it, or do deny it,) they excommunicate from the table all
guilty of such sins as are forbidden in the second commandment,
according as they are specified in the forsaid Catechism; and so, by an
infallible consequence, they excommunicate the Queen and Parliament, who
are grossly guilty of the most of them, only they have not the courage
ingenuously and freely to own and express the consequence, but that it
follows natively and necessarily from the premises, even according to
their own principles, they will never be able to disprove.

Now, Reader, thou hast a just and true account as far as was necessary,
of our poor and weak endeavours in this matter, which we hope will, at
least, stand as a witness and testimony (without arrogance we desire to
speak it) against the apostacy of some and indifferency of others, who
should have been to us as the _he-goats before the flock_ in paving our
way to Zion, but are rather _making to themselves captains_ to carry us
back to Babylon, and pollute our land with idolatry and superstition;
and, as a pledge to posterity that the Lord has not yet utterly deserted
the land, though we rather wish,(if so it may consist with his holy
purpose, _who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working_) that it
might tend to excite, some to bethink "whence they have fallen, and
repent, and to do their first works, lest the Lord come quickly, and
utterly remove his candlestick from us:" and engage them to renew these
covenants in a more public way, and prosecute the ends of them with more
zeal, fidelity, and constancy, "that the Lord may yet delight to dwell
amongst us, make our judges peace, and our exactors righteousness," and
make us to be called _Hephzibah_, and our land _Beulah_.

The reader may please to cast his eye upon the following passages,
quoted from the writings of some of the ablest divines, wherewith these
kingdoms have been blessed, since the first reformation from Popery;
wherein he will see, how far different an opinion they have entertained
of the Covenant, from what are the thoughts of the learned
Latitudinarians of our age.

_A Testimony to the truth of_ JESUS CHRIST _and to our Solemn League
and Covenant, &c., subscribed by the Ministers of Christ, within the
province of London, December_ 14, 1649 Head IV.

"In order unto reformation and defence of religion within these three
kingdoms, we shall never forget, how solemnly and cheerfully the Solemn
League and Covenant was swo