OH that I had, or could sanctifie the Lord according to his manifold, and great administrations of late dayes in England our deare mother. It's not long since we were as men that dreamed dreames when we here at once heard of that which might have been the work of many yeares, such a Parliament once more chosen and assembled: such liberties granted unto it, such acts done by it, for Scotland (whose peace and liberty procured by your counsels, and Englands willing charges, I hope shall not be wiped off from your account in the behalfe of the Land) against enemies of God, Religion, Church, State, such tall cedars felled, &c. But how suddenly did the Lord bring a black cloud over the Na­tion, and a new presentment of it had we, as lying in blood, rent with division (even such as scarce any cause but the Gospell useth to make) filled with alarmes, the mart of all rich commodities, made the shop of artillery; the garden of pleasure, the stage of warre in one part of the Countrey and another: some Worthies already fallen, besides divers (no question) though of lesse name on earth, yet of precious account in Heaven: some pined in pri­sons, others spoiled of their estates, (not to mention miserable Ireland made a very slaughterhouse, whiles your home-affaires fil­ling your heads and hands, and emptying your purses, give advan­tage to those blood-thirsty sons of that scarlet-whore to execute that cruell rage, that cries to Heaven) In the midst of all these sad calamities, your selves, whom God hath honoured to serve him at such a time, in that high Court, as Pilots and Marriners toyling night and day in a storme (longer then that Paul was in) to save that precious Barke from shipwrack and utter submersion, with all that rich treasure that God hath stored it with, especially of precious Saints, more precious then the fine gold, though accoun­ted as earthen pitchers: It hath been matter of admiration unto [Page 2]me often, to see how the Lord upholds that House it selfe from dissolution in many respects, that you know better, but that its He that hangs the earth upon nothing ( Iob 26.7.) and those whose hearts are faithfull, and close to the worke, how their heads have held, and their spirits not been exhaust, and hearts with wea­tinesse failed, and given over, who have so many various, weigh­ty, unusuall cases to attend: who were sufficient for these things without divine assistance? But not to seeme to forget what I write by troubling you with long writing, be pleased to under­stand hereby our due respect to and remembrance daily, and al­most continually of the great and high worke that you have in hand: and our labours and travailing thoughts and desires (accor­ding to our condition and measure) to promote that Cause, which you have the heaviest end of at present lying upon your hands: and we say and desire the Lord daily to speake to your hearts, what he oft did to his Worthies in their great employment: Feare not, but be cou [...]agious; you serve a great Lord, that is higher then the Kings of the earth, and shall reigne in Sion: in a victorious cause, however oft oppressed; and for a people that are deare unto God, his Israel, which he will deliver, his Saints that shall reigne with Christ Jesus. But why then are all these things befallen us, and where are all his miracles? &c. [ Iudg. 6.13.] I confesse its a case worthy enquiry, and the Lord give an answer of peace unto his ser­vants. It's true, that Antichrist will not downe with case: not the woman bring forth the man-child, that should rule all nations with a rod of iron, a son of the Church to reigne, without the painefull throwes, and bloody sufferings of many Martyrs: Pharaoh would not easily let the people goe: We our selves inherited the Gospell with a mercifull Reformation, not without the ashes of many faithfull witnesses in those Marian dayes: yea how long was the Church in her painefull breeding, and bringing forth the Truth in the yeares and from under the tyranny of the Romish my­stery of iniquity in the bitter persecutions, and innumerable slaugh­ters of the Waldenses and others of the same Religion, though of se­verall names: The two witnesses were slaine after their sad pro­phesyings in sackcloth, before they are taken up to Heaven: yet we must seeke a blameable reason from sinfull sons of men, as of the taking away the Truth, so of the withholding it from them: And [Page 3]it's no uncharitable guesse to say, that the hearts of the people of England are not prepared for the receiving Christ Jesus in his king­dome. This is obvious: yet the case sticks, for the neerenesse of Eng­land to this mercy, and the suddaine withdrawing of it againe, in­creaseth the darknesse of it: Doth the Lord use to refuse zealous Reformation especially in the