VVE the Miniſters of Chriſt, reſiding within the Weſt-riding of the County of York; ſeriouſly calling to mind the many wonderful mercies, and deliverances, which God hath vouchſafed in thoſe latter years to this Church and Kingdom; eſpecially in freeing us from the inſupportable yoke of the Prelatical Hierarchy, and ſetting open a fair door of hope, to a ful and through Reformation, by means of this preſent Parliament, in purſuance of our National Covenant; cannot but deſire to be unfeignedly thankful to God, firſt, and then to the Honorable Houſes for all their pains, piety, prudence and fidelity manifeſted therein: Yet we cannot but with ſad and ſorrowful hearts, weep, yea (if it were poſſible) bleed over thoſe inexpreſſible Calamities, which threaten this poor diſtreſſed Church with ſpeedy and inevitable ruin, by reaſon of the many pernicious Errors, damnable Hereſies, unparaleld Blaſphemies, and more then abominable Irreligion, and Atheiſm, which dayly increaſe and ſpread amongſt us. Eſpecially our hearts tremble, when we conſider the deſperate attemps of thoſe, who endeavour and plead for a Bloody Tenent preface toleration (of all Conſciences and worſhip, even Antichriſtian; Diametrically oppoſite to the National Covenant, and that) which would entayl all theſe evils upon us, and our poſterity for ever.

Fearing therefore, by our ſinful ſilence, to betray the Truth of God, which in the worſt of times hath ever found ſome friends to own and aſſert it. And having before our eyes

Firſt, The Honor of God, which ought to be dearer to us then our own Exod 32, 32 Rom 9.3 ſalvation.

Secondly, The preciouſneſs of our peoples ſouls, Acts 20, 28 bought with no meaner price then the Blood of Chriſt, now in danger to be ſubverted.

Thirdly, The ſtrictneſs of our engagement by Covenant within our calling, to endeavour the extirpation of Hereſies, Schiſm, Prophaneſs, and whatſoever is contrary to ſound Doctrine, and the power of godlineſs

Fourthly, The expreſs charge that lies upon all, earneſtly to Iude verſe 3 contend for the Faith, which was once delivered to the Saints, eſpecially upon Ezek 33, 7 Acts 20, 29 Miniſters, to warn the people of their danger, to watch over their flocks againſt falſe Teachers, and to hold Tit 1.9 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 It notes an hold againſt a contrary bold, when we have any thing in our hand that another would wreſt from us faſt the faithful Word.

Fifthly, The forwardneſs and zeal of Beleevers in all ages, that have maintained the Truth of the Goſpel, againſt all the aſſaults of the Devil, and his Inſtruments, together with the late, freſh and pious 2 Cor 9, 2 example, of our dear Brethren the Miniſters of Chriſt, within the Province of London.

Sixthly, Our own 1 Tim 5, 21 exemption from being partakers of other mens ſins, that we may free our ſelves both from the guilt of theſe reigning corruptions, and the Blood of ſouls.

Seventhly, And laſtly, The ſweet and comfortable Mat 10, 32 promiſe of our Lord and Savior, which he hath made, to the confeſſion of his Name, and truth before men: We do freely give teſtimony, as followeth;

1. We cannot but exceedingly check and blame our ſelves, with broken and bleeding hearts, that we have been no more active and forward for God, in promoting and advancing the happy begun Reformation of Religion, according to our Covenant, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government. And alſo, that we have ſo little appeared (out of the ſpheres of our rereſpective Congregations) againſt the many intolerable Errors, Blaſphemies and Hereſies, which have dayly increaſed whiles they ſhould have been ſuppreſſed.

2. We do firmly beleeve, the holy Scripture given by Divine 2 Tim 3, 16 inſpiration, contained in the Canonical books of the Old and New Teſtament, to be the 2 Pet. 1, 19 20, 21 undoubted Word of God; the ſupream Judge in all Controverſies of Religion, from which there's no appeal: The moſt perfect Epheſ. 2, 20 rule of faith and obedience both in reſpect of Gods Worſhip, and the whole converſation of man. To which, as nothing ought to be added, ſo from it nothing ought to be Deut 4, 2 Rev 22, 18, 19 diminiſhed.

3. Upon a diligent peruſal of a Confeſſion of Faith, and Catechiſm, preſented (as the humble Advice of the Aſſembly of Divines, then ſetting at Weſtminſter) to both Houſes of Parliament, for their civil ſanction: We cannot but thankfully acknowledg their unwearied pains taken therein, notwithſtanding the many apparent difficulties they dayly wreſtled withall; heartily bleſſing God for guiding them ſo by his Spirit into all truth; that as we do freely and fully aſſent to the whole Doctrine of Faith therein contained, to be ſound, orthodox, clearly grounded upon the Word of God, and agreeable to the Confeſſions of the Reformed Churches, (of all which we are abundantly ſatisfied, and convinced in our Judgments and Conſciences;) ſo we can cheerfully ſubmit our ſelves unto that Confeſſion and Catechiſm, as a ſpecial means to preſerve Unity and Purity of Doctrine amongſt us; earneſtly imploring they may receive the ſtamp of ſupream Authority, for the nearer Conjunction of the three Kingdoms, that we and our poſterity after us, may as Brethren live in peace and love, and the Lord may delight to dwel in the midſt of us.

