nd
that of late, some are admitted to the ministry, that constantly
followed episcopacy, and were trained up to be curates, and were deeply
involved in the foresaid compliances, without due trial of their past
conversation, and requiring of their public profession of repentance,
and resentment of these respective scandals; whereby the precious are
not taken from the vile, and a little of that old leaven, may quickly
leaven the whole lump, and offenders are not like thereby to be gained
to repentance, but rather hardened in, and tempted to think little of
these destroying sins.

We plead not here, that every one of the defects, or every degree of
these offences should be, in the case of this epidemic involvement,
proceeded against by disciplinary censure; nor do we urge, that all
chargeable with these offences above taxed, especially such as are in
controversy, should be either personally rebuked in public, or obliged
publicly to confess their own degree of the guilt of them; though it
would give glory to God, and comfort to the church, and peace to their
own consciences, for all to confess their offences, that have been most
stumbling to the godly; so far as from the word of God, and known
principles of this reformed church, they may be convinced. Nor do we
propose, that the condemnation of every one of these steps of defection,
that are questioned, should be so far stretched _quoad momentum rei_, as
either to be stated by us, as a ground of separation formerly, or now
required as a necessary condition of communion; though still, we
conceive the complication of them together, when they stood, was a
ground that necessitated our withdrawing from many in the same
circumstances.

We only desire, they may be so far inquired into, that what guilt is in
them before the Lord, may be in some measure discovered, and the wrongs
done to Christ thereby, may not be passed over in an act of oblivion:
But as the right honourable the estates of parliament, have found and
declared these acts and actings of the overturners of our reformation:
and the mischiefs of prelacy, supremacy and tyranny established by
wicked laws, which were the foundations and fountains of all the
offensive compliances above mentioned, to be grievances against the laws
of the land; so the right reverend, the members of this venerable
assembly, may find and declare, these wicked establishments and
compliances supporting them, and defections flowing therefrom, to