I Deſire to write to you (dearly beloved) not in any conſidence of mine own ability, being ſo unworthy; but in the love and light of his Spirit, who is our wiſdome, our righteouſnes, our ſanctification, and redemption I deſire to ſay ſomething to you the ſons and daughters of GOD, as the Lord himſelf hath named you, 2. Cor. 6. For I know (beloved) even by experience in my ſelf, that in this day of the fierce wrath of GOD upon this Land, the working of his Divine Providence, in much love and mercy toward you, may be too much looked upon, even by you his precious People, with the dark eye of naturall reaſon and ſenſe rather, then in the clear light of the Spirit of Truth, as his love is conſtant with you in Jeſus. Becauſe of the great diſtreſs upon this Nation, and wrath over this People, and becauſe of your own ſufferings in your bodily condition with the reſt of the Nation; as alſo becauſe the outward glory of this National Church, and beautifull appearance of holineſs and worſhip therein, is now much defaced; Therefore even ye the freely Beloved of GOD, are in danger (looking naturally upon theſe things) to conceive hard and diſhonourable thoughts of your kind and mercifull Lord, as if he were not fully pacified nor well pleaſed with you, in his dearly beloved Son; but were yet pleading a Controverſie with you in his diſpleaſure for your Iniquities, as he is doing indeed with all the ungodly of the Land. But (Beloved) although ye ſuffer in your bodily condition with the reſt of the Nation, yet your ſpirituall condition is nothing impaired thereby, nor the free love of your Welbeloved any whit diminiſhed: For thoſe ſufferings, which in the Juſtice of God are curſes to the wicked, are in the mercies of your God, turned unto bleſsings to you: They are the fatherly chaſtiſements of your gracious Lords Hand upon you, in abundance of love, for teaching you more of himſelf in the Spirit, and of his Heavenly Conſolations; and therefore they can do you no evill, but good. Your Fathers wiſedome and love, make all things work for your good: He hath delivered you out of the power of evill, and darknes, and tranſlated you into the Kingdome of his dear Son, Col. 1. 13. where ye have your life hid with Chriſt in God, above the teach of either temporall or eternall evills; for by one offering, your Lord hath perfected for ever all you that are ſanctified, Heb. 10. And therefore rejoyce evermore in the comfortable aſſurance of his free love, even with ſtrong conſolation; for your Lord called you to have free acceſſe alwayes, even with boldneſſe unto the moſt Holy Place, within the Vale of his Fleſh, and hath covenanted with you, to remember your ſins no more, Heb. 10. 18, 19, 20. What reaſon then (Beloved) have your hearts to be troubled or afaid for any outward ſhadow of evils; for ye have your abiding in the ſhadow of the Almighty. And as for the decay of the glory of this Nationall Church, and Formality of Worſhip, wherein naturally we did too much glory, as did the Jewes in the Temple, I truſt (Beloved) your GOD will let you ſee, that in all this great and terrible Work, both he, and his Inſtruments have had thoughts of love toward you his dear People, and is only pleading with all the prophane in the Land, for the abuſe of his holy Things, and purging all you his Saints (who are his true Church indeed, in whom he taketh delight to dwell) from much corruption and deformity of the multitude, that ſo yee may ſhine as Light amongſt a perverſe Generation: for the beauty of this Nationall Church (Beloved) hath not been that purely ſpiritual and holy beauty of the Immaculat Spouſe of Chriſt, and Kings Daughter, all lovely and fair within, Pſal. 45. And therefore, be not ye offended (dear People) although your Lord, for his own glory and your comfort, caſt down, or pluck up that which not himſelf by his Spirit, but men by humane wiſdome or policy had builded or planted: Neither miſtake ye the working of his Divine Hand, as if he were robbing you his People of any of his own ſpirituall or heavenly Ornaments of free love, which himſelf hath put upon you; for his gifts toward you in theſe things are without repentance. But as he is renting his holy Things from the prophane multitude of the Land, to whom men had blindly caſt them, and who careleſly trod them under foot; ſo is he in much love purging you his peculiar People from theſe Nationall, Whooriſh or Babyloniſh Ornaments of worldly power and glory, humane wiſedome and policy, and counterfeit holines, and worſhip wherewith ye were fallen in love, and much defiled: for the Myſtery of Iniquity hath been very depthly and deceitfully working in this Nationall Church, both in regard of her conſtitution or Members, being builded (by the Policy of men, rather then by the Spirit of our Lord Jeſus) of all the prophane multitude