lawfulness or unlawfulness of any action; it evidently follows, that he who, in these, knows not the nature and obligation of laws, never can be a good casuist, or rationally assure himself, or others, of the lawfulness of actions in particular. This was the judgment and good counsel of that learned and pious Prelate; and having, by long experience, found the truth and benefit of it, I conceive I could not, without ingratitude to him, and want of charity to others, conceal it. Pray, pardon this rude, and, I fear, impertinent scribble, which (if nothing else) may signify thus much, that I am willing to obey your desires, and am indeed Your affectionate friend,

THOMAS LINCOLN.

LONDON, May 10, 1678.

REASONS

OF

THE PRESENT JUDGMENT

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,

CONCERNING THE

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT, NEGATIVE OATH, ORDINANCES CONCERNING DISCIPLINE

AND WORSHIP.

Approved by General Consent in a full Convocation, June 1, 1647; And presented to Consideration.

A solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion, the honour and happiness of the King, and the peace and safety of the three kingdoms, England, Scotland, and Ireland.

WE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, and Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts, in the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the Providence of God, living under our King, and being of one reformed religion, having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty and his posterity, and the true public liberty, safety, and peace of the kingdoms, wherein every one's private devotion is included; and calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts, and practices, of the enemies of God against the true religion, and how much their rage, power, and presumption are of late, and at this time increased and exercised; whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and kingdom of Ireland, the distressed state of the Church and kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and kingdom of Scotland, are present and public testimonies; we have now at last (after other means of supplication, remonstrance, protestations, and sufferings,) for the preservation of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and destruction, according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in former times, and the example of God's people in other nations, after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to