An ESSAY toward settlement upon a sure foundation, being an humble Testimony for God in this perilous time, by a few, who have been bewailing their own, and others Abominations, and would not be comforted, until their Redeemer, who is holy, be exalted in righteousness, and his Name which hath been so much blasphemed, be sanctified in the sight of the Nations.  
THough we cannot but see cause bitterly to bewail our own great iniquities and failings, under the profession of Christ, both as King of Saints and Nations, and the abominations also of an haughty and abusive spirit, found in the late single Person (in a professed pursuit of Reformation) not distinguishing the precious from the vile, in the force he exercised upon the long Parliament (after the Lord had so long honoured them in his work, and preserved in the very fire a faithful Seed among them) which, with the like insulting and contempt, that afterward triumphed over a faithful people in the little Assembly that followed, hath returned in just reproach & shame upon their heads who so insulted, and could not, therefore in that spirit, make any blessed use of the best of men who cleaved to them, the most hopeful means bringing little forth, but mere confusion, yet we cannot but acknowledge to the glory of God on high, that such rebuke was justly poured out upon the prevailing party of the said Parliament; and none but the upright and truly penitent amongst them, in sense both of neglect of duty and great Corruptions, aught of right, or acceptably in our esteem, to be sharers in the trust of Rule, over the so hardly ransomed People of this Nation.  
First, than we do in humility and fear, witness against the setting up or introducing any Person whatsoever, as King, or chief Magistrate; or a House of Lords, or any other thing of like import, under what name or title soever, or any power arising from the Nation, as a Nation upon the old corrupt and almost ruinated constitution, apprehending that the great work of taking the kingdom from Man, and giving it to Christ, hath had its beginning in the revolutions we have been under.  
Secondly, we do humbly witness against the foundation of future Violence, of bringing into, or continuing in Authority any who joined with the late single Person, otherwise then by first manifesting fruit meet for repentance, for such misdemeanours, by which our Rights, both as Christians and as men have been so much betrayed, and the name of our heavenly Father, after all his works of wonder with us, so much thereby profaned, to our greatest grief even throughout and beyond the bounds of these three Nations.  
Thirdly, we do hereby humbly witness against the employing in the Armies, or Navy, any Commanders who have been active in the Resignation of the Government to the deceased single Person, or in the abusing any Christians met to mourn over their backslidings and abominations, or that informed against or supplanted their dissenting Brethren, or were principal in contriving or presenting any of the blasphemous or flattering addresses, or were Jaolers or Keepers of their brethren, in Holds or Prisons, or that received extraordinary rewards or titles of honour from the late single Person or his Successor, or any deriving power from them, or that acted by either of their Arbitrary Commands, to the banishment of any (without legal trial) out of the Nation, or that contrived or acted in the unrighteous and shameful proceeding against such of the late Enemy as lived peaceably, and had no hand in the insurrection, by decimating of them contrary to Articles and public faith of the Nation, unless some good proof of repentance in truth, be manifested for these, or such of these abominations, as they shall be found guilty of.  

See New-haven's L●wes in New-England, sold by L. Chapman, p. 12. & 17.  And positively, we do now desire witness for, and humbly assert, that the right of making and giving laws unto men, is originally in God, who hath given this power, as well as the execution thereof, unto Christ as he is the son of man, and therein made universal Lord and sovereign over the whole World, and under Christ as his Ministers, a certain number of men qualified and limited according to his Word, aught to be set apart to the Office of chief Rule and Government over these Nations, as part of Christ's universal kingdom. And we do claim, that only men of courage, fearing God, and hating covetousness, might be employed in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and in all places of public Judicature, you if it be possible▪ in every place of public Trust in these three Nations. And that all the laws respecting the right of men, might be so truly ordered by the Scriptures to the exaltation of Christ, our Lord, King, and lawgiver, as that in point of right no difference might be made betwixt good and bad, nor this or that profession in Religion, but by own right Rule the offendor may be punished, and the injured effectually relieved with expedition: the said laws being first so plainly declared, as the poorest in the Land may understand their Case; and that it be dispensed so nigh, their dwellings, as that judgement might not be turned into Wormwood, as hitherto it hath been, through partiality, intricacy, vexatious delays, and distances.  
That as an intolerable burden and oppression, inconsistent with the Rights aforesaid, or true liberty of Conscience unto all, the Rulers over men forbear for ever to impose any national, parochial Ministry, so as to enforce any form of Worship suited to their interest, or compel men of one persuasion, to maintain any man of another, in the Ministry.  
That thus doing Justice, loving Mercy, and walking humbly with our God, which is the good he hath showed to us, as only tending to true Settlement, the whole Nation may be blessed, and all iniquity may stop her mouth, is the public good Old Cause, we desire may be so revived in truth, as that all the upright in heart throughout the Land may follow it, against every private factious or carnal (though national) spirit and opposition whatsoever, which under the shadow of the Lord our God Almighty, we set forth as our Testimony, and Subscribe 

John Owen.  
Hen. Jessey.  
Vab Powell.  
J. Vernon.  
H. Courtney.  
Will. Allen.  
Phil. Pinchon.  
John Poortmans.  
Clement Ireton.  
Rob. Rumsey.  
P. Goodricke.  
R. Price.  
James Hitt.  
Jo. Wigan.  
H. Danvers.  
Rich. Goodgroome.  
Hen. Parsons.  
Ro. Overton.  
Rich. Sal●onstall.  
Wentw. Day.     

THe preceding Testimony was prepared, and ready to be publi●hed at the breaking forth of the late insurrection, which occasioned a forbearance, lest it might seem at that season to gratify the Adv●rsary; concerning which insurrection, some of us have been eye witnesses of such abominable treachery, malignity, and enmity in many in eminent power, and in arms under them, and in the public Ministry, as more exposed the good Old Cause and people engaged therein, than those who openly without such power rose up against them, which in due time, if not prevented by effectual reformation herein, we intend ●o witness against with full evidence, to the conviction of such upright ones, as might not see themselves so immediately exposed, as their brethren were, by the new raised Militia in many places of the Nation.  Judges. 19.30. 
Consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.