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Section 2. That the Present Publick Resolutions, expressed in The Commissions Answer to the Parliaments Quaere, and the Act of the Levie, doe not exclude that Party.
IN the next Place, Upon supposall and proof, that there is a Malignant Party & faction still in the Land; It is needfull to examine, whether the exceptions contained in the Answer of the Commission to the Parliaments Quaere, and insert into the Act of Levie, be so Comprehensive as to include all that Party. The exceptions be four. First, Such as are excommunicated. 2. Such as are For∣faulted. 3. Such as are Notoriously profane or flagitious. And 4. Such as have been from the beginning, and continues still, Or at this tyme are, obstinate Enemies and opposers of the Covenant and Cause of God. That these are not Comprehensive of the whole Malignant Party in the Land, appears.
First, The Rules of the Generall Assembly framed for the exclusion of all such, as ought not to be employed in our Armies, are far more Comprehensi∣ve. The Rule is for employing of such only as are of a Christian and blameless Conversation, which is turned over by their Commissioners into a Negative, All that are not notoriously profane or flagitious. Another is, For entrusting only these who have been of knoun Integrity and Constant Friends to the Cause of God, from the beginning. Which is also turned over into a Negative; All that have not been Constant Enemies. All such, by the answer, are Capable of some Trust and Employ∣ment. The Rules agreed upon by the Assembly, and Ratifyed by Act of Par∣liament Anno 1649. And renewed upon occasion of this Invasion, was, That no Officer nor Souldier that followed Iames Graham, should be permitted in the Army; Nor any Officer that was on the Engadgment, except such as upon Reall evidence of Repentance, were Particularly Recommended by the Church, Nor any Common souldier, but upon sufficient Testimony of his Repentance. Now since it is proved, that the most part of all such, continues still Malig∣nants, and retains their old Principles▪ And that the bulk and bodie of the people are Called forth by the Publick Resolution, without such exceptions as were conceived before necessary, for the exclusion of that Party; It follows clearly, that the Malignant Partie is not excepted in the present Resolutions.
2. Few of these who were in the Late Rebellion, and declared, not ma∣ny days since, to be following a most Malignant designe and Course, are Con∣tained under these exceptions; Because very few of them are Excommunica∣ted or Forfaulted: and though moe of them be indeed flagitious and Profane; Yet very few of them will fall under the Compasse of the Exception, Noto∣riously flagitious. Many wicked things will be said to concurr to make up a Profane man; some acts will not serve; a habit must be demonstrated: and though that were shewed; Yet there must be also Notoriety of it, which im∣ports a man to be famous for Loosnes and Profanity; and there be none al∣most, if any, in the Land, who have been professed Enemies from the begin∣ning, and Continue so to this day. Iames Graham was not such. It is the matter of our sad Complaint, that whilst many are Enemies, they make Profession and Semblance of friendship. 3. These exceptions doe not Comprehend a∣ny