of ignorant Atheiſts, Witches, Blaſphemers, Drunkards, Scolders, and Mockers of Godlines in the Land, under the name of a true Reformed Church of Chriſt, and a communion of the Faithful; and in regard of that confuſed, mixed Power and Goverment, under the name of a true Spirituall Church-power and Government of Chriſt, wherewith this Multitude was ruled and governed; And laſtly, in regard of that confuſed or mixed Doctrine and Worſhip, wherewith this Multitude was taught, and wherewith they prophanely worſhipped, or rather highly provoked the Lord to anger: for alac • (beloved) this beauty of this National Church, hath conſiſted more in Multitudes of People, Humane Power and Policy, and forms of godlines in Worſhip, then in any reall beauty or work of the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus; For the Office-bearers of this Church, not contenting themſelves (as did the Apoſtles) with ſuch a number of you the Saint, to t • e Members of their Church-Communion or Body, as it pleaſed the Lord Jeſus to ſeparate out of the worldly Multitude, and call into a Church Communion, by the power of his own Word and Spirit, neither with that alone ſpirituall and divine power of him who is our Noble Ruler, left us in his Teſtament, wherewith to govern his own Spouſe in ſpirituall and holy beauty, as ſeparate from the World; but that the Church might have ſome appearance of glory in the eyes of the Multitude, and that their perſons might be holden in admiration by all men, becauſe of advantage, theſe Office-bearers thought fit to have all the whole Nation to be Members of their Church. And becauſe it was impoſſible for them, as the Lord's Miniſters, to rule thoſe by the power of the Word, who had never found the power of the Word, or to govern the ignorant Multitude, as Members of the Church, by the ſpiritual or Church-power of Chriſt, whom he himſelf had never brought into be Members by his ſpirituall power, therefore they were neceſſitate, (otherwiſe the Church could not ſtand in a Nationall Conſtitution) to joyn to their Eccleſiaſticall or Church-power, the Temporall power of the Civill Magiſtrate, for governing the Church, and compelling all the multitude of Fornicators, Whoremongers, Drunkards, Blaſphemers, Brawlers, Scolders and Calumniators (Fighters excepted, as not belonging to Church-cenſures) to appear before their Seſſions and Synods, for giving ſatiſfaction, although not to GOD (who approveth no compelled ſervice) yet to the Church or Miniſtery, by extorted verball acknowledgment of ſin, making their repentance upon the Pillar ſeverall Sabbaths before the Congregation; which few or none would perform, till they were compelled thereto: And ſo, making a confuſed mixture of both Powers, Spirituall and Temporall, imploying the Civil Power in the government of the Church, and the Miniſteriall or Church-power in the government of the State, what they could not do by the Word, they performed by the Sword, for confining all to their iudgment, and for ordering all the whole unreformed Multitude, in one Church communion and Body, caſting the holy things of the Houſe of GOD, prophanely and confuſedly unto all. And ſo (beloved) whereas GOD hath proclaimed a perpetuall enmity between the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent, theſe men would make agreement betwixt them: But what communion hath Light with Darknes, the beleever with the unbeleever, or the Temple of GOD with Idols, 2. Cor. 6. And theſe things being conſidered (dearly beloved) it may appear to all you who are ſpiritually minded, that this Nationall Church-government and power, whereby it was acted over all People, hath not been the purely Spirituall and Divine Power of our Lord Jeſus, which he himſelf (upon whoſe ſhoulders is the Government) hath left us in his Teſtament or New Covenant, whereby to rule his own Church, but hath rather been worldly o • nationall; or like that deteſtable, counterfeit, mixed Power of that many-headed Beaſt, or Man of ſin, who by taking to himſelf the power of both Swords Spirituall and Temporall, hath by that falſe power, under pretence of Religion, and the Work of GOD, ſubjected all Nations to his obedience, tyrannized over conſciences, perſecuted the Saints, compelled all to his judgement, and to receive his Mark; and ſo ordered all as one communion or body, under the name of the Catholick Church, and under that colour, hath deceived the whole Inhabitants of the World, ruling ambitiouſly over Peoples and multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues, Rev. 17. Which power and government, with all his falſe doctrine, and worſhip, The Lord Jeſus (who cometh to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all you that believe) is now to conſume by the Spirit of his mouth and by the brightneſſe of his comming, 2 Theſſ. 2.

