ing or manadging it, as being enemies both to God and their
country; which course, if it had been taken in former times, with such
who were enemies to religion and liberty, it would have deterred such
from being so active in this fatal stroak.

Upon these and many more weighty considerations, plain and demonstrable
evils in this complex mass of sin and misery, all the true lovers of
Zion who desire to be found faithful to God, to their vows and sworn
principles, and who seek to be found faithful in their generation and
duty of the day: and all such, who desire, love and respect the honour,
independency, liberty and priviledge of their native countrey,
especially in such a juncture, when long threatned judgments are so
imminent, and religion and liberty as it were, in their last breathing,
will easily find it to be their bound duty (as they would not conspire
with adversaries to religion and liberty) to show no favour or respect,
and give no encouragement or assistance that may tend to the upholding
or supporting this Union; but that it is their duty and concernment (as
well as ours) to testify and declare against the same, and to concurr
with their utmost endeavours to stop and hinder the same, and to deny
their accession to, connivance at, or complyance with any thing that may
tend to the continuing such an unsupportable yoke upon themselves or
their posterity.

And now to draw this, our protestation, to a conclusion, we heartily
invite, and in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ intreat all in both
nations, who tender the glory of God, the removing the causes of His
wrath, indignation and imminent judgments upon us, and who desire the
continuance of His tabernacle, gospel ordinances, and gracious presence
among us, and seek and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to
the saints; and labour to follow the footsteps of these who throu' faith
and patience inherit the promise, the noble cloud of witnesses who have
gone before us; we say, we heartily invite and intreat such to consider
their ways, and to come and join in a harmonious, zealous, and faithful
withstanding all and every thing that may be like a hightning, or
cope-stone of our defections, and particularly to join with us
(according to our reformation, Covenants, Confession of Faith, and
testimonies of our Church, as agreeable to the sacred and unerring rule
of faith and manners, the Holy Scriptures) in this our protestation and
testimony. And for thes