there are known Rules particular and distinct without Ambiguity and seing there is such a Propension in Rulers to employ all without Difference which would undoubtedly take Advantage of any thing that seemed to look that way It is likewise manifest that the second part of the Answer relating to the Capacity of Acting is loadned with the same Inconvenience 1. There is no positive determination of the Qualifications of Persons to be intrusted as in former times it was agreed on by the Assembly and their Commissioners but that is now referred to the discretion of the Parliament Together with such Diminutive termes as gives them great Latitude to go upon Before No trust was given to such persons Now it is allowed they shal have some trust and how much is not determined nor what degree of it is prejudiciall to the Cause Which it appears the Parliaments proceedings in Nomination of Officers unquestioned by the Commission is a good Commentarie to expone that they may have any trust except to be Generall Officers 2. Our former Estalished Rule was that no persons should be Entrusted but such as are of known Integritie and have been constant friends of the Cause But how far is this diminished They who are such only recommended to be espcially taken notice of Less could not be said by any more ought to have been said by the Commission And though no such notice be taken of such by the Parliament But on the Contrare those who have been most faithfull and suffered in the late defeat at Hamiltoun They are used as Enemies worse than Malignants in former times yet there is no Testimony given against such things Quantum mutatus ab illo Coetu qui quondam fuit Before we enter upon the Chief Question We offer these manifest and known Truths to Consideration 1. The Occasion of Contriving and subscribing first the Nationall Covenant and then the Solemne League and Covenant was The designes and Practises of the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant Partie against Religion and the Work of Reformation in these Kingdoms 2. Since the Contriving and subscriving of the same it hath been the continual endeavour of that Party somtimes by Undermining and sometimes by open Opposition to undo the same and to bear down all those that clave honestly thereto and faithfully prosecute all the ends thereof 3. That there hath been these many years past and still is such a Party in all the three Kingdoms Considerable for Number Power and Policy 4. That that party hath always prosecuted their designe under a Colour of gzeal and respect to the Kings Authority and Interest 5. That that party hath always been the Authors and Abettors of much bloodshed many Miseries and sad Calamities to these Nations 6. That the People of God in these Kingdoms have taken upon themselves a most Solemne and Sacred bond of ane Oath and Covenant to Discover them and bring them to Condigne punishment 7. That it hath been one of the predominant sins of Scotland under the bond of the Covenant to Comply with them 8. That Indignation and wrath from the Lord hath been following that Party and their Designes these years past 9. That Complyances with them hath alwayes been Cursed to us of God 10. That few of that Party doe really Abandon forsake their corrupt Principles and way and joyn Cordially in the Cause and Covenant 11. That many of them doe after the Profession of their Repentance for their opposition to the Cause and Covenant of God relapse frequently into the same sin 12. That sudden receiving of many of them to Fellowship and Trust and too great Credulity in beleiving their professions hath often cost this Land very dear 13. That upon Consideration of the deep Treachery and Hypocrisie of these men and the sad Consequents following upon sudden receiving of them without Evidence of a Change after long and renewed Experience this Land renewed their obligations more strictly in the Solemne Engadgment 14. That there hath been a Designe driven these two years past to get that Partie again in Power and Trust. 15. That this designe hath been testified against by the Publick Resolutions of the Judicatories unto this time 16. That as it hath been driven at very cunningly and Actively by many Instruments and Arguments of severall sorts so hath it gained ground peece and peece untill at Length many of them are brought into the Court and to the Armie and Judicatories in the Countrey And now by the Publick Resolutions they are generally to be employed and Intrusted Thus the Designe is Accomplished But 17. These men do not satisfie themselves with some Degree of Power But endeavour to Ingross the whole power of the Kingdome into their oun hands and study to bring into Contempt and Cull out these who have been and do continue Constant in the Cause of God 18. That having power into their hands They must act according to their oun Principles and for estalishing their oun Ends. And Lastly That these Principles and Ends are destructive to the Covenant and Work of Reformation That the Employing of and Associating with the Malignant Party according as is contained in the Publick Resolutions is Sinfull and Unlawfull IF there be in the Land a Malignant Party of Power and Policy and the Exceptions Contained in the Act of Leviae doth Comprehend but few of that Party Then there needs be no more difficulty to prove that the Present Publick Resolutions and Proceedings do import ane Association and Conjunction with a Malignant Party than to gather a Conclusion from clear Premisses But that such a Conjunction is in it self sinfull and unlawfull and besides A violation of our solemne Oaths and Engadgments A backslyding from our Principles and Professions And a walking Contrare to the whole tenure and current of our former Resolutions and practises is now to be made manifest First We reason from that Constant standing and perpetuall Rule which the Lord gives concerning the modelling and Carriage of the Armies of his people in all their Wars Deut. 23. 