The present state of New-England. Considered in a discourse on the necessities and advantages…

And as all Persons are hereby warned to avoid those Vices which these Laws are designed for the Prevention and Chastisement of (the Lovers of, and Pleaders for, such Iniquities, being among the principal Troublers of their Country▪) So all inferior Officers are enjoined to perform their Duty in finding and bringing out Offenders against the aforesaid Laws, and withal to give notice to such ⟨p. 50⟩Offenders that they must expect the Justice of an Exemplary Punishment.

And as all Persons are hereby warned to avoid those Vices which these Laws are designed for the Prevention and Chastisement of (the Lovers of, and Pleaders for, such Iniquities, being among the principal Troublers of their Countrey▪) So all inferiour Officers are enjoyn'd to perform their Duty in finding and bringing out Offenders against the aforesaid Laws, and withal to give notice to such ⟨p. 50⟩Offenders that they must expect the Justice of an Exemplary Punishment.

And that no attempt towards Reformation, may want that Assistance which all good men will be willing to give thereunto, 'tis hoped that the Ministers of God will to the public Reading of this Proclamation, adjoin their own fervent Labours, not only for the Rebuking and Suppressing of those Provoking Evils, which are marked for common Hatred: but also to witness against the more Spiritual Sins, which fall not so much under the cognizance of Humane Laws, namely, such as Unbelief, Worldliness, Heresy, Pride, Wrath, Strife, Envy, and the Neglect of communion with God, in both Natural and Instituted Worship, and the Contempt of the everlasting Gospel, with a shameful want of due Family-Instruction, which are the Roots of Bitterness in the midst of us.

And that no attempt towards Reformation, may want that Assistance which all good men will be willing to give thereunto, 'tis hoped that the Ministers of God will to the publick Reading of this Proclamation, adjoyn their own fervent Labours, not only for the Rebukeing and Suppressing of those Provoking Evils, which are marked for common Hatred: but also to witness against the more Spiritual Sins, which fall not so much under the cognizance of Humane Laws, namely, such as Vnbelief, Worldliness, Heresy, Pride, Wrath, Strife, Envy, and the Neglect of communion with God, in both Natural and Instituted Worship, and the Contempt of the everlasting Gospel, with a shameful want of due Family-Instruction, which are the Roots of Bitterness in the midst of us.