ns with
renovation of the covenants; And in their ecclesiastic constitutions,
enjoined all ministers to preach up the covenants, and witness against
all defections from them, and indifferency or lukewarmness to them;
which also is a breach of covenant in itself.

VI. Hence, more particularly, we cannot but signify how much we and many
others are offended, at the too general keeping silence at, or very
ambiguous speaking against, and omitting the plain, impartial, doctrinal
rebuking of such crying sins and scandals of the times, as cannot be
controverted among presbyterians; such as the imposing and taking many
bonds and oaths, repugnant to the covenants and work of reformation;
which many complied with to shift persecution, and many others to
purchase preferments unto places of trust; the accession of nobles and
rulers to the wicked establishments and framing mischiefs into laws in
former times; the manifold involvements of great and small, in the guilt
of persecution, by delating and informing against honest suffering
people, riding with armed force to pursue and apprehend them; appearing
under displayed banners for the defence of tyranny, on expeditions
against them at Pentland, Bothwel bridge, &c. sitting in courts, juries
and assizes, to condemn them; putting them out of houses and tenements
under them, because they would not comply with sinful impositions: And
especially, the defiling of the land with blood, which hath yet a cry in
the ears of the Lord God of Sabaoth: All which the servants of the Lord
are obliged, by the word of God, and the constitutions of this church,
to cry against, and not to spare, and to reprove and rebuke in season
and out of season.

VII. Finally, We must presume to lay open our own, and the general
complaints through several corners of the land, of the sad slackness and
remissness of discipline: The report _fama clamosa_ whereof, at least,
doth wound our ears and pierce our hearts, _viz._ That some who had gone
a great length in the above-mentioned compliances, even to the swearing
the test itself, besides other wicked oaths, and to the prosecuting of
the godly sundry ways, are admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's
supper, and to present their children to baptism: And that others are
admitted to the charge of elders, who had not only habitually complied
with prelacy, and had borne the name of that office under that
government, but had taken these scandalous forementioned oaths; yea, a