9. When the Host goes forth against their enemies then Keep thee from everie wicked thing And after If there be among yow any man that is unclean by reason of uncleanness that Chanceth him in the night then shall he go abroad out of the Camp he shall not come within the Camp If for Ceremoniall uncleanness he was to be excluded much more for Morall as our Divines Reason from the Old Testament in the point of Excommunication and if for uncleanness not Voluntary much more for Voluntary wickednesse The Reason of all is given verse 14. for the Lord thy God walks in the midst of the Camp to deliver thee and to give up thine Enemies before thee Therfore shall thy Camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee Even as they would expect a blessing of the Lord so ought they to keep their Camp holy as he is holy He gives
rending of the Kingdom in the tyme of this heavy Oppression by a common Enemy and exposing the Kingdom to all misery and ruine 2. It may be remembred that in the first Modell of the Aggreement which was made at Bredah that clause which doth concern the determining of Civil matters in the Intervall of Parliament by such as are Authorized by Parliament for that effect and the Kings Majesty hearkening to their Advice was wholly left out And any who are aquainted with expressions and Inclinations of sundry Great Ones in the Land are not ignorant of their dislyke of a Committee of Estates and their desire to have the Administration of Matters in the Intervall of Parliament wholly devolved upon the Kings Councell And the same spirit that would draw businesse from the Committee to a Cabinet Councell would at last draw them from the Parliament it self Because that is also if not more crossing to private Interests and designes than a Committee of Estates 3 Instance There is a Party in the Land who as in their hearts they do envy and in their tongues doe Traduce men that have been stedfast and faithfull in the Covenant and Cause of God so do they Endeavour to the utmost of their power to bring them into Disgrace and Contempt and to get them removed from Power and Trust And upon the other side study with no lesse diligence to get places of Power and Trust in the Army and elswhere filled with such as either have been open enemies or secret underminers 4 Instance Be there not many who oppose the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Work of Reformation not only by holding up that old Calumny of Malignants concerning the seditious and factious humor of Ministers and their stretching of themselves beyond their lyne and by mocking all faithfull and free preaching of the Word and by bearing down the power of Godlinesse deriding and hating all the lovers and followers thereof by being impatient of the discipline and Censures of the Church But also looking upon the Government of the Church with ane evil eye And strongly enclyning some of them that Church Government be put in the hands of a few Prelates most of them that it may be wholly devolved upon the Civil Government 5. Instance There is still a party in the Land that endeavour to have the state of the Question altered and to have Religion left out of the same That it being stated upon Civil Interest they may take to themselves a greater Latitude in their way of carrying on business This was holden forth to be the designe of the Malignant Party in the year 1648. as appears in the Declaration of the Commission that year in March and there was a Necessary and Seasonable Warning given against it by the Commission in their Declaration of the date July 1650. 3. Reason Besides these who are Excommunicated there be yet in the Land a Considerable number of persons of Chief note who do still ly under Censures of the Church some because of their Accession to the late Unlaufull Engadgment others because of their Accession to the late Course of Rebellion about the time of the Kings escape from Perth beside many others of less Note 4. We suppose that it is most certain and unquestionable that there was lately a Malignant Party and faction in the Land very numerous and powerfull How many men of blood Murderers of their brethren as unnaturall and barbarous as the Irishes they once joyned with against their Countrey How many have watched all opportunities for troubling the peace of the Kingdom and rejoyced in the day of its Calamity How many were the Oppressors of these who Called on the Lords Name in the time of the Engadgment What multitudes of profane and Ungodly mockers of all Godlinesse and Haters and Persecuters of the Godly suarming every where If this be of truth as it is indeed We may say who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such a thing Shall a Nation be born at once And have they so soon Learned to doe well who have been so accustomed to doe evil When did this Catholick Conversion fall out and by what means Hath the act of Indemnity and Pardon such Influence to Justify these men from all their Butcheries and Barbarous Cruelties The adding of three Thousand to the Church in one day was miraculous in the days of miracles But Behold a greater miracle than that in the days