hands of men of authority, that hath made such promises, if there were but one such, &c. Ier. 5.1. Yes! it's not without president. Israel would correct Benjamins unna­turall wickednesse defended with diabolicall pride and impeni­tence, yet they loose 40000. before they all can punish one such Tribe, as vengeance it selfe would not suffer to live. Iosiah is zealous in purging and restoring Gods worship, his heart of a most choice temper, his actions almost all non-paraile, matchlesse and superla­tive, yet it stands not: there were sins before which God would not pardon, [2 King. 24.4.] no not to the accessaries, though they were to the principall, Manasseh I mean, but it was that those repen­ted not, but their hearts hung idolward. What remedy then? Truly you are the Body representative, and there are many of the body personally, yea some of all rankes, whose sincerity of Repentance, I am perswaded the Lord would not refuse. And I know your Fasts are many, and your care great that all the people of the Land should observe them: Blessed be God! Only be pleased to give me leave to suggest one question, which, it may be you can readily as­soyle, though my distance keeps me ignorant: Hath that Honou­rable House, which hath begun to cast out, the persons, and things that have so much offended God, and good men; hath it confessed the guilt of neglecting such Reformation in former Parliaments, yea the rejecting of motions presented that way: and justifying the then present state of the Church, as being pure, &c? Hath there beene any publike testimony of acknowledgement of the great sinne of the Land in worshiping Christ after the manner of Antichrist, and shutting out the Ordinances of Christ, and polluting Gods ser­vice with mens superstitions? Ezra began that zealous divorcement of strange wives, which Shecaniah advised him to attempt, with his deepe abasement for that great trespasse, which in a most hum­ble and affectionate confession he acknowledged they had been in so long unto the just bringing and continuing all those evils that lay upon them. That amendment that is without confession and [Page 4]conviction hath not depth and bottome enough for the Lord to say much upon. If they be ashamed of their wayes then shew them the wayes of my house, Ezek 43.11. God knowes not what to doe with Israel, unlesse by stripping themselves of their ornaments they shew they were ashamed of what they had done, Exod. 33. God leaves Ephraim to his troubles, till he should become guilty, Hos. 5.15. Is that Reformation pleasing to God that is not of evill con­demned by God? if so: the guilt should first be yeelded, before the practise removed: It's the deceit of many a soule in his perso­nall estate, to be zealous in casting off such corrupt customes, as his soule never abhorred it selfe for former defilements thereby: and the truth is, the deceit lies in imperfection of conviction, humi­liation, yea of mortification: and that evill which a man leaves without acknowledgement and sense of his former offensivenesse in such way, doth but reserve to himselfe a liberty in case of more easie taking up, that which he laid downe. Were that Truth duly stated, by which Episcopacy, Ceremonies, &c. are condem­ned, then should God be duly justified, the sinfulnesse of former aberrations perceived, yeelded, censured and condemned, and a sure standard, and inflexible rule be laid for a perfect repairing and regulating future worke. It was alledged by a learned man in the Councell of Trent, when they were disallowing some things (as I remember) that there is nothing false but because it erres from somewhat that is true. If it were no offence to God to worship him, and dispense the things of his house as they were: and yet it is good to remove them, and have them otherwise: then the government of his Church, and the manner of his worship is a matter indifferent, and indeterminate: and then Christ hath gai­ned nothing: but the royall prerogative of his Kingdome is as much abased as it was before: and then he will say, Obedience is better then sacrifice. But perhaps, what I write is needlesse: how­ever, my boldnesse comming from sincere desire of your best suc­cesse and honour, and speciall confidence of your pious candor, will be pardoned. My desire and prayer is, that the Lord will rebuke Satan, and take away any defiled garments from Ioshuah and Ze­rubbabel, that should hinder acceptance or successe: yea so I write as one that acknowledge my selfe to have had a share in those provocations and pollutions, and want yet an heart to be meetly [Page 5]sensible of the wrong done to the Lord Jesus therein, though the Scripture sheweth example, and argument plentifull in that kind. Wherefore, Honoured Sir, if all be not right therein, improve