the scriptures." Numb. xiv. 9, 10; Neh. vi. 3, 6, 8, 9, 10,
11; Isa. viii. 12, 13, 14; Acts iv. 19, 20, 24, xxi. 13; Gal. ii. 5;
Phil. i. 28.

Nevertheless, _many have been the lets and impediments, that have been
cast in the way, to retard and obstruct the Lord's work_, by Prelacy,
supremacy, indulgences, toleration, and absolute tyranny and compliance
therewith, enacted by law, and all the mischiefs established by a throne
of iniquity since the unhappy restoration of Charles II. to this day.
Yet few have ever zealously contended and fewer have constantly
continued in contending, against these obstructions, so obstructive to
the cause, many have kept secret the first motions and appearances of
these things, while they might have been suppressed and overcome, and
the generality have passed them over in silence, and not made known, nor
advertised unto evil of these things when declared, by witnessing
against these things, when, they could not be otherwise removed or
overcome. Yea, many of us have ourselves cast in lets and impediments,
obstructive to the cause, by our defections divisions and disorders
against common consent, and precipitances, without common consent even
of our brethren adhering to the testimony. Many a divisive motion hath
not been counted dangerous, of those which tended to divide us from the
Covenanted cause. And many a good and necessary motion hath been
accounted divisive, namely, such as proposed the necessity of confessing
and forsaking sin.

"Besides these and many other breaches of the Articles of the Covenant,
in the matter thereof, which concerneth every one of us, to search out
and acknowledge before the Lord, as we could wish his wrath to be turned
away from us, so have many of us failed exceedingly in the manner of
following and pursuing the duties contained therein, not only seeking
great things for ourselves, and mixing private interests, and ends
concerning ourselves, and friends, and followers, with those things
which concern the public good; but many times preferring such to the
honour of God and good of his cause; and retarding God's work until we
might carry alongst with us our own interests and designs: it hath been
our way to trust in the means, and to rely upon the arm of flesh for
success, albeit the Lord hath many times made us meet with
disappointments, and stained the pride of all our glory, by blasting
every carnal confidence unto us. We have followed for the most part the