The Declaration of Independence Manifests the Founding Father's Dedication to Covenantal Government

The Scottish reformer John Knox systematized the Biblical doctrines of covenanted government. Knox held that civil government was bound by four covenants; the covenant of the King with the creator, the covenant of the King with the people, the covenant of the people toward the king, and the covenant of the people with God. If any of these covenants are broken Knox taught that corrective action not only could be, but must be taken.

In a sense it is the breaking of the covenant that is being addressed throughout the Declaration of Independence. However, grievance number thirteen and the first paragraph of the closing arguments specifically speak to the issue of covenant breaking. Grievance number thirteen tells the world that King George has constantly subjected the colonies to foreign governments (Parliament) rather than maintaining the covenant that he had with them.

Knox's covenants of authority expressly direct the one in authority to protect the governed. The founding generation, which was primarily made up of Scotch-Irish Covenantors, was distressed at the refusal of the king to protect them from the tyrannical activities of Parliament. In the thirteenth grievance they said in part, that he was, “giving assent to their acts of pretended legislation.”

In setting the stage for their arguments for why they believed that they were engaged in a just war with Great Britain the founders stated, “In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

King George ignored the colonists' repeated calls to stand by the covenant that they were chartered under. Due to their Biblical understanding of the importance of the keeping of sacred oaths and vows, they knew that they must replace King George with governors who would uphold God's rule. In so doing they replaced the oppression and tyranny of King George for the liberty of a Godly form of government. The Christian character of the Declaration of Independence can be seen in its commitment to the covenantal form of government. The influence of John Knox on the formation of America can be seen in the Declaration of Independence.