(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,(371) the predominant and leading
part whereof have been esteemed, and are really enemies to God and his
people. (4) Is it not a great offence that any thing should proceed from
the public 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 practices? What may they judge of this inconstancy
and levity of the commission, and thus 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 join 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 henceforth on them as friends without so much as any
acknowledgment of their sin had from them? Shall not they be induced to
put no difference between the precious and the vile, not to discern
between him that fears God and him that fears him not, when the public
resolutions put no difference? Then, how will it confirm all the malignant
party in their wickedness? May they not think our solemn vows and
engagements, 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 an 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 designs. And last of all, the
present proceedings will not only encourage and animate the common enemy,
but confirm them in all the imputations and calumnies they have loaded our
church with. May they not have ground to think, that we are but driving on
a politic design, and do not singly aim at God's glory,--that it is not
grounds of conscience that act us, but some worldly 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 b