terrible they appear to the judgment of the natural man, yet are they never able to devour nor utterly to consume the sufferers. For the invisible and invincible power of God sustaineth and preserveth, according to His promise, all such as with simplicity do obey Him.... Your subjects, yea your brethren are oppressed, their bodies and souls are held in bondage: and God speaketh to your consciences, unless ye be dead with the blind world, that you ought to hazard your own lives, be it against Kings or Emperors, for their deliverance; for only for that cause are ye called Princes of the people, and ye receive of your brethren honour, tribute, and homage, at God's commandment; not by reason of your birth and progeny, as the most part of men falsely do suppose, but by reason of your office and duty, which is to vindicate and deliver your subjects and brethren from all violence and oppression, to the utmost of your power...." [Sidenote: The Lords of the Congregation make a Covenant.] New consultation was taken as to what was best to be done: and in the end it was concluded that they would follow out their original purpose, and commit themselves and whatsoever God had given unto them into His hands, rather than suffer idolatry so manifestly to reign, and the subjects of that realm, as long they had been, to be defrauded of the only food of their souls, the true preaching of Christ's Evangel. And that every one should be the more assured of the other, a common bond was made and by some subscribed. The tenor thereof was as follows:--