Chap. IJ. Tbe HISTORY of tbePuRITANS. 53 V. « And" whereas the happinefs of a bleffed peace between thefe king· K Charles t cc dams, denied in former times to our progenitors, is by the good pro1 6~ " vidence of God granted unto us, and has been lately concluded and\-../"' · « fettled by both parliaments, we lhall each one of us according to our " places and il'lterefts, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a " firm peace and union to all pofterity, and that juftice may be done cc on all the wilful oppofers thereqf, in manner expreffed in the pre- " cedent articles. VI. "We ihall alfo, according to our places and callings, in this corn– c-c man caufe of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdom, aflift and " defend aH thofe that enter into this league and covenant, in the main– n taining and purfuing thereof; and lhall not fuffer ourfelves, direCt– cc ly or indirectly, by whatfoever combination, perfwafion, or terror, to H be divided and withdrawn from this bieffed union and conjunCtion, " whether to make defection to the contrary part, or give ourfelves to " a deteftable indifferency or neutrality in this caufe, which fo much " conerneth the glory of God, the good of the kingdoms, and honour " of the king; but lhafl all the days of our lives, zealoufly, and con– " ftamly continue therein agJinft all oppofition, and pmmote the fame " according to our power, againfl: allletts and impediments whatfoever; " and what we are not able ourfelves to fupprefs or overcome, we fh afl '' reveal and make known,." that it may be timely prevented or re– cc moved. c, And becaufe thefe Kingdoms are guilty of runny f1ns and' provoca– " tions againfl: God, and his Son Jefus Chrift, as is too manifeft by ou.r " prefent diftreffes and dangers, the fruits thereof, we profefs and de– " clare before God and the world, our unfeigned defire to be humbled " for our own fin s, and for the fins of thefe kingdoms; efpeciar-ly that we " have not, as we ought, valued the ineftimable benefit of the gGfpel ;· '' that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof; and that · '' we have not endeavoured to receive Chrift in our hearts, nor to walk– ,, worthy of him in our lives, which are the caufe of other fins and ' ' tranfgreffions, fo much abounding amongft us; and our true an d un– '• feigned purpofe, defi re, and endcavonr for ourfelves, and all others ,., under our charge, both in public and private, in all duties we owe to •• God and man,_to amend our lives, and each one to go before all- " othe r;·
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