And as there hath been a deteſtable confuſion, and adulterous like mixture, of the civil and Eccleſiaſticall power, in the government of this Church, which hath maintained a confuſed mixture in her Members, ſo hath there been the like confuſion alſo in her Doctrine: for by the doctrine that hath been publickly maintained, that this Church ſo conſtitute of all people, and ſo governed by a mixed Power, hath been a Church moſt gloriouſly reformed, and worthy to be a Patern to all others, and that there ought to be in her no ſeparation, but all to be continued in one Communion. And although the meetings of all people upon civile occaſions, were lawfull and expedient, yet by this Doctrine, the meetings of you the Lords People, upon occaſion of mutuall conference, mutuall edification, and comfort, were taught to be unlawfull, and unexpedient, and that the civile power might ſuffer none to enjoy their liberty in the Nation, but ſuch as were compelled to the judgement of the Church. Whereupon ſeverall of the Saints out of Conſcience, refuſing in ſome things, to conform, have been expoſed to ſufferings, and in the more ſubſtantial Point, the Preaching of Chriſt Jeſus, and free Juſtification by Faith, in him, hath been much obſcured, and darkened, by the doctrine of works, free Grace, and the everlaſting love of God, without, and before all good Works, hath been ſo ſparingly, and darkly taught that almoſt, it could not be perceived, but the doctrine of the Law, and Works of Reformation, ſo largely and frequently holden forth, that almoſt nothing els could be heard, or known. In which confuſed mixture of the Law, Goſpel, Faith, and Works, in the point of Juſtification, and acceptance with God, the miſtery of iniquity hath wrought very deeply, and obſcurely, without being perceived, as it did in the time of the Appoſtles: for the comforts of the Word have been applyed to all the multitude, upon their performance of dueties, and the threatnings of the Word, likewiſe unto all the multitude, Beleevers, and unbeleevers, upon their failings in theſe performances. So that neither the miſerable condition of the wicked, hath been clearly holden forth, for caſting them down, neither the glorious condition of you the Saints of God, for building you up in the Faith, and increaſing your ſtrength and comfort: For whereas the whole prophane multitude ſhould have been plainly informed of the Law and curſe, in the full extent thereof, that they evidenced themſelves to be yet lying in bondage, in the eſtate of wrath and condemnation, under the power of the devill, and ſin; and therefore could not be eſteemed members of the reformed Church of Chriſt, nor of the number of Gods people, but by the contrary, the whole prophane multitude, who evidenced themſelves to be open blaſphemers of God, and mockers of you his people, and of all ſincerity and Godlineſſe, hath been taught and denominat, by this doctrine, to be Covenanted people of God, faithfull Brethren, faithfull Siſters, members of the true reformed Church of Chriſt, and of the Communion of Saints, to whom the Seals of the Covenant arightly appertained. And as the condition of the wicked hath not been holden forth, but a crying, Peace, Peace, to whom there was no peace, ſo neither hath your condition, who are the people of God, but as the Promiſes have been applyed, to the prophane multitude, as one body with you, ſo the threatnings have been applyed to you, as one body with them: for whereas the bleſſing of the Goſpel, abundance of Grace and everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and free unchangeable Love, ſhould have been plainly holden forth, and applyed to you his precious People, only upon your embracing of Chriſt, and the free Promiſe by Faith, without, and before all good Works, Ye being freely juſtified by Grace, without the Works of the Law, Rom. 3. But by the contrary, the Law, and wrath have been applyed to you, with the prophane body of the land, and ye have been taught as one body with them, that becauſe of your breach of Covenant, and failings in Reformation, and dueties, your God was not yet pacified with you, but was yet provoked to anger, and entring in controverſy with