he performance of the same; Their
former proceedings is unto us a sufficient evidence and ground of hope,
that they will not be wanting in any necessary testimony of dutie and
Loyalty that they owe to the King, by using all just and seasonable
endeavoures for obtaining satisfaction of his Majestie, that so he may be
established upon his Thrones; And we trust, that upon the other hand, the
sense of their obligations to God, and his Oath that is upon them, will
make them constantly to adhere to their former principles resolutions, and
desires concerning Religion and the Covenant, that real satisfaction may
be had thereanent, before the King be put in the exercise of his power;
And that they will carefully provide for the safety of the Kingdom, both
in regard of the intestine dangers, and in regard of invasion from
without; It is not long since they together with the rest of the Land,
made solemn publick Confession of Compliance with Malignants, carnal
confidence, following of self interests, and hearkening to the Counsels of
flesh and blood, and did in a special way engage themselves to comply, and
seek themselves and their own things no more, to abandon the counsels of
their own hearts, and not to rely upon the Arm of flesh, and to purge
Judicatories and Armies from Profane and scandalous persons; And God
forbid that they should so soon forget, or neglect so necessary duties and
fall again unto so great and grievous transgressions. We trust that they
will seek the things of CHRIST, and not their own things, that they will
hearken to His Word, and not walk in the imaginations of their own hearts,
that they will relie upon the Arm of the LORD, and not upon the arm of
flesh, that they will bewary and circumspect in discerning the
dispositions and affections of those whom they put in trust, and that,
seeing this Kingdom hath so much smarted, & been so often deceived by
complyance with Malignants they will carefully avoid this snare, inregard
of those who were upon the former unlawful Engagement & be tender in
bringing in of such; And wee cannot but exhort them in the Name of the
LORD, to take notice of the Oppression of the People and Commons in the
Land, by the lawlesse exactions of Land-Lords, Collectours and Souldiers.
We do not justifie the murmurings and grudgings of those, who, preferring
the things of the world to the Gospel and things of _Jesus Christ_ repine
at necessary burthens, without which it is not possible that