, having been found by the said Commission unsatisfactory and
destructive to the Covenant, might be by the Parliament declared
unsatisfactory to their Lordships.

In this great point there hath been no satisfaction given, onely it was
lightly touched in one clause of the Parliaments Declaration, and so
ambiguously expressed, as might suffer many interpretations, and although
this ambiguity was clearly laid open by the Commissioners of the last
Generall Assembly in their Representation; yet to this day there hath been
nothing published neither by the Parliament nor Committee of Estates to
give any clearer satisfaction, by disclaiming those offers and concessions
as unsatisfactory to the parliament: So that this (if there were no more)
gives us great cause to apprehend that there is a greater mystery latent
in that businesse then yet appeareth.

A third thing which seemeth strange to us is, That their Lordships desire
of arguments from Scripture to prove the unlawfulnesse of this Engagement
was not propounded to the Commissioners of the last Assembly, before the
emitting of the Declaration of Parliament, and before the Levies (when it
had been most orderly & seasonable) but is now propounded after publick
resolutions and Declarations, yea not till those resolutions are put in
actuall execution.

However seeing their Lordships do now desire proofs from Scripture for the
unlawfulnesse of the Engagement.

We answer, That as joyning and concurring in this Engagement is unlawfull
to all the wel-affected in this Kingdom, their consciences being
altogether unsatisfied in the lawfulnesse thereof; and as it is unlawfull
in the manner of putting it in execution, being accompanied with so many
injuries, oppressions, and crying abominations, and with so much
persecution of piety; so it is unlawfull in the own nature of it, and as
it is stated upon the grounds of the Declarations of Parliament, and
Committee of Estates. And this unlawfulnesse of the Engagement in it self,
we have demonstrate in the Declaration herewith communicate to their
Lordships, unto which we remit them for satisfaction in that point, and do
nor doubt but their Lordships may be convinced thereby of the evill of
their way, and that it is so far from being a pious and necessary
Engagement (as their Lordships are pleased to call it) that it is a most
unlawfull and sinfull Engagement to be repented of, and forsaken by all
that have any hand in it, as they desire t