VVHereas by divine permission (either for the punishment of the high provocations of these sinfully backsliding Nations, or for the discovery and prevention of the disturbers of the peace of this our Israel; God thereby making way to settle his people upon foundations of holiness, rightousness and peace) a new interruption hath been put upon the Parliament by some Officers of the Army in England, notwithstanding their solemn engagements to the contrary, to the amaze­ment of the people of these three Nations, the hazard of publick peace, the discouraging and sadning the hearts of the godly and well affected, the obstructing of reformation, the giving ad­vantage to forreign and domestick enemies, and the exposing the lives, estates, liberties of all bloud, rapine and slavery: We upon a sad sense of present threatning calamities, having sought the Lord in trembling [...]d much fear, do find it our duty to declare, and we do through the grace and strength of God (we trust) conscienti­ [...]sly resolve,

• I. That through the Lords assistance we will in all simplicity of heart remain firm in our obedience to the trust re­posed in us, by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, so sinfully interrupted here­tofore, so solemnly of late restored again by our bretheren of the Army in England, and to whom we have as it were bu [...] yesterday by his Excellencie Lt. General LUDLOW our Commander in chief, professed our obedience by promises, subscriptions, and other sober acknowledgments, which (as we own there is a God in Heaven) we take our selves deeply oblieged to pursue.
• II. That we shall not suffer our selves to be any manner of way divided one from another, or from any of our Brethren of the Armyes that shall continue their faithfulness to the trust reposed in them by the Parliament, or from any that shall return to yield obedience thereunto, for which in much love and tenderness towards them we shall use our utmost endeavours.
• III. That we shall by all good means labour the setling and maintaining a Godly, learned and faithful Ministry in these three Nations, with due encouragement to the universityes and Schools of good literature, that they may be Nurseryes of Piety, Learning and Godlyness.
• IIII. That we will as God shall enable us use our utmost endeavours to detect and suppress all enemyes at home and abroad, that shall attempt to disturb the P [...]a [...]e of this or of the other Nations, either by introducing and setting up the interest of any single person whatsoever, or through turbulency of spirit shall foment any confusions to the in­dangering the Peace of th [...]s Commonwealth.
• V. That it is not our intention to impose upon any tender Consciences, being otherwise sound in the fundamentals of Religion.
• And Lastly, We do Declare, [...] [...]e shall to our utmost, protect all such who do at present adhere unto us. And shall also endeavour that due [...]cou [...]age [...]n [...] may be given to such whether Officers or Soldiers formerly of the Army, who either have or shall joyn with us in this undertaking.