when miracles are ceased many Thousands added to the Church of the friends of the Cause of God in one day and that not by preaching which is the power of God unto Savation Not by spirituall weapons which are mighty through God But by the Carnall weapon of ane Act of Indemnity and the example of one Man the Kings Conjunction in the Cause which at the best hath not such evidence of reality as to convince any and change their mind Sad experience and the Constant Testimony of the Church of Scotland proves that Malignancy is a weed that hath deeper and stronger roots than to be plucked up so easily and that though there be some yet they be but few in the Land who have been once engadged in that way that have really and indeed abandoned and come off the same The point shall more appear by taking off objections that are made to the Contrary It is objected 1. That these who were formerly esteemed Malignants did oppose the work of God because they could not be perswaded in Conscience That the Covenant and Cause were Contrived and Carryed on in a Warrantable way those who were most instrumentall in it seeming to them not only to act without Authority but against Authority But so it is that the King hath now joined in the Covenant and added his Authority to it and therfore it needs not be feared that these men will any more oppose it Nay it may be expected they will no lesse Zealously promove the ends thereof than they did formerly oppose the same Answer This Argument supposeth some things that are false some things at best doubtfull and some things dangerous It supposeth Tuo falsities 1. That it was a ground and principle of Conscience and respect to the Kings Authority that made these men to oppose the Covenant and 〈◊〉 of Reformation If it was the Conscience and Conviction of the Unwarrantablness of it for the want of Authority that stirred them up to oppose the Covenant and Cause Then why did they subscrive it and joyn in the defence of the same against the King 2. It supposeth that the only ground why they did oppose and undermine the same was because the King was of a Contrary mind and refused to joyn in the Covenant and Ratify the same by his Authority which also is false for there were severall other Grounds and Causes of so doing besides this We shall name a few leaving the rest to a further scrutinie 1. The Naturall enmity that is in the hearts of all men against
not such a strict Rule for the Competency of Number as for the Qualifications of the Persons as being the Principall thing Therfore the present Conjunction with so many ungodly and wicked men that have formerly declared themselves Enemies to God and his people and to this day give no evidence to the contrary is sinfull and unlawfull 2. The Lord hath frequently in scripture declared his dislike and hatred of such Associations and Conjunctions The Scriptures cited in the Generall Assemblies Declaration in the year 1648. against the Engadgment are sufficient proof of this We shall take the Argument as it is formed by the Commissioners of that Assembly In their Answer to the Observations of the Committee of Estates upon the Assemblies Declaration Pag. 7. Every Engadgment in War that is pretended to be for Religion and hath in it a Confederacie Association with wicked men enemies of True Religion is sinfull and unlawfull But the present Engadgment in War as it is held forth in the Publick Resolutions is pretended to be for Religion and yet hath in it a Confederacy and Conjunction with wicked men and Enemies of True Religion Ergo. The second Proposition is evident from the two first Sections The first Proposition is proved from these Scriptures forementioned God forbade Conjunctions and Confederacies with the Enemies of his Cause and people Not only the Canaanites Exod. 34. 12. 15. Deut. 7. 2. and other Heathens Such was Asa his Covenant with Benhadad 2. Chron. 16. to verse 10. Ahaz his Confederacy with the King of Assyria 2 Kings 16. 7 10. 2 Chron. 18. 16. But also with wicked men of the seed of Abraham as Iehoshaphats with Ahab 2 Chron 18. 3. And Ahab King of Israel said unto Iehoshaphat King of Iudah with thow go with me to Ramoth-Gilead And he Answered him I am as thow art and my people as thy people and we will be with thee in the war Compared with Chap. 19. 2. And Iehu the son of Hanani the Seer went out to meet him and said to King Iehoshaphat Shouldst thow help the ungodly and Love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. And with Ahaziah 2 Chron. 20. 35. And after this did Iehosbaphat King of Iudah joyn himself with Abaziah King of Israel who did very wickedly Which being reproved for he would not again joyn with Ahaziah 1 Kings 22. 49. Then said Ahaziah the Son of Ahab unto Iehoshaphat Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships But Iehoshaphat would not And then Amaziah's Association with 100000 of Israel 2 Chron. 25. 7 8 9 10. But there came a man of God to him saying O King Let not the Armie of Israel go with thee for the Lord is not with Israel to wit with all the Children of Ephraim ver 8. But if thow will go do it be strong for the battel God shall make thee fall before the Enemy for God hath power to help and to Cast down ver 9. And Amaziah said to the man of God But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the Army of Israel And the man of God answered The Lord is able to give thee much more than this ver 10. Then Amaziah separated them to wit the Army that was come to him out of Ephraim to go home again Wherfore their anger was greatly Kindled against Iudah and they returned home in great anger The sin and danger of such Associations may further appear from Isay 8. 