WE whose names are subscri­bed, Members of the Army, under the command of the right Honorable THOMAS Lord FAIR­FAX, Captain Generall of all the Parlia­ments Forces in the Kingdom of England, being by the providence of God brought in­to [Page 4]the Northern parts of this Kingdom, to oppose the common enemy, and the distur­bers of the Peace, both of this and the King­dom of Scotland: And being given to un­derstand, by good hands, the sad and deplo­rable condition of the godly and well-affe­cted, our Brethren in Scotland, by reason of the height and insolency of Malignants there; and through the goodnesse of God sympathizing with their condition (as if it were our own) in this day of their suffering and persecution: We are induced hereby to declare the integrity of our hearts, and the sincerity of our intentions towards them.

That, as it pleased God to move the hearts of the godly there to yield relief and assist­ance to the well-affected of this Kingdom, in the day of our distresse; we cannot but remember the same with all thankfulnesse, and own it as an obligation upon our Spi­rits, to endeavour all possible assistance unto them, which may fall within our poor powers, as some small return of that kind­nesse of theirs, never to be forgotten by us; [Page 5]And although through the policy of Satan, and the workings of some ungodly men, there have bin monstrous Representations of us to them, and many of them to us, whereby to divide us, and (as we have found by woful experience) thereby to gain the greater advantage against both, for our mutu [...]l ruin: Yet we doubt not but God will clear the name and innocency of both to each other, yea that we are Brethren; and notwithstanding there may be some difference in things not Fundamental, (through the various measures of light dis­penc'd by God) yet in the main we judg we all agree, unfeinedly desiring that the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, might in its own power and glory take upon the hearts of all men so, as there might be one professor amongst us in word only, but in deed also, and that we may con­vince the world thereof by a holy and righ­teous conversation towards God and man.

We do declare from our hearts, as in the [Page 6]presence of God who knows them, that we would not give any countenance or encou­ragement to any way or thing that should be cleared to us to be Error, or contrary to the mind of Christ; and if any thing be held by us, or any amongst us, that is so, it would be the rejoycing of our souls to have that discovered to us, and by the power of the Lords holy Spirit our selves or others to be reduced from it.

We are so far from seeking to supplant the Government by Presbytery, that (if all power were given into our hands, (we pro­fesse before the Almighty Jehovah;) rather then to disturb those who therein wait upon God, as on the worship which they in con­science hold to be according to his Will; [...] we could ingage our lives to deliver them from the hands of any that would compel them to another Form: And all that we should desire for our particulars, is but the like Freedom; not that we ask any liberty to sin, to prophanesse, loosenesse or ungod­linesse of any kind, contrary to the Word [Page 7]and Will of God. That which through the goodness of God we account our Crown, and our glory, is to be serviceable in our generations; and if it may seem meet to him to use us in this great work now on foot, as a succour or refreshment to his people in any place, that very thing would be a sweet recompence of reward to us; yea we take pleasure to hazard our lives, to the uttermost, in this work, though it should be our portion, when the peace of others shall be redeemed (by us instrumen­tally,) from their Captivity, our selves to be led into it: And if after all this we shall be found, or thought to be a burden, we trust we shal be enabled quietly to submit to any suffering or condition, unto which the good Hand of our God shall lead us.

This Declaration is subscribed by many thousands, whose Names for brevity sake are here omitted.