4. Whereas it is undenyably evident, and more clear then the Sun at noonday; that men of corrupt minds have broached and ſpread amongſt us many Remonſtrance &c. by Borealis printed at London, 1648 page 8, 9 And Colemans reexamination, page 10 unſound opinions, and monſtrous Errors, both in word and writings, of which thoſe many dangerous and heretical books, (ſuch as are Beſts Myſteries againſt the whole Trinity. Bidles twelve Arguments againſt the Diety of the Holy Ghoſt. Comfort for Believers. Mans Mortality. Bloody Tenent. And Sparkles of Glory; with many moe commonly printed and publiſhed,) are lively, and never dying Monuments to all poſterity: We could not but ſit down aſtoniſhed, and wiſh our heads were waters, and our eyes a fountain of tears, that we might weep day and night for the ſpreading and growth of thoſe Errors, Hereſies and Schiſms, which by ſuch an expreſs, ſacred and holy oath, our Kingdom is bound to extirpate. Oh how are we aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up our faces, either to God, or to any of the Reformed Charches, when we conſider, how God is notoriouſly blaſphemed, by being made the Author of Comfort for Beleevers. pag 36 ſin: The doctrine of the ſacred An account to the Parliament by the Miniſters of Oxford, pag 36, 7 Trinity of perſons, in Unity of Eſſence horridly reproached, by thoſe hell-fetcht Vaal Beſt in his manuſcript, preſented by the Miniſters at York to the Lord Fairfax. expreſſions of a three-headed Cerberus, Monſtrum Biforme, Triforme, a two-ſhap't, and three-form'd Monſter, yea, ſtigmatiz'd for Antichriſtian, and the brand of the great Whore: The ſacred Diety of the eternal Son of God Account by Oxford Miniſters. page 30 deſtroyed, and the whole work of our Redemption accompliſhed by his Manifeſtation in the fleſh clearly overthrown; in making Chriſt, who is truly and really God-man in one perſon, (by the merit and ſatisfaction of whoſe death and obedience imputed to us we are ſaved,) to be a meer Sparkles of Glory. page 203 205. 217 figure or example only in which God diſcovers to us grace and love; and in making the Account by Oxford Manſters, page 32 ct 34. ct page 30. ct 41 Sparkles of Glory page 254, 255 Saints to be Chriſt. The Divine Authority of the Scriptures openly oppugned, in being denyed to be the Pilgrimage of Saints. page 4 Word of God, and any Sparkles page 245 binding rule to the Creature. The eternal Decree of God concerning Election and reprobation decryed, as not fit to be Paul • obſons book entitaled, Chriſt the 〈…〉 not the Cauſe of the Law. page 7, 9 preached. The ſtanding Sparkles pag 30, 31, 232 245, 246 Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, prayer, Sacraments, Lords day Sabbath, Law, Goſpel, Miniſtry, all raz'd to the very foundation; yea, the Church of Chriſt on earth, and all Sparkles pag 50 51 • by Oxford Miniſters. p 13 14 ct; o Sparkle, page 116 117 diſtinction of Church-Officers utterly taken away, denyed and deſtroyed: All which Errors and Hereſies, with many moe particularized in a Catalogue, by our Reverend Brethren the Miniſters of London, in their Teſtimony to the Truth of Jeſus Christ, and multitudes of others, every way as horrid, too long to enumerate, tend to the great diſhonor of God, the inſufferable reproach of the Goſpel, the dangerous undermining of Magiſtracy, and the unſpeakable ruin of thouſands of ſouls, yea, and of all Religion; and will ſpeedily and mortally, like a Gangrene (if not timely prevented) eat out all faith, piety and peace, both in Church and State. And yet (which moſt of all ſaddens our ſpirits) we do not find any effectual means uſed by Authority to reſtrain and ſuppreſs them; but on the contrary, the orthodox party in the Kingdom is diſcarded and diſcountenanced, and notorious Sectaries and Seducers highly reſpected and preferred among us.