12 13. Say ye not A Confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say A Confederacy neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid ver 13. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let Him be your fear and let him be your dread Jer. 2. 18. And now what hast thow to do in the way of Assyria to drink the Waters of the River Psal. 106. 35. But were mingled among the Heathen and learned their works Hosea 5. 13. When Ephraim saw his sicknesse and Iudah saw his wound then went Ephraim to the Assyrian and sent to King Iareb Yet could be not heal yow nor cure yow of your wound and Chap. 7. 8 11. Ephraim he hath mixed himself among the people Ephraim is a cake not turned ver 11. Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart they call to Egypt they go to Assyria 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteouness with unrighteousness and what Communion hath Light with darknesse ver 15. And what Concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel And if we should esteem Gods enemies our enemies and hate them with perfect hatred how can we then joyn with them as friends Psal. 139. 21. The Committee of Estates at that time endeavoured to elude the strength of these Scriptures and vindicate their Engadgment from the falling within the Compasse of them But the Commission of the Assembly that year took the mask off their evasions Would to God we had no other Party to deal with now It was the evil and Complaint of that time that Church and State was divided But what ane evil time are we now fallen into that the union of these in this point is the complaint of many of the Godly The Commission in their Letter to Sterling Presbyterie sets up the Committees answer in a new dresse and holds it out for satisfaction to our Consciences All that is answered may be reduced to three or four heads 1. There is made a great difference between ane Invasive and Defensive War as if in the one Choise of Instruments ought to be sought but in the case of Just and necessary defence all subjects may be Imployed To which we answer 1. That the Scriptures cited conclude most expresly against Conjunctions of that Kind in defensive Wars Such was Asa's Covenant such was Ahaz his Confedracie Was not the reproofs of the Prophets directed particularly against the peoples seeking of help from Egypt and Assyria in the Case of their oun Just and necessary defence Ier. 2. 18. Hosea 5. 13. and 7. 8. 11. Isay 8. 12 13. 2 Chron. 16. to ver 10. 2. The Law and Rule given Deut. 23. is Generall regulating all their Wars whether Defensive or Offensive and it is strange that any should imagine such a difference where the Law makes none nay when the ground of the Law is Morall and Generall equally respecting all Wars Is there any Ground of Conscience why wicked persons may not be kept in the camp when we invade others and yet these may be employed and entrusted when we defend our selves If there be any Reason to preferr the one to the other in this point we conceive Defensive War should have the preference Because when the Lord brings upon us injust invasion he is ordinarly pursuing a Controversie against us and therfore we ought to be most tender and circumspect that
are not right now The second Proposition may be made manifest from 1. The present Resolutions are contrare to the Solemne League and Covenant in the fourth Article and the sixth To the fourth Because we put power in the hands of a Malignant Party power of the sword which is inconsistent in the oun nature of it with either actuall punishing of them or endeavoring to bring them to punishment Unless it be intended to bring them all forth and expose them to the slaughter for a Sacrifice for the Land which may be the Lords mind indeed howbeit they know not his thoughts And to the sixth Article Because its a declyning to the contrary Party even that party against whom the Covenant was at the making expresly contrived And as the Declaration of the Generall Assembly 1648. hath it It s a joyning with one enemy to beat another with a black Devil to beat a white It is most Ingenuously answered that the present Resolutions are not contrare to the Covenant Because such as are descrived in the Covenant are not allowed to be employed meaning that these men are not now Malignants What needs men make such a Compasse to Justifie the Publick Resolutions seing there is so easy and ready a way straight at hand This one answer might take off all the Arguments made against them that there is no Malignant party now which is the foundation that being removed all the building must fall to the ground But we have in the First article evinced that which had been scandalous to have proved if it had not been Questioned If it were indeed true that no Malignants are allowed to be employed what needed the Commission in their Letter to Sterling Presbytery take so much pains from Scripture and Reason to justify the present Resolutions when the clearing of that one point had cleared all As for the Declaration of the Assembly Anno 1648. It is answered that none are to be employed that continue natourly in the Courses of Malignancy which was done that year Wheras the Malignant Party that was then Associated with would have engadged to be faithfull to all the ends of the Covenant many of them were such as had been in Covenant and made shew of their repentance for their defection from it and so there is no difference in this