THat the many great and glori­ous blessings, which the Lord of Hosts hath bestow­ed, upon this shattered and almost ruinated Nation, by the remarkable Valour and fidelity of your Excellency, and the Army under your Command, ascending from one high degree of service to another, with many cleare evidences of your Loyalty to the Nation; together with the Candor of your Excellency, and Councell of Warre, as it were inviting all Persons, in your draught of the Agreement of the People, to give in their apprehensions, and reasons of appro­ving, [Page 4] or dissenting from any thing contained therein; And knowing that it is in the Nature of the very best of Men, to be subject to frailty and errour, (which we ought seriously to bewaile in our selves and others) sometimes by Mistaken Zeale carryed beyond its proper limits, and often by an Exorbitant Charity giving more Latitude to tendernes and pitty, then can well stand with Divine Truths; God in his wisdome having set bounds to both, whose lawes challenge in all things exact obedience, (especially in so high a point as concernes the salvation of soules.)

These considerations have moved us, humbly to present our thoughts to your Excellencies perusall & review, about some things of greatest weight, as concerning the glory of God, the pre­servation of Religion, and the Peace and happi­nesse of the Reformed Churches; And we most humbly desire, that the things so proposed by us, may be taken into your grave examination, without prejudice against us, as if we were over­byassed by the Example of Others, or any sinister ends of our owne.

Wee shall take leave to professe our selves un­satisfied, concerning some Particulars, in the Ninth Article of the Agreement.

First, that Christian Religion, which we justly account the greatest happinesse,Deut. 32.47. Prov. 3.13.19. 1 Sam 4 12. (the very life and glory of a People) is not reckoned as any of the [Page 5] Fundamentals of our Common rights and free­domes; Notwithstanding our Possession thereof so many yeares, and that we have found it the Pa­rent of all our cheifest blessings and Priviledges. And farther we think it strange, that the said Christian Religion is only to be Recommended, as the Publique profession in the Nation, and not Established, as the Publique profession of the Nation. Yea, it is not so much as Actually recom­mended, its only Intended to be recommended.

2 Secondly, that the care of the preservation of the said Christian Religion, in its purity, is not at all recommended to the Christian Mugistrate, (but he to be devested of all power in things touching Religion) notwithstanding the Gospell promise so well knowne, Isa. 60.16, 17, 18.Isa. 60.16, 17, 18. Isa. 1.26.Isa. 1.26. as also those eminent glorious exam­ples of Moses, Samuel, Ioshua, Asa, Iehosaphat, Hezekiah, Iosiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, &c. All which were famous in their times, for the exercise of their power, for restoring Religion to its purity.

3 Thirdly, that instructing of the People in the said Christian Religion, by able and faithfull Teach­ers, is but barely allowed and tolerated. Notwith­standing the necessity thereof for the salvation of soules; the Religious care of Iehosaphat and others, who sent sorth and encouraged Levites to instruct and teach the People; and Pauls weighty charge to Timothy, I charge thee before God and the Lord [Page 6] Iesus Christ, Preach the Word, &c. together with Christ his treble charge to Peter, Iohn. 21.15.

4 Fourthly, that although the Gospel hath been long planted in this Nation, and the Peo­ple have universally engaged to the Profession thereof; It is neverthelesse propounded as a Fundamentall right of the People, that they should in no wise be Compelled, to hold fast the said profession, or attend the Ordinances for in­struction therein; whereby (as we conceive) a wide doore is opened to damnable Apostacy, yea even to brutish Heathenisme and Atheisme: for prevention whereof, no provision is made, or mentioned in the said Articles, notwithstanding cleare and pregnant Scriptures, for constraining those who had received the true Religion, to con­tinue in the Profession and practice therof, 2 Chr. 15.13. 2 Chro. 34.32. Ezra 7.26, 27.

