in Law, is the consent and agreement of two or more persons to do, or not to do, some act, or thing, contracted between them. Also it is the declaration the parties make, that they will stand to such agreement, relating to lands or other things; and is created by deed in writing, sealed and executed by the parties, or otherwise it may be implied in the contract as incident thereto. And if the persons do not perform their covenants, a writ or action of covenant is the remedy to recover damages for the breach of them.

in ecclesiastical history, denotes a contract or convention agreed to by the Scotch in the year 1638, for maintaining their religion free from innovation. In 1681, the general assembly of Scotland drew up a confession of faith, or national covenant, condemning episcopal government, under the name of hierarchy, which was signed by James I. and which he enjoined on all his subjects. It was again subscribed in 1590 and 1596. The subscription was renewed in 1638, and the subscribers engaged by oath to maintain religion in the same state as it was in 1580, and to reject all innovations introduced since that time. This oath annexed to the confession of faith received the name of the covenant: as those who subscribed it were called covenanters.

in Theology, is much used in connection with other terms; as 1. The Covenant of Grace is that which is made between God and those who believe the gospel, whereby they declare their subjection to him, and he declares his acceptance of them and favour to them. The gospel is sometimes denominated a covenant of grace, in opposition to the Mosaic law. 2. Covenant of Redemption denotes a mutual stipulation, tacit or express, between Christ and the Father, relating to the redemption of sinners by him, previous to any act on Christ's part under the character of Mediator. 3. Covenant of Works signifies in the language of some divines, any covenant whereby God requires perfect obedience from his creatures, in such a manner as to make no express provision for the pardon of offences to be committed against the precepts of it, on the repentance of such supposed offenders, but pronounces a sentence of death upon them: such, they say, was the covenant made with Adam in a state of innocence, and that made with Israel at Mount Sinai.

Solemn League and Covenant, was established in the year 1643, and formed a bond of union between Scotland and England. It was sworn and subscribed by many in both nations; who hereby solemnly abjured popery and prelacy, and combined together for their mutual defence. It was approved by the parliament and assembly at Westminster, and ratified by the general assembly of Scotland in 1645. King Charles I. disapproved of it when he surrendered himself to the Scots army in 1646: but in 1650 Charles II. declared his approbation both of this and the national covenant by a solemn oath; and in August of the same year, made a farther declaration at Dunfermline to the same purpose, which was also renewed on occasion of his coronation at Scone in 1651. The covenant was ratified by parliament in this year; and the subscription Covenant, of it required by every member, without which the constitution of the parliament was declared null and void. It produced a series of distractions in the subsequent history of that country, and was voted illegal by parliament, and provision made against it. Stat. 14 Car. II. c. 4.

Ark of the Covenant, in Jewish antiquity. See Ark.