particular 2. The solemne Acknowledgment of Publick sins is so clear and peremptory in this that it makes us tremble to think on it Pag. 6 Should we again break his Commandments and Covenant by joyning any more in Affinity with the people of these Abominations and take in our bosome these serpents which have formerly stung us almost to death this as it would argue much folly and madness So no doubt it would provoke the Lord to consume us till there be no remnant of escaping Let the 6th Article also be considered Joyn to this the Declaration of the Commission upon report of this enemies invading Pag. 6. where it is Declared that Malignants shall not be Associated with nay not countenanced and permitted to be in our Armies The Generall Assembly after this upon the enemies entry into Scotland gives serious warning to the Rulers to take heed of snares from that Partie and that the rather because men ordinarly are so taken with the sense of Danger as not to Look back to that which is behind them c. How often have we sentenced our selves unto Wrath and Consumption if we shall fall into this sin again All these and the like are endeavoured to be taken off by saying that our Engadgments in this point was conceived in a way of Prosecution of the Cause But to be no impediment of just and necessary defence which we are bound to by Natures Law which no humane Law can Infringe But we reply 1. It is strange our prosecution of the Cause these years past should be Contradistinguished from the defence of it and the Kingdome It was conceived that our War in England was Defensive not Invasive that it was necessitated for the defence even of our Kingdom but it seems it is now questioned But passing what was acted abroad Certainly all our Wars at home were meerly Defensive both against unjust Invasion and seditious Insurrections Now our solemne Engadgments were conceived in relation to our actings at Home especially and modelling our Armies for the defence of our Liberties and Religion We knew well enough that a just invasive war is a rare accident in the world and that the flock of Jesus Christ are for the most part obnoxious to the violence of others as sheep among wolves but are not often called to prey upon others 2. To call our Solemne Engadgments and Declarations grounded upon our oaths and upon the Word of God Humane Laws and Constitutions that must cede to Natures Law it is indeed ingenuous dealing because to Justifie the present proceedings there can be no more expedite way than to condemne by past Resolutions for the peremptoriness of them and to make them grounded on Politick Considerations which are alterable But it imports a great change of Principles We conceive that all Humane Laws that are not for the Matter grounded on the Word of God that oblidge not Conscience but in the Case of Scandal and in regard of the generall end are alterable and changeable whenever they come in opposition to the Law of Nature Self-defence Law of God written in the Word And therefore that Act of Parliament mentioned by the Commission Discharging all subjects to rise without the Kings Command which was made use of against our first taking Arms was no wayes binding on the subjects not to rise in the Defence of their Religion and Liberties when in hazard And we wonder that that Law should be compared to our Solemne Engadgments which are grounded upon oaths and Gods Word as touching the very matter and substance of them as if our Engadgments did no more bind us now in case of defence than that Law did bind us then Royalists might be excused for preferring the Kings will to Gods but we cannot be pardoned for equalizing them And especially while we consider that that forementioned Act undoubdely hath been intended for the establishing of ane Arbitrary and Absolute Power in the Kings hand that the Subjects may not have Liberty to save themselves except the King will Where God hath given us Liberty by the Law of Nature or his Word No King can justly ty us and when God binds us and oblidges us by any of these No King or Parliament can loose us or unty us 3. The Declaration of the Commission and Assembly upon this invasion Renues the same bond of our former Engadgments Yea and speaks expresly in the Case of fewness and scarceness of Instruments against the Unbelief of people that are ready in danger to choose any help Therefore that which is said in answer that at that time there was a Choise of Instruments which now is not it may indeed
to be conceived as particular binding and strict as is possible Answer 1. What a manifest receding is it from former principles that it is now conceived that all places of trust excepting some few of eminent note may be filled with secluded and debarred persons without the prejudice of Religion It is certain that most part of Officers nominated by the Parliament and Shyres are not only such of whom there is just ground of suspition but such as have been Enemies by actuall opposition to the Cause of God or known underminers thereof Can it be said in good earnest that none of whom is any suspition shall have such trust as may be prejudiciall Sure we are there are many just grounds of suspition and jealousie of Generall Persons who have Chief trust in our Armies and this the publick Judicatories are not Ignorant of 2. Oaths and Covenants are but like green Cords about Samson to bind these men Would we have them yet once again perjured Then may we tender ane oath to them Put power in their hand and then make them swear to employ it well It s as ridiculous as to give a mad