of their repentance,
for their sinful conformity. (1.) Upon all these grounds, exhibited
above, against hearing of them. (2.) Because former experience of the
hurt received by the entertainment of the episcopal clergy, _anno_ 1638,
does now plead for their care to prevent it in time coming. (3.) Because
the people under their ministry, have hitherto been, and are perishing
in ignorance and irreligion; being either starved for want of faithful
and spiritual instruction, or poisoned with false instruction; and
therefore pity to them, and zeal to propagate the gospel, should prompt
to all endeavours to purge them out. (4.) Because the settlement,
purgation, and plantation of the church, will be exceedingly obstructed
by the continuance of them that unsettled it, corrupted it, and pestered
the Lord's vineyard, with plants not of his planting, and whose leaven
will be always in hazard to leaven the whole lump. (5.) Because, all of
them are among these, whom the laws of Christ do oblige, the
constitutions of this church do ordain, and the present civil sanctions
for establishing church government do allow the church-representative,
to try and purge out; being all of them either insufficient, or
negligent, or erroneous, or scandalous, if these characters may be
applied, or interpreted, according to scripture rules, or as the church
hath extended them heretofore.

We are content that none of the curates be put out, but the insufficient
and ignorant, if this be one part of the trial of their knowledge, to
inquire not only into their gifts but their graces; if ignorance of
conversion, regeneration, sanctification, and communion with God; both
as to the doctrine of these benefits, and as to their own experience of
them, so far as may be discovered by human judgment, be reputed
insufficiency: We are content, none be put away but the negligent, if so
be they that do not warn the wicked of their destroying sins, that feed
themselves and not the flock, that do not strengthen the diseased, nor
heal the sick, &c. that omit the pressing of necessary duties
impartially on persons and families, and the censuring of scandals
without respect of persons, be comprehended in that character: We are
satisfied, none be removed but the erroneous; if they be judged to be
such, who not only own points of popery, Arminianism and Socinianism,
but are unsound in their explanation of the kingly office of Christ, or
the perfection of the scriptures, in t