WHen We call to mind, together with the repeated loving kindnesses of God to his People in these Nations, the late rebukes We have received, the Tares of Division that have been sown by the envi­ous one, and the growth they have had, through his Subtilty, a­mongst Vs, the abhominable blasphemies vented, & spreading of late, through the Apostacy of, and the abuse of liberty by, many professing Religion, the continued Series of Difficulties We have been, and are exercised under, by the secret and open practises of those, that, bearing evil will unto Sion, have Balaam-like attempted all waies to fru­strate Our hopes and endeavours of such a Settlement and Reformation as hath been so long contended for; as also the weight of the work of this Generation.

We have thought it a duty becoming Vs, not only Our Selves to lie low before the Lord, and to have recourse to him by Prayer and Humiliation▪ but also to call upon, and invite, all the People of God in these Nations to joyn with Vs in Solemn and Earnest Supplications to the Throne of Grace (a way wherein We have often expe­rimented the good presence of God) That the Lord will be pleased truly to humble Vs and the Nation under his righteous hand, that We may be every one searching out the plague of his own heart, and turn unfeignedly from the evil of Our waies, that not­withstanding all Our provocations, the Lord may be pleased to return & smile upon Vs.

That he will disappoint the Designs of those that labour to lift themselves up a­gainst the interest of Christ and his People.

That he will rebuke the aforesaid evils, and give his people to know the things that belong to their Peace, that so We may with one heart and shoulder serve the Lord both Theirs and Ours.

That his presence may be with those that are more especially engaged in, and entru­sted with the great Affairs of the Nation, by a Spirit of Counsel and Wisdom to ena­ble them faithfully to discharge their weighty Trust, and that they may bear some pro­portion of serviceableness to the great Works, Designs and Promises of God concern­ing the Kingdom of his Son, our blessed Lord, in these later times, and may be used as Instruments in his hand for the continuance and increase of the Reformation, and the Security and Settlement of these Nations.

Vpon these and such like grounds, We have appointed Thursday the sixth day of De­cember next, to be set apart for a day of Publick Humiliation. And the Ministers of the several Congregations are to give notice hereof on the Lords day next before the said sixth day of December.

Given at Whitehall this 21. day of November 1655.