d Honourable Court of Parliament
for satisfaction to their Conscience thereanent: And when it could not be
obtained many have chosen rather to suffer the spoiling of their goods
with joy, then to sin against GOD by complying with an evil course. And
many of the Officers of our former Army, who are of special note for their
good carriage and deserving in the Cause of GOD, have rather choosed to
quit their charges then to joyn in it: Nay, the well-affected, both
Ministers and People, as they do bear testimony against it before men, so
groan under it before GOD. So that this character may justly be put upon
it by all who shall speak of it now or in after Ages, That as it is a foul
breach of the Covenant under a pretence and profession of being for the
ends of the Covenant, so being carried on against the Consciences of the
people, and contrary to the most harmonious and universal Testimonies of
many Presbyteries and Synods that have been given against it, it is a
sinning with many witnesses. A paralel will hardly be found in this or in
any other Land wherein a publick sinful course hath been carried on with
so high a hand against the Consciences of the People of GOD, and against
so many Warnings of the Servants of GOD, and general opposition from the
Judicatories of the Kirk; which yet is the less to be wondred at, because
the greatest part of those who have been most active in contriving and
carrying on of the fame, were either once open Enemies, or alwayes secret
underminers, or indifferent and neutral in the Cause of GOD.

But whatsoever be the falling away of such, we shall desire and do expect
that our Brethren in _England_, who continue faithful, may rest confident
of the generality of all such of this Kingdom as were at first active in
promoting the Covenant and Work of Reformation, that they are also still
faithful in adhering thereunto, and walking after their former principles
do resolve to abide stedfast and to hold fast the bands of Brotherhood and
union between these Kingdoms: Neither are we lesse confident of the like
Resolutions and Affections of our Brethren in _England_: The many
Testimonies which the Truth and Cause of CHRIST, the Covenant and
Presbyterial Government have lately received from that cloud of Witnesses
of the Ministery in several Provinces and Countries of that Kingdom, after
the example of the worthy Ministery of the City of _London_, against the
Errours of _Independency, Anabaptism, Antinomi