though it was not altogether justifiable, was yet more
excusable. But now the public resolutions hold forth a conjunction with
all the bloody murderers in the kingdom (excepting very few), and these
without profession of repentance in many, and without evidence of the
reality of it almost in any. (3) These persons were not such as had once
joined with the congregation, and relapsed and became enemies to it, but
they turned to the protestant religion from popery. But ours is a
different case.

Second. It is argued from scripture. Three scripture instances are brought
to justify the present proceedings. The first instance is from the
practice of God's people in the book of Judges, who, when for defection
from religion they were brought under oppression, yet when any governor
was raised by God for their defence, they gathered and came all out
promiscuously, notwithstanding a great part of them had been in the
defection. Yet it is not found that their governors are reproved for this,
but rather sad curses on them that came not out to the work, Judges v. 15,
16, 17, 23. The second instance is from the story of the kings, very like
the first. When, after defection, gracious reforming kings arose, and had
to do against foreign invasion, we find them not debarring any subjects,
but calling them out promiscuously. Neither is this laid to their charge,
that they called out such and such subjects, though we may perceive by the
story of the prophets, that the greater part of the body of the people
were wicked, &c.

We answer to these two instances jointly. 1. We may by the like reason
prove, that which is as yet uncontroverted (we know not how long), that we
ought at no time to make choice of instruments, neither in case of
prosecution of the cause and the invasion of others, nor yet in the time
when choice is to be had, and so, that all our former engagements,
resolutions, and proceedings, in the point of purging judicatories and
armies, was superfluous and supererogatory, because we read not that the
reforming kings and judges, whenever they had an invasive war, and in the
times that they had greatest plenty and multitudes of people, did ever
debar any of their subjects from that service, but called them out
promiscuously. Neither is this laid to their charge, though we may
perceive that the greater part of the people were wicked under the best
kings. Therefore we may lawfully employ any subjects of the kingdom in any
of our war