nt Party did bend all
their forces against it; and when by the mighty hand of GOD they were
scattered and brought to confusion, in their stead stood up in _England_ a
generation who have perverted the Truth, and by turning aside into Errour
have obstructed the work of Reformation; and by forsaking of the Covenant,
and forgetting of the Oath of GOD, have brought a great reproach upon his
Name, and made the Enemy to blaspheme; whose unthankfulnesse and
unstedfastnesse, with the many provocations of these Lands, hath provoked
the Lord again to raise out of the dust the horn of Malignants, and to arm
them with such power as is terrible to his People, and threatenes his Work
with ruine. And albeit, we acknowledge our selves bound and are still
resolved to preserve and defend his Majesties Person and Authority in the
preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the
Kingdoms: Yet it is unto us matter of very great sorrow and grief that so
many in our Land should so far joyn in Malignant Designes, and that there
should be found amongst us who have undertaken and are now putting in
execution an unlawfull War promoving their ends and opposing and making
void (so far as in them lies) the Ends of the Covenant: Neverthelesse in
this we cannot but rejoyce that they went not without a Witnesse and a
Warning disswading them to go.

And we desire our Brethren of _England_ to know, that as a very
considerable number of the Members of the Parliament did dissent from and
protest against the proceedings of the major part in reference to this
Engagement so all the particular Synods and Presbyteries in this Kingdom,
excepting some few, who by reason of their remotenesse and shortenesse of
time had not the opportunity, have most harmoniously joyned with and
seconded the Desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly for
preventing so unlawful a War: And now the Commissioners out of all the
Provinces conveened in this National Assembly, as after an exact
examination they have unanimously approved the proceedings of the
Commissioners of the former Assembly against that Engagement; so have they
emitted a Declaration to all the People of GOD in this Land, shewing it to
be contrary to GODS Word and to the solemn League and Covenant. Neither
have Ministers onely by their preaching, and Kirk Iudicatories by their
Petitions and Declarations given testimony against it; but many others in
this Land also by supplicating the High an