efore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you observers (bishops)
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
I Peter v. 3. "Neither as being lords over God's heritage: but being
ensamples to the flock." 3 John verse 9. "I wrote unto the church; but
Diotrepehes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth
us not."

And these breaches of it were not only made during the tunes of
persecution, when Charles the II. by an arbitrary power, granted him by
a parasitical Parliament, did overturn Presbyterian government, and
introduce Prelacy, to which change the greatest part of the ministry did
perfidiously yield, and became vassals to the bishops; such as were not
willing to conform, were pressed to it by confinement, banishment,
imprisonment, confiscation of goods, all manner of tortures, and,
finally, death itself.

During which hour and power of darkness, many complied with the enemy,
by taking oaths and bonds, indulgencies and toleration, and because so
remiss in this matter, that it was all one to them which government had
the ascendant, so they might enjoy their worldly accommodations. And
not only then, while Satan was let loose in his members and emissaries
to persecute and waste the Church of Christ, but since peace and
quietness are obtained, this duty continues to be greatly slighted; yea,
in place of extirpating Prelacy, have there not been courses taken
effectually to establish it? To instance a few--the accepting of William
and Mary, and after them the present possessor of the Crown, to be
supreme Magistrates, while they are knownly and professedly Prelatical
in their judgment, and engaged by oath at their coronation to maintain
the same; the swearing oaths of allegiance to them without security for
their preserving of the true reformed religion--yea, without any
limitation or qualification whatsoever; as also, the taking an oath of
adjuration, wherein, by consequence, the takers engaged to do to the
utmost of their power to procure that the Kings or Queens of these
kingdoms shall be of the communion of the Prelatical Church, and so that
they shall contribute to the support of Prelacy.

Again, the Episcopal clergy who subjected to it during the time of its
legal establishment, have not been therefore prosecuted by the
discipline of the church; but such as did, and yet do profess it as
their principle, are allowed equal encourageme