of the by-gone and present evils, whereas so many Petitions to
the Parliament, from Committees of War, Synods, Presbyteries and Paroches
have made it appear, that they are no way satisfied therewith in point of
conscience; were an ascribing of a power to the Parliament, to declare
these to be enemies to the true Religion, whom the Kirk hath not declared
to be such but rather friends; were an approving of an Act made for the
restraining the liberty of printing from the Kirk, yea and of all the Acts
of the Committee of Estates, to be made in time coming, till _March_ 1650.
which by Act of Parliament are ordained to be obeyed; were an allowing of
Acts for securing of the persons, and intrometting with the Estates of
such as themselves shall not obey, or perswade others not to obey
resolutions concerning this Engagement, and for protecting persons under
Kirk Censures, and so an infringing and violating of the Liberties and
Discipline of the Kirk established by the Laws of the Land, and sworn to
in the Nationall Covenant to be defended, under the pains contained in the
Law of God, And in all these, such as do subscribe, do binde themselves
not only to active obedience in their own persons, but to the urging of
active obedience upon all others, and so draw upon themselves all the
guiltinesse and sad consequences of the present engagement; Yea, such as
are Members of Parliament, and have in the Oath of Parliament sworn not to
Vote or consent to any thing, but what to their best knowledge is most
expedient for Religion, Kirk and Kingdom, and accordingly have reasoned
against, and dissented from divers Acts of this Parliament, These by the
subscription of this Act, cannot eschew the danger of perjury, in obliging
themselves to active obedience to these Acts, which according to their
Oath, they did judge unlawfull. Neither can the 38. Act of the Parliament
1640. wherein such a kinde of Band was enacted to be subscribed by any
precedent or Warrant for subscribing of this Act; For it plainly appears
by the narrative of that Act omitted in this Band, how great a difference
there is between the condition of affairs then & now. Then the Kings
Commissioner had left and discharged the sitting of the Parl. then the
Parl. for sitting was declared Traitors, and Armies in _England_ and
_Ireland_ prepared against them, then not only the Act, but the very
authority of Parliament was called in question, then Kirk and State were
united in the Cau