ance to the covenanted work of reformation, and their declarations,
protestations, and wrestlings against all the indignities done unto, and
usurpations made upon the royal crown and prerogative of the Mediator,
and all the priviledges and instrinsick rights of this Church; we say,
not only burying these in perpetual oblivion by this cope-stone of the
land's sins and defections, but also opposing and condemning these as
matters of the least concern and trivial, as not being worthy of the
contending and suffering for, whereby these who ventured their lives and
their all, may be reputed to have dyed as fools, and suffered justly.

We cannot here omit also to declare and testify against the
constitution of the British Parliament, not only upon the consideration
of the foresaid grounds and reasons, but also upon the account of the
sinful mixture and unlawful admission of bishops and churchmen, to have
a share in the legislative power, or in any place in civil courts or
affairs, and thereto act or vote forensically in civil matters, a thing
expressly forbidden and discharged by Christ the only Head and Lord of
His own house, whose Kingdom, as Mediator, is not of this world, but
purely spiritual; and so the officers in His house must be spiritual; so
that the civil power of Church men is a thing inconsistent and
incompatible with that sacred and spiritual function. Upon which
consideration, how palpable a sin will it be to subject to, or accept of
any oath that may be imposed by the said British Parliament, for the
maintenance and support of such an Union, or for recognoseing, owning
and acknowledging the authority of the said Parliament, and that because
of our swearing, and promising subjection to the said Parliament, we do
thereby homologate the foresaid sinful constitution, and swear, and
promise subjection to the bishops of England who are a considerable part
of that Parliament, and so we shall be bound and oblidged to maintain
and uphold them in their places, dignities, and offices, which is
contrar to the Word of God and our covenants, while the very first
article of the Solemn League oblidges us to endeavour the reformation of
the religion in the kingdom of England, in doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government, according to the Word of God, as well as in
Scotland. And it is very well known that the government of bishops is
not according to the Word of God, but contrar to it, and likeways
contrar the second article