you, for your ſins, as with the reſt of the land, as if the Conſtancy of Gods Favour and Love, which he hath ſworn and promiſed to you, depended upon your performances, or Works of Reformation. And as by this preaching of promiſes, upon performances, the wicked have been hardened in their courſe of formality, in hearing the Word, Singing of Pſalmes, receiving the Sacraments, and ſuch like, being thereby eſteemed holy, both by themſelves, and the Miniſtery, and to be members of the Church, ſo likewiſe by this preaching of threatnings, upon your failings and infirmities, even ye the Lords people, (whom the Son hath made free indeed) have been keeped in much weakneſſe and bondage, and in a legall temper, under continuall fears and terrours of Gods diſpleaſure, and anger to the great weakning of your Faith; and diminiſhing of your Spirituall Strength, and comfort. Of Good Works, it is granted, muſt be taught, but not as proceeding from fear of wrath, and diſpleaſure, for not performing thereof, but as proceeding from the Strength of God in us, thr • ugh the aſſurance of his conſtant Love: For this love of our God increaſeth our joy, and this joy of our Lord, in us, is our ſtrength againſt ſin, Neh. 8.

And as there hath been a confuſion in the members, and the government, and the doctrine, ſo hath there been in the worſhip of this Church: for this it is evident, that a worldly, carnal, and corrupted people can perform nothing (whatſoever they pretend) but a worldly carnall and corrupted worſhip. They cannot worſhip in Spirit and Truth: For the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. And therefore, if it be granted, that many of the people maintained to be members of this Nationall Church, and Performers of worſhip, in ſinging of Pſalmes, receiving the Sacraments, were but a worldly and carnall people, not acquaint with the life of God, nor with the Miniſtery of Faith, then it followeth, that much of the worſhip performed by this nationall Church was but a carnall, corrupted; and ſinfull worſhip, deteſtable in the eyes of the Almighty: for, whatſoever is without Faith, is ſinfull, and abominable. And therefore the Lord hath been highly provoked, by the carnall, and faithleſſe worſhip, performed by the multitude, in our Solemn Aſſemblies: For the ſacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.

But, beloved, that which much hath ſerved to fill up the cup of the Lords wrath, againſt this nationall Church, hath been in taking the Covenant: for the Miniſtery not truſting the Power of God, in the hearts of his Saints, for defending his Truth, thought good (as going down to Egypt for help) to combine all the whole Nation together, as one body, one Church, in that ſolemn band, wherein all the ignorant multitude, who knew not what they were doing, were taught by the great and ſolemn Oath of God, to proteſt. Firſtly, that they had long and duely examined their Conſciences, in matters of true and falſe Religion. Secondly, that they were now fully perſwaded by the word, and Spirit, in the Truth of Religion. Thirdly, that under all the pains contained in the Law, and danger both of ſoul and body, in the day of Gods fearfull judgement, they ſhould defend the Truth of Religion. And was it not evident, (Beloved) that the multitude of this land, invited by the Miniſtery, to enter into that ſolemn Covenant, had never examined their Conſciences, in matters of true and falſe Religion; Neither were they ever perſwaded by the Word, and Spirit of God, in the Truth of Religion; and therefore could never defend that which they knew not: for the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. So that, in binding themſelves by ſuch a ſolemn Oath, under ſuch horrible pains, to defend that which they never knew, they bound themſelvesover to the curſe of the Law, wherein the Miniſtery was cheefly inſtrumentall. The leaders of this people have cauſed them to erre, and they that are led of them are deſtroyed. And therefore the bloud of the ignorant multitude, ſo engadged by their leaders, and thruſt forth by them, as ſheep to the ſlaughter, for defending that whereof they had no knowledge, lyeth heavily upon the heads of the Miniſtery.

