nam'd a
Phanatick, if he did not run to the same excess of Riot with others.

And should it not be lamented, for it cannot be denied, that there hath
been in some a dreadful Atheistical Boldness against God, some have
disputed the Beeing of GOD, and His Providence, the Divine Authority of
the Scriptures, the Life to come, and Immortality of the Soul, yes and
scoffed at these things.

There hath been also an Horrid Prophanation of the Holy and Dreadful Name
of GOD, by cursing and swearing: Ah! there hath been so much Swearing and
Forswearing amongst us, that no Nation under Heaven hath been more guilty
in this than we; some by swearing rashly or ignorantly, some falsly, by
breaking their Oaths. And imposing and taking ungodly unlawful Oaths and
Bonds, whereby the Consciences of many have been polluted and seared, and
many ruined and oppressed for refusing and not taking them.

There hath also been a great neglect of the worship of God, too much in
publick, but especially in Families and in secret.

The wonted care of Religious sanctifying the Lord's Day is gone, and in
many places the Sabbath hath been and is shamefully prophaned.

The Land also hath been, full of bloody Crimes, and Cities full of
Violence, and much innocent Blood shed, so that Blood touched Blood, yea,
_Sodoms_ sins have abounded amongst us. Pride, fulness of Bread, Idleness,
Vanities of Apparel, and shameful sensuality filled the Land.

And Alas! how great hath been the Cry of Oppression and Unrighteousness,
Iniquity hath been established by a Law, there hath been a great
perverting of Justice, by making and executing unrighteous Statutes and
Acts, and sad persecutions of many for their Conscience towards God.

It is also matter of Lamentation, that under this great Defection, there
hath been too general a fainting not only amongst Professours of the
Gospel, but also amongst Ministers; yea, even amongst such, who in the
main things did endeavour to maintain their Integrity, in not giving
seasonable and necessary Testimony against the Defections and Evils of the
Time, and keeping a due distance from them, and some on the other hand
managed their Zeal with too little Discretion and Meekness.

It is also matter of Humiliation, that when Differences fell out amongst
these, who did own Truth, and bear witness against the Course of
Defection, they were not managed with due Charity and Love, but with too
much heat and bitterness, injurious Reflections