Having therefore ſeriouſly weighed the miſerable effects of the prevalency of the Spirit of Errors and Infatuation, which hath poſſeſſed ſo many in this Kingdom, a woful experiment whereof we have lately had in our own County, in ſome acted by the ſpirit of deluſion, to caſt off all piety and natural affection, in the wilful murder of their own Samuel Hutchenſon, who dyed in York Caſtle, about a work before the Aſſize held there; March 20. 1647. His ſiſter, and her husband both condemned for that fact, the one executed, and the other reprieved. Mother, pretending to kill the evil ſpirit in her. We do here before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (who ſhall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom) for the diſcharge of our Calling and Conſciences; declare to the whole world our diſlike, utter deteſtation, and abhorrency from our very ſouls, not only of all Popery, Superſtition, Prophaneneſs, but of all thoſe Errors, Hereſies and Blaſphemies formerly mentioned, though 2 Cor. 11, 13 14, 15 guilded with never ſo ſpecious pretences of new light, all ſpirit, higheſt and moſt glorious diſcoveries, and of whatſoever elſe is contrary to ſound doctrine, and the power of godlineſs 1 Tim. 6, 3.

And further, we do in the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, warn and charge our ſeveral flocks and Congregations, as they tender the honor of God, and his Goſpel, and the ſalvation of their own ſouls; that they take heed, leſt they be 2 Pet. 2, 2, et 3, 17 led away with the Error of the wicked, or follow the pernicious ways of them that bring in damnable Hereſies; and for this cauſe we how Epheſ. 3 44 our knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that he would Heb. 13, 9 Ephel. 4, 14 eſtabliſh their and our hearts with grace, that we may not be carried about with divers and ſtrange doctrines, but may ſtand 1 Cor 16, 13 faſt in the faith, and be 2 Theſ. 2, 17 eſtabliſhed in every good word and work.

5. Upon the due Conſideration of the many lamentable confuſions and miſchiefs the poor Church of God groans under amongſt us for want of Government, Epheſ. 1, 22 Heb 3 2, to 6 and the due Adminiſtration of Church-cenſures: And being fully aſſured; that Jeſus Chriſt, the King and head of his Church (faithful in that his houſe above Moſes) hath in the Scriptures laid down a ſufficient rule for the governing of his Church now under the Goſpel, 1 Cor 12, 28 2 Cor 2, 6 Mat 18, 17 1 Tim • , 17 1 Theſ 5.12 we teſtifie, that we are verily perſwaded, in our Judgments and Conſciences, that the Government of the Church truly, and indeed Presbyterial, by Mat 18, 15 ad 21 Acts 14, 23 Titus 1, 5 Acts 11, 30 & Chap. 21, 18 1 Tim 4, 14 Acts 15, 6 Presbyteries and Synods, in a way of ſubordination, practiſed by the beſt Reformed Churches, is that particular Government which is moſt agreeable to the Word of God, and will mightily conduce to the removing of all Errors, Hereſies, Corruptions and Scandals in Life and Doctrine from amongſt us.

And further, we thankfully acknowledg what the Parliament hath done by their ſeveral Ordinances, in reference to the ſettlement of this Presbyterial Government in the Church, patiently waiting for the full eſtabliſhment of it in all the parts thereof. In the mean time, though we cannot find ſo compleat a rule in any, or all thoſe Ordinances of Parliament for Church-Government, which have (at this diſtance) come to our hand, as we are perſwaded in our judgments, Iſaiah 9, 6 Mat. 16, 19 2 Cor 10, 8 a Note, that by vertue of an Order from the Committee for the 60000 l. per menſom, (according to a late Ordinance of Parliament) the weſt-riding of York ſhire was by the aſſiſtance of the Miniſters divided into ten Claſſical Preſbyteries. April 6, 1648. But it ſeems there is yet no return made of them, becauſe they have not divided the whole County is held forth in the Word: And though we beleeve, that Jeſus Chriſt (the ſpirituall Monarch of his Church) upon whoſe ſhoulder alone the whole frame of all Eccleſiaſtical Government and power is laid) hath immediatly from himſelf, inveſted the ſole power of diſpencing all Church-cenſures, and in particular, that of ſuſpenſion from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in his own Church-Officers, who from him alone receive their Office and Authority: Yet in regard the neceſſities of putting Church-Government into actual execution, are ſo great, and preſſing, we are reſolved (if God permit) to a act in our places for the exerciſing thereof upon the preſent Ordinances, ſo far as we apprehend them conſonant to the Word of God, and the wil and appointment of Jeſus Chriſt, hoping and praying that God will reveal to all in Authority the whole truth concerning Church-Government, that their Conſciences being fully ſatisfied therein, what is wanting may be added, what is unwarrantable may be altered, and that in Gods good time the Model of Church-Diſcipline may be perfected, and the whole Government fully ſetled, duly exerciſed, and conſcientiouſly embraced throughout all the Kingdom to the Glory of God, and recovery of this languiſhing Church, out of all her dangerous Maladies and diſtempers.