5 Fifthly, whereas in darker times, whole­some and Christian lawes have bin made against Idolatry, Sabbath-breaking, Blasphemy, and Prophanenesse; and some of these Lawes revived and enlarged by this present Parliament, that (notwithstanding so many Prayers, Teares, and humble endeavours to bring on reformation, and also the heavy hand of God upon the Kingdome, in this intestine Warre, with other fearefull judgements) yet by this Ninth Article, the Mounds will be broken downe, and the flood­gates [Page 7] opened, to all manner of impiety and pro­fanenesse, by repealing and making voide all Lawes of restraint, to the great dishonour of God, the heart-breaking of many deare Christians throughout the Kingdome, and opening the mouthes of Gods enemies to blaspheme, de­ride and triumph.

6 Sixthly, that (as if the sinnes of our owne Nation were not yet enough, to draw downe more and heavier Judgements from heaven upon us) incouragement is hereby implicitly given, to Idolaters, Turks and Heathens, to come in and exercise their grosse Idolatries amongst us; against which practices,Deut. 7.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Deut. 12.30, 31, 32. Rev. 2 20. the Lord from Heaven hath declared, as the highest abominations; and upon these very grounds straightly charged his People of old, to drive them out from amongst them, lest they should learn their waies, and the land be defiled. Which grounds we conceive to be Moral and Perpetuall;Lev, 18.25.27, 28. and if the Land Spued them out for these abominations, O let not us lick up the vomit; And although we may thinke our selves out of danger of such infection, yet the fearefull example of Solomons Apostacy, and Israels de­fection upon Admissions of like nature, do de­terre us from entertaining such perilous temp­tations, to our selves and all posterity. And if the Lord require us to come out from amongst them,2 Cor. 6.16 [...]7. how shall we invite or permit them to come in to us.

[Page 8] Seventhly, whereas we have eves seen, and at the present feele, the sad effects of the de­structive principles of Popery, both upon our selves and our neighbour Nations, in Murders and Massacres of all manner of persons, by all manner of meanes; Witnesse two Kings succes­sively murdered upon the same account in France, their many bloody designes upon Queen Elizabeth, that horrid attempt of blowing up the Parliament, these late barbarous Murders and Massacres in Ireland; (all which may stand as unanswerable arguments, for the rooting up of that pernicious profession, which hath been found to grow up and spread in this Nation, un­der the sharpest lawes enacted against it): yet in your third particular concerning Religion, wherein you would seem to make some provision against it, you have so slenderly and obscurely, provided (and upon the matter not at all, if not held forth as the Publique Profession in the Na­tion) that it fils us with amazement,Hab. 3.1.6. makes our bellies to tremble, and rottennesse to enter into our bones.

Eightly, by the third clause, all that doe professe faith in God by Jesus Christ, as Pa­pists, Socinians, Familists, &c. will pretend to do, have liberty to professe their faith, and exercise their Religion in any place whatsoever, (even in such places as are appointed for Pub­lique worship if they may have but leave) [Page 9] Which liberty being granted, although it should not disturbe the Civill peace, yet, may prove infinitely pernicious, and destructive to many thousands of ignorant and unstable soules; as we already finde by sad and deplorable experience, even now, before this liberty be granted.

What strange and woefull issues, may we then expect, when not onely boundlesse liberty, but (as we humbly conceive) most unwarrantable Protection, is to be provided? So that hereby, Er­rors are under as safe & powerful a shelter, as truth; and the most corrupting sedueers, as the soundest and most Religious Christians; which seemes extremely against the very current of Scrip­tures, which tell us that seducing will eate as doth a Gangrene, and overthrow the faith of some. 2 Tim. 2.16, 17, 18. Deut. 13. And if God commanded such false Prophets to be put to death, how then may we dare to give protecti­on to them?

And besides all this, casting our eyes fur­ther upon the Agreement, we perceive that you intend not onely to settle it for the present, but now (at once) to forme it into an Irrevocable E­stablishment, which (as farre as it relates to Re­ligion, being our businesse in hand) addes hea­vinesse unto our spirits; against which we hum­bly offer these ensuing reasons.

1 First, some things therein appeare dangerous, as hath in part been here presented; others (at [Page 10] least) dubious; and so not to be immutably esta­blished.