man a sword and then perswade him to hurt none with it There is no more capitulation with such persons retaining their old principles than with the floods or winds These whom that SACRED BOND OF COVENANT hath not tyed what oath can bind Except yow can change their nature do not swear them to good behaviour Can a Leopard change his Spots 5. Reason That which gives great offence and scandal and layes a stumbling block in the way both of the people of the Land and our Enemies especially in the way of the Godly that is Unlawfull But the present Association and Conjunction with all persons in the Kingdom excepting a few if any is scandalous and offensive to the whole Land to the Godly especially and also to the Enemy Therefore it is unlawfull The Major is beyond all exception if we consider how peremptory CHRIST and his Apostles are in the point of offence which yet few Christians do consider We ought not only to beware of the offence of the Godly but even of wicked men even of our blaspheming Enemies Give no offence neither to the Iew nor Gentile nor to the Church of God CHRIST would not offend and scandalize his malitious Enemies The Minor is proved 1. There is great offence given to the Godly in the Kingdom by the publick Resolutions concerning that Conjunction with the Malignant Party under the Name and Notion of Subjects 1. Because it s known that the most part of them are tender in that point what fellowship they act with And this hath been Remonstrate unto the Commission and Committee of Estates from severall Synods Now the present Resolution layeth that stumbling block in their way that they cannot act in the defence of the Kingdom Because there is no way left them for the performing of that duty but that which they in their Consciences are not satisfyed with It s a sad necessity and snare that is put upon them that they cannot perform their bound duty which they are most desirous of without sin Because of the way that is taken 2. Is it not a matter of Offence and stumbling to them to be necessitated by Law to that which was their affliction The mixture that was in our Armies was their Grief And their comfort was that the Judicatories were minting at their duty to purge them But now there is no hope of attaining that all Doors is shut up by the publick Resolutions 3. It undoubtedly will weaken their hands and make their hearts faint So that they cannot pray with Affection and in Faith for a blessing upon such an Army the predominant and leading part whereof have been esteemed and is really Enemies to God and his people 4. Is it not a great Offence that any thing should proceed from the publick Judicatories that shall lay a necessity upon many Godly in the Land to suffer because they cannot in Conscience go along with it Next it scandalizeth the whole Land What may they think within themselves to see such dissonancy and disagreement between present and former Resolutions and Practises What may they judge of the inconstancy and levity of the Commission And be induced to give no respect and reverence to them in their Resolutions Is it not at least a very great appearance of evil to joyn with that Party that we did Declare and repute but some few weeks since to be wicked Enemies of Religion and the Kingdom and look hencforth on them as friends without so much as any ackowledgment of their sin had from them Shall not they be induced to put no difference between the pretious and the vile not to discern between him that fears God and him that fears him not when the publick Resolutions puts no difference Then how will it Confirm all the Malignant party in their wickednesse May they not think our Solemne vowes and Engadgments our rigid Resolutions and proceedings were but all contrived and acted out of Policy and that Interest and Advantage and not Conscience Principled them Have they not ane occasion given them to persecute all the Godly and vent their long harboured malice against these who have been most zealous for Reformation and purging of the Land Nay they are put in the Capacity that they have desired for acting all their Resolutions and accomplishing their Designes And last of all the present proceedings will not onely encourage and animate the Common Enemy but confirm them in all the Imputations and Calumnies they have loadned our Church with May they not have ground fothink that we are but driving on a politick design and does not singly aim at Gods Glory That it is not Grounds of Conscience acts us but some wordly Interest when they look upon the inconstancy and Changeableness of our way and Course which is so accommodated to occasions and times Can they think us men of Conscience that will join with all these men of blood before we will so much as speak with them It is Replyed that the Scandal is taken and not given which must not be stood upon in the Case of a necessary duty But 1. we cleared that there is no necessity of that Conjunction therefore the scandal is given seing its known before hand that it will be taken 2. There are many grounds of offence given by the present Resolutions as appears by what is said If it were no more it s a great appearance of evil It s very inductive of many evils A most fit occasion of all that 's spoken And besides it s in it self sinfull contrare to Gods Word and to our oaths 6. Reason That which makes glad all the wicked and Enemies of God in the Land and sad many if not most part of the Godly hath much appearance and evidence if not Certainty of evill is unlawfull But the publick Resolutions and proceedings are such