their duty; It is
undeniably true, that many of the evils wherewith this Kirk and Kingdome
hath been afflicted in our age, have come to passe because of the
negligence of some, and corruptions of others of the Ministry; Whilest
some fell asleep, and were carelesse, and others were covetous and
ambitious, the evil man brought in Prelacy, and the Ceremonies, & had
farre promoted the Service-Book, and the Book of Cannons; and the course
of backsliding and revolting was carried on, untill it pleased God to
stirre up the spirits of these few, who stood in the gap to oppose and
resist the same, and to begin the work of Reformation in the Land; Since
which time; the silence of some Ministers, and compliance of others, hath
had great influence upon the backsliding of many amongst the people, who
upon the discovery of the evill of their way, complain that they got not
warning, or that if they were warned by some, others held their Peace, or
did justifie them in the course of their backsliding; We can look upon
such Ministers no otherwise then upon those that are guilty of the blood
of the Lords people, and with whom the Lord will reckon for all the breach
of Covenant, and defection that hath been in the Land. The Priests lips
should preserve knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for
he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts; But such are departed out of the
way, and hath caused many to stumble at the Law, therefore hath the Lord
made them contemtible and base before all the people; acccording as they
have not kept his wayes, but have been partiall in his law; because they
have lost their savour, he hath cast out many of them as unsavoury salt:
But such as have been faithfull, as he hath preserved from the violence
and fury of men, so hath he verified his word in their mouths, both
against his enemies, and concerning his people and his work; And makes
them see, though not all their desires concerning the Gospel, and the work
of God in the land yet very much of the fruit of their labour, by
preserving the doctrine and all the ordinances of Jesus Christ in their
purity, and adding in some measure thereto the power and life thereof. We
doe therefore charge all the Ministers of the land, before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing
in his Kingdom, as in every thing to be ensamples of a good conversation,
and to walk without offence, that the ministry be not blamed; So to t