And laſtly, Concerning the Aſſemblies of this Church: Ye know (beloved) how corrupt, mixed, and confuſed they were; and that in theſe reſpects. Firſtly, in reſpect of their frequency. It is much to be admited upon what accompt Church-Aſſemblies were, ſo frequent in this Nation. We can finde no preſident for it in Scripture: No more is read, but of the Aſſembly at Jeruſalem, Acts 15. and of Pauls calling the Elders of the Church of Epheſus together, Acts 20. v. 17. It cannot be denied, but the Church now and then, may call Aſſemblies, upon ſome grave and weighty occurren • or other; whether it be, v. g. for diſcuſſing and compoſing matters of controverſie, as did the Councell at Jeruſalem, or for ſome ſeaſonable, extraordinary and neceſſary word of exhortation and admonition. Upon which accompt, the Elders of Epheſus did meet. But I would fain know upon what accompt be their weekly Presbyteries, half-yearly Synods, yearly Generall Aſſemblies, and continuall Church-Commiſsions in this Land. Is it imaginable there can be fit matter for ſuch frequent meetings? No verily▪ What Caſes of Conſcience in finding out the poynt of juſtification, and matter of controverſie, in diſcovering the Myſtery of Iniquity have provoked ſuch meetings? What grave and extraordinary word of admonition hath flowed from them, ſo often as they have been called? Or ſhall we think, the Lord's people (whom we judge, the the onely fit object and ſubject of Church meetings) ſo ignorant, ſo backward, and ſo unruly, that they ſtand in need of ſuch frequent Aſſemblies? We dare not think ſo, unleſs we ſhould impung, their willingnes in the day of the Lords power, Pſal. 110. Their cheerfulneſs in obedience, by the love of Chriſt, which conſtraineth them, and the terrour of GOD, whereby they perſwade men, 2 Cor. 5. and the eminency of their knowledge, (being all taught of GOD, Iſaiah 54.) whereby none of them needeth to teach another; but all of them know the LORD, from the higheſt of them, to the loweſt of them, Jeremiah 31. That which engageth them to their duty, is the law put in their inward parts, and written in their hearts. It indeed, and not to multiplication of Church-Aſſemblies keepeth them loyall to the Crown royall of Heaven. Such Eccleſiaſticall powers uſe often to reſtrain Chriſtian Liberty, but ſeldom, or rather never promove the juſt freedom and liberty of the Saints. Secondly, in reſpect of the matter propounded, and diſcuſſed in theſe Aſſemblies. Know ye not (Dearly beloved) in them nothing for the moſt part was to be heard, but needleſſe debates, and vain janglings? Any thing heard in them, was rather to miniſter Queſtion, then godly edification, which is in faith. How many tables and endleſs genealogies were heard amongſt them? which the Holy Ghoſt diſclaimeth. We learn no matter in Church-Aſſemblies from the Word, but grave Caſes of Conſcience, or matter of Controverſie, Acts 15. and of ſeaſonable and neceſſary admonition for the good and edification of the Church Acts 20. But the LORD knoweth the Aſſemblies of this Church did not content themſelves therewith, but went far out of their ſphere. They could away with nothing ſo much, as to examine the Books of Seſſions, Presbyteries, Synods, and Commiſsions. They were not aſhamed to rob the Magiſtrate of his right, as their due. Nothing could ſatisfie them, but proceeding againſt Fornicators, Malignants, and all ſuch delinquents; as if they, and they onely had had right to the temporall ſword. Nothing could be done in Parliament, but what was ratified and allowed by them. They puſhed indeed with the two horns of the beaſt: for the matter of ſuch Aſſemblies, is an acting with both ſwords, Temporall and Spirituall. And to colour all this, there was a doing great wonders, by making fire come down from Heaven, on the Earth, in the ſight of men, in eſtabliſhing Popiſh Pennances, or mo • k Repentances. O! what deal of the Spirit, did they pretend in theſe things? And thus they deceived them that dwell on the earth. Thirdly, in reſpect of the manner of proceeding in theſe Aſſemblies. It is known, they carried on things in a State-way, and not in a Church way: