lemn League and Covenant was sworne and subscribed by both,
yet have many in both despised the Oath of GOD, as appears by the late
unlawfull Engagement against the Kingdom of _England_, contrived and
carried on by a prevailing party of Malignants in this Land, and by the
proceedings of the Sectaries in _England_, in reference to Religion and
Government.

We shall not insist upon what hath been the condition and carriage of the
Lords People in this Land in reference to the late unlawfull Engagement:
As we desire to magnifie the power and loveing kindenesse of the Lord, who
enabled all the Judicatures of this Church, and a considerable part of the
Parliament, and the body of the Land, to dissent from, and bear Testimony
against the same, which made the House of Commons in their Letter directed
to the last Generall Assembly or their Commissioners, to declare, that
that Engagement could not be looked on as a Nationall breach, So we look
upon it as a wonder of his Wisdom and Mercy, that he hath disposed and
directed the same for the furtherance of his Work in our hand, and purging
his House amongst us. All this cometh forth from the Lord of Hosts, who is
wonderfull in Counsel and Excellent in Working. Neither was it the least
part of the lords goodnesse to us, in that day of our strait that we were
led in a plain path, and kept from complyance with Sectaries on the one
hand, no less then with Malignants on the other. We have obtained this
mercy to be steadfast to our old principles, in bearing free and faithfull
Testimony against their proceedings, both in reference to Toleration and
Government, and the taking away of the Kings life.

And as the danger and judgement which threatens the Authors and Abettors
of these things, doth affect our Spirits with horrour, and maketh us
desire that it may be given to them of God to repent: So we should
conceive our selves void of Christian affection and compassion toward
those in _England_, who suffer for the truth and Cause of God, if we were
not very sensible of all their present troubles and calamities. It is no
small grief to us, that the Gospel and Government of _Jesus Christ_ are so
despised in that Land that faithfull Preachers are persecuted and cryed
down, that Toleration is established by pretext of Law, and maintained
Military power, and that the Covenant is abolished and buried in oblivion.
All which proceedings, cannot but be looked upon as directly contrary to
the Oath of G