ends, and offensive to posterity.

5. Because it is contradictory to our covenants, to receive indulgences,
contrived and conferred, on purpose, to divide (by the terror of
persecution on the one hand, and the persuasion of this pretended
liberty, taking off the legal restraint on the other) ministers and
people from the cause and testimony of the church of Scotland, against
the supremacy, and from their former blessed conjunction therein, and to
induce them to make defection to that party, that were advancing
Erastianism. And it is expresly contradictory to the engagement to
duties, _anno_ 1648, where the obligation bears, "Because many of late
have laboured to supplant the liberties of the kirk, we shall maintain
and defend the kirk of Scotland, in all her liberties and privileges,
against all who shall oppose or undermine the same, or encroach
thereupon under any pretext whatsoever."

IV. Likewise, we plead and obtest, that a search may be made into, and a
review taken of the late toleration, and addressing for it, and
acceptance of it, complexly considered: The sinfulness whereof, we could
not, and now cannot forbear to witness against.

1. Because as the design of the granter, and tendency of the grant
itself, in its own nature, being the introduction of popery and slavery,
could not in any probability be counteracted, but rather corroborated,
by this addressing for it, and accepting of it, even though there had
been a testimony against the design thereof, as there was none, and
could be none consistent with the continuance thereof; so being conveyed
from absolute power, which all were required to obey without reserve,
stopping, suspending, and disabling all the penal statutes against
papists; thereby undermining all the legal bulwarks of our religion; The
addressing for, and accepting of it, so conveyed, without a witness
against this despotical encroachment, (yea, the very condition of
enjoying the benefit of it, being exclusive of such a testimony, which
might any way tend to the alienating of the people, from such a
despotical government, in all its encroachments) did indirectly, at
least, imply compliance with, if not the recognizance and acknowledgment
of that usurped power, and the arbitrary exercise and effect of it in
suspending the penal statutes.

2. Because it was extended, not only to prelacy, but to popery,
quakerism, and all idolatry, blasphemy, and heresy, which was highly
provoking to the Lord