in the laſt age, through many difficulties, an againſt much oppoſition, from thoſe in ſupreme authority: He made bare his holy arm; and carried on the work gloriouſly, like himſelf: his right hand getting him the victory, until the Idolatry of Rome, and her curſed Maſs were daſhed;——— hopeful Reformation was in ſome meaſure ſettled and a found Confeſſion of Faith was agreed upon by the Lords of the Congregation. The people o God, according to the laudable cuſtom of other ancient Churches, the Proteſtants in France and Holland, and the renowned princes of Germany, did carry on the work, in an innocent ſelf-defenſive war, which the Lord did abundantly bleſs. When our land and church were thus contending for that begun Reformation, theſe in authority did ſtill oppoſe the work: And there were not wanting, men from among ourſelves, men of prelatical ſpirits, who, with ſome other time-ſerving courtiers, did not a little undermine the building. And we doating too much upon found Parliaments, and lawfully conſtitute General Aſſemblies, fell from our firſt love, to ſelf-ſeeking, ſecret-banding, and little-fearing the oath of God.
Afterwards, our work in public was too much in ſequeſtration of eſtates, fining and impriſoning, more than in a compaſſionate mournfulneſs of ſpirit towards thoſe whom we ſaw to oppoſe the work. In our Aſſemblies, we were more bent to ſet up a ſtate oppoſite to a ſtate: more upon forms, citations, leading of witneſſes, ſuſpenſions from benefices, than ſpiritually to perſuade, and work upon the conſcience, with the meekneſs and gentleneſs of Chriſt. The glory and royalty of our princely Redeemer and King was trampled on, as any might have ſeen in our Aſſemblies. What way the army, and the ſword, and the countenance of nobles and officers ſeemed to ſway, that way were