In purſuance whereof, we ſhall, through the Grace of God, endeavour, that our whole carriage may be ſuch as becomes thoſe who are ready to be reſponſible for whatſoever we ſhall do, not only to the ſupream Authority of this Kingdom, but alſo, and chiefly to our Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt, the great ſheephard of the ſheep, at his glorious coming and appearing, how we have taken heed to our Miniſtry, which we have received in the Lord, in every thing to fulfil it. Col 4.17

6. When we call to mind the many dangerous plottings and practiſes of the Miniſters of Satan, to bring in a full and formal toleration; and being convinced by woful experience, that the preſent connivance at Errors, Hereſies, Sects and Schiſms, (which ſwarm in the Kingdom) amounts to no leſs: We tremble to think what ſuch indulgence will produce, how quickly would a toleration prove an inlet to Atheiſm, the bane of our peace, the ruin of Reformation, the deſtruction of Religion, the grand provocative of Gods wrath againſt this Land, to make us an hiſſing and aſtoniſhment to all Nations: And therefore we do from our hearts abhor and proteſt againſt the toleration ſo much cry'd up in theſe days, as contrary to the Scripture, Gal 1, 8, 9, & 5, 12 Rev. 2, 2, 20, v and that which will undoubtedly un-Church, un-Parliament, and un-people us (if God prevent not.) And as we cannot approve or allow of Independency or Eraſtianiſm, ſo we are reſolved by the Grace of God never to conſent to the toleration of Arrianiſm, Antitrinitarianiſm, Antinomianiſm, Antiſcripturiſm, Arminianiſm, Anabaptiſm, Enthuſiaſm, Familiſm, Libertiniſm, Socinianiſm, Scepticiſm, or any other Hereſies, Sects, or erronious opinions whatſoever; but to withſtand the ſame by all lawful ways and means within our places and callings, though to the loſs of our Liberties, Eſtates, lives, and whatſoever elſe may be dear unto us, all which we count not too dear to looſe for Gods Glory, Truth and Goſpel.

7. Finally it cannot be unknown to the Reformed Churches abroad, that all the three Kingdoms ſtand ingaged by vertue of a ſolemn Covenant, ſworn with hands lift up to the moſt high God, ſincerely, really & conſtantly through the Grace of God, to endeavour in our ſeveral places the Reformation of religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government according to the Word of God, and example of the beſt Reformed Churches. Which Covenant the Parliament did not only commend unto us by their example, but command by their Authority to be taken by us, and our people: Yet, as if all our other provocations were not ſufficient to fill up the meaſure of our ſins, and bring wrath upon the Kingdom to the uttermoſt, Many takers of this Covenant do now trample upon it; horrible A Pamphlet intituled, The peoples and ſoldiers Obſervations on the Scotch Meſſage November 5 1647 page 6 et 8 reproaches are caſt upon it; ſundry endeavours uſed to evade and elude the true ſenſe and meaning thereof: Yea, ſo far have ſome proceeded in their enmity againſt it, as to labour by all means the extirpation of the Covenant name and thing from amongſt us, rather then of Hereſie and Schiſm to which they are engaged by it, that ſo England may become the grave, not only of all Gods Truths, Ordinances, Mercies, Victories, Deliverances, but alſo of their own Declarations, Proteſtations, Oaths and Engagements.

Wherefore, Nehem 9, 38 Ezek 17, 15 16, 18, 19 being ſufficiently convinced of the lawfulneſs of entring the Covenant, and of the ſinfulneſs of violating it, we prefeſs our unfeigned deſire to be humbled for our own ſins, and the ſins of this Kingdom, eſpecially, that we have not endeavoured a real Reformation, both perſonal and publike, as we have covenanted.

And to conclude, that we may not involve our ſelves in the guilt of wilful perjury; We further profeſs and declare before God, his elect Angels, and the whole world, that as at the firſt we did ſtrike Covenant (as in the preſence of the Almighty God) without any equivocation, mental reſervation, or ſubordination to any politick intereſt in point of Church Reformation, according to the common, plain, genuine, grammatical ſenſe of it, ſo we are ſtill bound to perform the ſame, to the utmoſt of our power whilſt we live, without admitting any other ſenſe to be put upon it, or permitting our ſelves to be diſ-engaged and abſolved from it, by any power or perſons here on earth whatſoever.

Thus have we endeavoured to diſcharge our conſciences, in owning and aſſerting the Truth, Cauſe, Government, and Covenant of our God, in warning our people of thoſe dangerous Sects, Hereſies, Blaſphemies that are ſo rife amongſt us, in proteſting againſt the impious and boundleſs toleration of them; for which if we be maligned, reproached, perſecuted, we truſt (by the grace of our good God) that none of theſe things ſhall move us, Acts 20.24 neither ſhall we count our lives dear to our ſelves, ſo that we may finiſh our courſe with joy, and the Miniſtry which we have received of the Lord Jeſus to teſtifie the Goſpel of the Grace of God.