I be­seech you, that zeale which God hath enkindled in your breast, and that interest that so long experience of your fidelity to the Cause of God hath bred you in the hearts of those Noble spirits, whom I hope God hath raised up to be the repairers of breaches, the resto­rers of pathes to dwell in, to draw as many as you may unto such a due humiliation before the Lord, not for other abominations, and crying wickednesses of the Land alone, but this which was the cause of the rest, and of higher nature then the rest, that the Lord Jesus hath not been set up in his throne, but iniquity established therein by a Law: and that so as scarce any reformed Church hath done besides, and contrary to the testimony of many most able, wor­thy Confessors, Cartwrights, Brightmans, &c. by their pens and suffe­rings: prevailing against that precious blood of holy Bates and o­thers in prisons, the impoverishing families, and obscuring of men of choice abilities, in learning, preaching, writing, cast aside for rotten trash, the starving of many Congregations, robbed of their profitable and painefull pastors, and infinite wrong to soules, bodies, estates of Saints, and dishonour to Christ, and that though by Bb. yet through either power conferred, or not taken away by Parlia­ments: the very Religion of the greatest part of England being but formality and blind devotion standing with grosse profanenesse: the best Congregations forced to prostrate themselves to the ty­ranny of men over their consciences, and the most sacred parts of his worship corrupted with superstitious mixtures: Oh what Repentance, and what publike testimonies of self-condemning Re­pentance doth the holy God expect, when as England hath beene a scandall to other Churches for these things: which being meetly performed, I hope the Lord would not be long absent from coun­sels and endeavours for his own honour. David himselfe that was fetching up the Arke with so much zeale, met with a terrible check: and though he was displeased at the breach, yet he was faine to con­fesse the sinne of not seeking God after the right manner before he could prosper in his most pious attempt. How many of the Beth­shemittes fell, that yet went to bid the Arke welcome among them: Well perhaps this Perizuzza, and this slaughter of the Bethshemites [Page 6]was to prepare David and the people to sanctifie the Lord in their hearts, and say, who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?

Truly Sir, our eyes are looking up, waiting and hoping, that the Lord is doing some great work by you in these dayes: It's no small joy to think how many now look upon that truth with patience & inquisition, that thought it a note of pride or hypocrisie to be med­ling withall: and that now pens and tongues doe justifie that, which erewhile it was scarce tolerable to be practised here: you know what great things are expected of a long time from the Revelation, and I hope some of them are at the doore: But then what manner of persons ought we to be, not only that shall [...], but shall bring forth such things unto the world: Truly, God is to be feared for his mercies, and if fearfull in praises, when Christ came to redeeme as a Son of Righteousnesse, yet who might abide the day of his com­ming? When the Lord appeared to Moses in a vision, portending deliverance, and preparing him to be the deliverer of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, he bad Moses put off his shooes, for the place where he stood was holy ground, Exod, 3. When Ioshuah saw a man with his sword drawne, and understood, that he was the Angell of the Lords host, for them, not against them, he fell on his face and worshipped: and was told that ground was holy, and bidden to put off his shooe. Now the Lord, that hath chosen England to save it, help his Moseses, and his Ioshuahs to such a peculiar holinesse that he requires of those whom he will delight to worke by: It's not by might, nor wit, but my Spirit: the barley cake tumbles down Mi­dians tents, that is, Gideon humbled with such a description made of him in that divine dreame. Now the time is for such as Nehemiah was, to repaire Ierusalems walls, men of faith, that will not be daun­ted, men of innocency and goodnesse, that cannot be blemished, men of zeale that can neither endure Gods honour to be prophaned, nor peoples poverty to be oppressed by the greatest whatsoever. And who but Nehemiah's could doe your work, and act your part at this day? who could have endured such labours and discouragements? His enemies scoffe: at length they conspire to be upon him from e­very part: his own people complaine of the difficulty of the work, their weary shoulders with carrying burdens, the aboundance of rubbish still remaining, never like to be overcome, Neh, 4, 