariness; which
is very far from the defence promised to Magistrates in the Covenant: