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2 Chron. xix, and that it was Ahaz's Sin in giving Money to the King of Aſſyria, Kings xvi. And we find the General Aſſembly 1648 in like manner dehorting all the Members of the Church from contributing any Aſſurance to Duke Hamilton's Engagement (tho' not more wicked then this) but that they ſhould rather ſuffer the utmost that wicked Mens Malice could afflict them with. And, in the 1646, we find they paſt an Act for cenſuring even ſuch as had taken Protections from thoſe that were engaged in Montroſe's Rebellion, or executing their Orders.
But becauſe the End of the action is ſaid to ly wholly in the Act of the Will, and that it is aſſerted the foreſaid Acts were compelled vi & motu: We ſhall, for caſting Light on what may be called an involuntary Action, tranſcribe part of a Paragraph of the zealous and learned Mr. Shields, from whole Reaſonings on this Head we have gleaned. "This will be cleared, if we conſider the Law of God (Deut.xxiv. 25.) concerning Rapes, where, to make out the Involuntarineſs of the betrothed Virgin, ſhe muſt be only be ſuppoſed to ſtruggle and reſiſt the Attempt made upon her Chaſtity and Honeſty by the Villain, but ſhe muſt cry for Aſſiſtance; without which ſhe is held in Law willingly to conſent to the committing of that Wickedneſs."
Other Arguments might be adduced on this point; but it being more our our Deſign to apologize for ourſelves (for which Purpoſe we conceive what is said is ſufficient) than to convince others, we forbear.
Upon the Whole, Tho' our Difficulties be many, yet our Caſe is not altogether deſperate, and tho' it be deplorable, yet when we reflect that God has yet left us a Nail in his holy Place, and what great Deliverances he hath wrought to us even from the ſame Party, Experience begetteth Hope. Our Fathers truſted in God, they truſted in him, and he did deliver them; they cried unto him, and were delivered. Who knoweth but he hath lifted up our Enemies, that their