They did not take every thing to the Law, and the teſtimonie, but they diſputed every thing as Lawyers ſtanding cloſe by formalities, Law quirks, and Church▪ Conſtitutions i • not of State alſo as the grounds and wayes of their procedure. They did not proceed, becauſe it ſeemed good to the Holy Ghoſt and to them, but becauſe it ſeemed good to them, and was according to the Acts and Practice of the Church. Oh! was not this the over-word in, and touch-ſtone of theſe Conventions. Fourthly, in reſpect of the Members of theſe Meetings indeed they were anſwerable to their National Church; ſuch as were Members of the one, ſo of the other. And it can not be forgotten, how their Ruling-Elders did not only ſit as Ciphers in them (the Miniſters taking all upon them) but alſo they had no more Office-power, but pro tempore, yet I can ſee no reaſon, why all other officers of Chriſt's Church, ſo wel as Miniſters, may not injoy their office-power, vel ad vitam, vel ad culpam. And for my ſelf, I ſaw no uſe they made of them, but to carry on things by plurality of voices, as if the matters of Chriſt's Houſe had depended from the conſent and opinion of men, & not from his own authority, according to the Word and Spirit. Fi • tly, in reſpect of the power they did arrogate to themſelves: What they did, they did not as Councels, but as Court-Judicatures; they did not proceed by way of advice and counſell, and upon this accompt, for it ſeemed good to the Holy Ghoſt, and to us, but by way of command; and upon this accomp • , We enact and ordain. Sixtly▪ in reſpect of their outward pomp & glory. O! how much were they backed with the powers of this World? And it is obſervable, theſe Aſſemblies of late, did begin with the acceſſion of the Kings Commiſſioner thereto, An. 1639. and I hope their pride hath periſhed with the acceſſion of the Vice-Roy to the General Aſſembly, 1651. The reign and riſe of Claſſicall Power are from the earth, Rev. 13. 11. and therefore it cannot but pariſh with the earth. The fall of carnal & worldly powers will beget its ruine. Seventhly, in reſpect of their tyrannie; O! how much did they lord over GOD'S heritage; they thought it their duty to Lord over their Conſciences, to plant over, and tranſplant Miniſters from them at random. And I beleive, the Lord, of late hath given them plantation, and tranſplantation, beyond what they deſired. They thought it no ſin, to reſtrict people to forms of worſhip. To emit Declarations, Catechiſms, and ſtinte formes of Family-Worſhip, and directions anent worſhipping in publick, in their own ſtinted and Presbyterian way, They made it their great buſineſſe; even as their lips onely had preſerved knowledge, and all had been obliged to lay what they ſaid, or rather to ſwear what they ſpoke. They thought it no Hereſie, to emit Acts againſt the private Aſſemblies of the Saints, and their going, from one firſt day of the week, to another, to hear thoſe Preach, of whom they expected moſt for Edification, although their Pariſh-Prieſt had been an idiot, void of the Saving knowledge of God. They exhorted repentance out of all, and whoſoever would not take their mark upon them, they reſtrained their Liberty, by bills of excommunication, and caſting them over into the hands of the State. Such indeed had not liberty to buy and ſell, amongſt them. Any who denyed their Acts, and did not idolize their Covenant (of which they made a State-Engine, for eſtabliſhing worldly powers) was forthwith to be excommunicat. No wonder: For, though they had Lambes hornes, yet did they ſpeak as dragons, Rev. 14. 11. Eightly in reſpect of the proud title, they did aſſume to themſelves. They were not aſhamed, Popiſh-like to call themſelves the Church, even as if holines and knowledge had been only to be found amongſt them in their own accompt, they were the Inheritance and Church of GOD, by way of eminency and ſpeciall propriety. What is this, I pray you (beloved) but the Man of ſin, ſitting in the Temple of God, exalting himſelf above God as God, or that is worſhipped. Beware of this Whore (dearly beloved) and Come out of her, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.