2 Secondly, because many of these things were never found safe, by the experience of any Church or State; and to establish immutably, in matters of high concernment, such untried expedients (we conceive) cannot be so suitable to piety or prudence.

3 Thirdly, because to settle such irrevocable establishments, seemes to be inconsistent with a common principle of reason, obliging us to en­deavour and awaite the increase of light and know­ledge, in things both Civill and Religious: in which (through mercy) we have found much in­crease of late yeeres; and so have no ground to conclude, that we are now growne up, to such perfection in them, as may not yet receive addi­tionall and future improvement. From all benefit whereof, We, by this Agreement, conceive our selves from henceforth for ever excluded.

4 Fourthly, by such Establishment, we con­ceive, we shall (under the pretence of liberty) but inthrall Posterity, and tie them fast with a Gilded Chaine. And therefore we are unsatis­fied, concerning the immutablenesse, of the Esta­blishment proposed.

[Page 11] And lastly, although we doe, exprofesso, in this addresse, decline such things proposed in the said Agreement, as are meerely of Civil Concern­ment; wherein we shall resigne up our selves to the determination of those in whom the great trust and supreme authority of the Kingdome doth reside, (as we hope your selves and others will, which is our earnest desire:) yet, forasmuch as the way proposed, for setling and determi­ning the Civil interest, and also that of Religion, is one and the same, viz. by offering the same forme of Agreement to the People, to be establi­shed or laid aside, as it shall be received or disliked by the Generality of them; We hum­bly conceive that gathering Subscriptions, in the way you suggest, and which (as we understand) is already practised, may be of dangerous con­sequence, for dividing the Kingdome; espe­cially the godly and well affected therein, who being already Generally ingaged, by the Nati­onall Covenant, to maintaine the power and pri­viledges of Parliament, in the maintenance of true Religion, and the fundamentall lawes of the Kingdome, must needs, by such intended sub­scriptions (for and against your Agreement) be dangerously ingaged, in such oppositions one of another, as may greatly advantage the designes of the Common Enemy, hazard the ruine of the honest party, and hinder the settlement of the Na­tion in Peace and Safety.

[Page 12] Thus having briefely, plainely, and sincere­ly, summed up our thoughts of the premises, we now leave them in your bosomes, with our Prayers and Teares, from Hearts and Eyes lif­ted up to Heaven, for a spirit of wisdome and holinesse, to direct you in all your proceedings referring thereunto; Beseeching you would not repute us, among the number of those, whose souls can mingle with none however God­ly, but such as in every point concurre in Judge­ment with themselves. For as (we know) Christs owne Heart, and Armes are open to weake Saints; so by his grace, are ours, and ever shall, to conscientious Brethren, as farre as the word allowes, though in matter of Disci­pline they may differ from us, or in other points also, that shake not the foundation of faith, or enervate the power of Holinesse. Nor are we such as have been backe friends to your Excel­lency and the Army. No (God knoweth) we are of them, that have loved and honoured you, (for what we have seen of God in and upon you,) and have often [...]efended you from the strife of tongues: Ye [...], [...] [...]se many prayers and prai­ses, are laid up in Heaven for you. Pardon us therefore (we beseech you) Noble Sirs, if we have been somewhat bold, in this our hum­ble addresse unto you: for our businesse con­cernes our owne immortall soules, and our Poste­rities, yea the very foundations of precious Truth, the least whereof laid in the balance, [Page 13] is more weighty, then the lives of many. It is this we now plead for, and (God will beare us record) it is truly this, and not any private Interest of our owne. You are Gentlemen that are tender to consciences, we beg it that you will tender ours, and many thousands more, of the Godly in the Nation, who, (we are confident) might a true estimate be had, are clearely of out mindes herein.

Other things might have been mentioned, referring to Religion, and particularly, that no mention is made of the function of the Ministe­ry; which Christ hath undoubtedly established in the Church, and greatly prospered in his worke; which hath been ever mainely opposed by Sathan, and is by many in these times. But that Ordinance being so clearely founded by Christ in the Holy Gospell; and hoping that your intentions are more full for that and o­ther things, then your words in that Agree­ment expresse, we forbeare to insist further thereon.