CERTIFICATE TOUCHING THE UNION. 45 



as a sanctuary or place of refuge to avoid the 

 condign punishment of their crimes and offences. 



All which several points, as we account them, 

 summed up and put together, but as a degree or 

 middle term to the perfection of this blessed work ; 

 so yet we conceived them to make a just and fit 

 period for our present consultation and proceeding. 



And for so much as concerneth the manner of 

 our proceedings, we may truly make this attestation 

 unto ourselves, that as the mark we shot at was union 

 and unity, so it pleased God in the handling thereof 

 to bless us with the spirit of unity, insomuch as from 

 our first sitting unto the breaking up of our assembly, 

 a thing most rare, the circumstance of the cause and 

 persons considered, there did not happen or in 

 tervene, neither in our debates or arguments, any 

 manner of altercation or strife of words ; nor in our 

 resolutions any variety or division of votes, but the 

 whole passed with an unanimity and uniformity 

 of consent : and yet so, as we suppose, there was 

 never in any consultation greater plainness and 

 liberty of speech, argument and debate, replying, 

 contradicting, recalling any thing spoken where 

 cause was, expounding any matter ambiguous or 

 mistaken ; and all other points of free and friendly 

 interlocution and conference, without cavillations, ad 

 vantages, or overtakings : a matter that we cannot 

 ascribe to the skill or temper of our own carriage, 

 but to the guiding and conducting of God s holy 

 providence and will, the true author of all unity and 

 agreement. Neither did we, where the business 



