3. Being by this Engagement bound up to these particulars, as the words seem to import, we further conceive, That we shall by this subscription, violate those former Engagements, in Oaths, Protestations, and in the Solemn League and Covenant, wherein we were by the former Commands of Parl. obliged, in which last particular, if the time we entered into it be considered, viz. In the day of our extremity, or the Religious solemnity, with hands lifted up to the most high God; or the matter of it, which is comprehensive of things Sacred and Civill, and particularly of the Rights and Privileges of Parliament, and the Liberties of the Kingdom: or the sense wherein we then took it; or the asseveration, that we would never be drawn from it, by any Terror or Combination whatsoever; or the durable obligation which we brought upon our selves by it, even all the days of our lives; or the Considerations which we had before our eyes in the taking of it, namely the Glory of God, the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Happiness of the King and his Posterity. These things being duly considered, do leave such an awful impression on our Consciences, that anlesse the consistency thereof with this Engagement be made unquestionably clear unto us, it cannot but render our Consciences trembling & doubtful, & so the act of Engaging, by the Apostles rule, to us unlawful, as by a parity of Reason ⟨p. 4⟩it would have been undoubtedly inconsistent with our Covenant, to have subscribed an Engagement to the King and Lords, without the Commons of England, if it should by their Agreement and Authority, have been required of us.
3. Being by this Engagement bound up to these particulars, as the words seem to import, we further conceive, That we shall by this subscription, violate those former Engagements, in Oathes, Protestations, and in the Solemn League and Covenant, wherein we were by the former Commands of Parl. obliged, in which last particular, if the time we entred into it be considered, viz. In the day of our extremity, or the Religious solemnity, with hands lifted up to the most high God; or the matter of it, which is comprehensive of things Sacred and Civill, and particularly of the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, and the Liberties of the Kingdome: or the sense wherein we then took it; or the asseveration, that we would never be drawn from it, by any Terrour or Combination whatsoever; or the durable obligation which we brought upon our selves by it, even all the dayes of our lives; or the Considerations which we had before our eyes in the taking of it, namely the Glory of God, the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the Happinesse of the King and his Posterity. These things being duly considered, do leave such an awfull impression on our Consciences, that anlesse the consistency thereof with this Engagement be made unquestionably clear unto us, it cannot but render our Consciences trembling & doubtfull, & so the act of Engaging, by the Apostles rule, to us unlawfull, as by a parity of Reason ⟨p. 4⟩it would have been undoubtedly inconsistent with our Covenant, to have subscribed an Engagement to the King and Lords, without the Commons of England, if it should by their Agreement and Authority, have been required of us.
