d to call them Politick) that
the present Engagement is inconsistent with the safety and security of
Religion. Next whereas it is affirmed in their Lordships Paper, that the
grounds and reasons are the same which were fully answered before, we wish
it had been instanced when and where they were answered, for we know no
such thing.

Another reflection upon that former Paper of ours is thus expressed, _That
the Generall Assembly hath proceeded to such a Declaration before they had
in an Ecclesiaslick way from clear testimonies out of the Word of God or
convencing of our consciences, demonstrate the unlawfulnesse of the
undertaking_: Where we can see no reason why it should seem so very
strange to the Honourable Committee that the Generall Assembly hath so
proceeded to a Declaration of their judgement concerning this businesse,
For as it hath been no unusuall thing, but very ordinary that approved
Synods, both Provinciall, Nationall, and Oecumeniall have declared their
judgement without publishing the particular grounds & reasons thereof from
Scripture (a work more proper for full Tractates then for Synodicall
Decrees or Cannons.) So if their Lordships had been pleased to attend (for
many attended not) the late Parliament-Sermons mainly intended for their
Lordships information, and had with mindes unprejudiced, hearkened
thereunto, and searched in to all the Papers lately published in Print by
the Commission of the last Assembly, they might have been by the blessing
of God convinced from the Word of God of the unlawfulnesse of the present
Engagement.

There are three things which may justly seem to us more strange: One is,
That the Declaration of Parliament having given assurance in this manner,
_We are resolved not to ingage in any War before the necessity and
lawfulnesse thereof be cleared, so as all who are wel-affected may be
satisfied therewith_, yet now they have ingaged in War without any such
clearing of the necessity and lawfulnesse thereof, or satisfaction given
to the wel-affected.

Another is, that although there are so great professions and offers in the
generall to satisfie what can be desired for the security of Religion, yet
none of those particulars desired by the late Commission of the Kirk for
the security of Religion have been granted. We shall here onely give
instance in one of those desires, which was, that his Majesties
concessions and offers concerning Religion, sent home from the Isle of
_Wight_