3, 8, 10. yet he encourageth the people, puts himselfe and his upon the har­dest [Page 7]taskes, puts not off his cloathes, watcheth, worketh, prayeth, and is at great charges instead of taking the wonted allowance of men in his place. Truly, when God hath such work to doe, he raiseth men of such ex­traordinary spirits: Blessed be our God, that hath raised up such, and up­held their hearts in that Honourable House of invincible courage, and pa­tience, and labours, whatever is become of others, whom the Lord de­ligts not in, to honour them with such choice work, as his Temple-work is. Be you assured that the hearts of the faithfull in Israel are towards the governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people, blesse ye the Lord, Iudg. 6. The poore despised of Christs flock here doe pray, whiles you watch and work, and in the sense of the weight of your charge would gladly be putting stones under your armes, whiles with Moses you are stretching out the rod of your authority and deliverance, and others are fighting against Amalck. And the good Lord stirre up the hearts of the people of the Land to cleave unto you, that as God hath made you as the two hundred heads of Issachar, men that had understan­ding of the times, and what Israel ought to doe, and their brethren were at their commandment, 1 Chro. 12.32. so you may be able to say as the Governours of Iudah, The inhabitants of Ierusalem are our strength in the Lord of hosts their God, Zech. 12.5. And certainly the true inhabitants of Ierusalem they are a great strengthening (though very few) not in them­selves indeed, but in their God who is the Lord of hosts: you are the Vin­dices or Judges of Gods Israel, a people precious unto him: who should be afraid to be the keeper of Gods sheep: Ioab bid be of good courage, and behave themselves valiantly for their people, and the Cities of their God, 1 Chro. 19.13. He that keeps the Church of Christ keeps that which will keep him: yea it is the Ark of the Lord which you are guarding, which guards them that carry it: as sometimes when it was sent homewards in a Cart by the Philistines, it was both auriga & onus, as Theodoret ob­serves: Esther need not shrink to speake for the saving of that people, whose safety without her, was surer, then her own without speaking for them, as Mordecai told her. And though it's not the least part of your temptation that the successe depends much upon people, who are gene­rally as unstable as waters: who may doe much either way, but are doubt­full whether: yet both these are in the hands of the Lord, who if he touch their hearts, they shall as one man flow and stick close unto you: and doubtlesse the faithfull in the Land, who are not of a double heart close with your godly aimes and endeavours, and one of them is better then a thousand others, and the Saints shall prevaile though it be by their death [Page 8]to bring forth the Cause of the Lord Jesus in his own time. But oh that I might aspire farther in hop [...], that the Lord, in whose hands are the hearts of Kings, would give you the heart and hand of his Anointed, to joyne with his Nobles and people to bring back the Ark with David to its place: and that He would at length say, that which I am perswaded he might say in his very heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord their God: and alas! that in the mean time his soule dwells among those, who are Apollyonists, children of the curse, & the ge­neration of Gods wrath, of whom we might say, Depart from their Tents, least, &c. and with Iaacob, ô my soule come not into their secret: The Lord perswade. As for your selves, whom the Lord hath hitherto maintained constant, and faithfull to his Cause, though with the extreame hazzard of your persons, families, estates, &c. in the midst of such multitudes of your ranke that follow the wind, yea a body of people, which through igno­rance and prophanenesse, are enemies to the pure and exact ways of our Lord Jesus, the Lord remember you, and wipe not out any of your kind­nesses to the house of your God; yea the Lord is with you, and you are laying that stone, which hath seven eyes, which run through the whole earth, to watch for you, and most wisely and prosperously to carry on your work about it to perfection in his season: Feare not, but let your hands be strong, you fight the battels of the Lord, and (I trust) evill hath not been found in your (no not in your hearts towards his Anointed) He shall bind up your soules in the bundle of life, but the soules of the Cava­lieres shall be flung out as out of the midst of a sling. Only may I humbly suggest my suite, that no unbeleeving feares, nor ensnaring flatteries of men wise according to the flesh, cause you to make haste, or turne aside short, or into