hem to repent and do the first works, and to practise more of that
love, moderation, and meeknesse of Spirit, and of that zeal against
Malignants and Prelaticall persons, which they have from the beginning
professed, and the want whereof (when suspected in others) they did so
much censure; or whether there be such a thing among them, as adjoyning
with those against whom, and against whose with whom the Covenant was
taken; We leave them in all these to the search and examination of their
own consciences, that they may stand or fall unto God. For our part, we
cannot conceive how the Proposals of that Army for setling of a Peace, do
in point of Religion consist with the solemn League and Covenant, or with
the Propositions of peace, formerly agreed upon by both Kingdomes; there
being so considerable omission of divers materiall desires contained in
those former Propositions, concerning the abolition of Prelacy; concerning
the injoyning of the taking of the Covenant by all his Majesties Subjects,
under such penalties as the Parliaments should agree upon; concerning the
setling of Religion in _England_ and _Ireland_, according to the Covenant,
in such manner as both Houses of Parliament shall agree on, after advice
had with the Assembly of Divines, concerning the setling of uniformity
between the Churches of God in both Kingdomes, according to the Covenant,
in such manner as shall be agreed on by both Houses of the Parliament of
_England_, and by the Church, and Kingdome of _Scotland_, after advice had
with the Divines of both Kingdomes; Also concerning an Act of Parliament
to confirm the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines: All which,
with some other particulars concerning Religion, expressed in the former
Propositions, if they should now be omitted in the setling of a Peace, the
progresse already made, not only in the Assembly of Divines, but in the
Houses of Parliament, in setling Presbyteriall Government, with the
Confession of Faith, yea the Directory of publike Worship (though agreed
upon by the Assemblies and Parliaments of both Kingdomes) shall bee but so
much lost labour. But beside these omissions it may be justly doubted
whether there be not in the Proposals of the Army, somewhat for
Episcopocy, and against the Covenant; For wee cannot understand the
eleventh Proposall, in any other sense, but that it supposeth the
continuance of the Ecclesiastical office of Bishops or Prelats, as well as
of any other Churc