any crooked ways: but make through work, as tender hear­ted Iosiah, and listen not to Samaritan worshippers any more, as formerly others have: Placet mirum in modum nostrae carni (saith P. Martyr on 1 Cor. 5.) in duas partes claudicar [...]: quod est Deo, quam odiosissimum. Civiles homi­nes, quòd in Reformatione leniter agere volint, causam adducunt, quòd tumultus horrent, at (que) seditiones. Ideò ubi (que) suadent ad multa connivendum esse: Cate­rum alia est severitas verbi Dei. Moses was so strict, and yet it was but faithfulnesse, as to stay 600000. men, then leave one hoofe behind him, for that it might be for sacrifice in service of the Lord. It's true, Prudence directs quibus medijs, to presse and put on the work of the Lord: but Piety admits not of any fitting of Religion or the Kingdome of Christ to times, places or persons: His worship and Kingdome is not one framed for the plaine or persecuting times of the Apostles: and another for the [Page 9]stately frames of Christian polities be they never so great: All States must conforme to the Church, all Kingdomes unto Christs: Ecclesiam ad mun­di normam Regnorum & Statuum componere, est merè Domum tapetibus ac­commodare. I know, the contrary hath been the professed judgement of many, and I feare the practise and way of more inclines thereunto: But once I hope Christ shall in England be acknowledged All, and only in his Church, and it shall be the greatest honour unto him to accept him in every of his laws and priviledges: And give me leave to use the like ar­gumentation that Bucer (whose piety in his works de Regno Christi, is worth the reading and observing at this time) to King Edward, you will not suffer any Parliament priviledges, or rights and liberties of subjects to be taken away, but will rather hazzard the losse of all: shall not zeale and punctualnesse here be much more seasonable and warrantable. I doe not think all will be seen at once, yet this shall be acceptable service and ho­nour to the Lord Jesus our King, if you aime at that one way, wherein he will be served, and weigh all in the ballances of the sanctuary, and pre­ferre the wisedome and authority of his word therein above civill po­licie, humane reason, yea universality or antiquity of any practise since the first & normall patterne prescribed in the doctrine, & recorded in the hi­story of the sacred Scriptures. And I am perswaded thus much being as­serted, for truth, and sincerely professed as your scope, and aimed at in en­deavours, it shall be acceptable unto the Lord, and a blessing to his peo­ple. Pardon my boldnesse good Sir, if I present to your wisest conside­ration, the unhallowed passages that come forth in Mercurius Brita­nicus, of scornefull dishonour put upon the Name and Person of Him, who is by you acknowledged the Lords Annointed: It's very aimeable to reade tearmes of honour put upon his Majesty, though so farre stirred up against you: It's that which I meddle not with, what is cast upon those that are about the King: I deeme just to make Remonstrances, as things stand, wherein even the actions of his Majesty may be complai­ned of for your justification: but to put bitter and most contemptuous scoffes upon His royall Person, is that which Davids heart could not beare: nor will your selves if you take notice of it, I am assured, and know the offender. It's against not only the course of Scripture, but one Article of the late Covenant. Though I am thus bold to mention what flies about; yet I am not so bold as to accuse any of that Honourable House herein, who may be farre from the knowledge hereof. Since my setting pen to paper; we heard so sad newes as made me lay aside my [Page 10]pen, fearing no passage would be to you: but since againe, much better, blessed be the God of our mercy, that would not let us sinke in sorrow: and the comfort of our comfort is in the religious and blessed Covenant made by you and the Scottish: which He who hath wrought it gracious­ly accept it, and scale it in all hearts, and give us all with you not to make the emphasis of our Joy, that it is made with the Scottish, but that its made by them and you with the great God of Heaven: that sinne is so humbly acknowledged, so holily disavowed and divorced, and Gods truth and service so zealously avowed and professed. It's the way whereby Kings have sought and found the Lord: and whereby Ne­hemiah setled the peace of a troubled State. You have to all the world avouched the Lord for your God, now we looke for Him to avouch you for His people in the sight of the world: And now our hearts have got­ten some good hold to wrestle with the Lord, which we poore worth­lesse wormes desire to doe, so, as your expectations may not be failed of us: nor our duties towards you, on whom the eyes of the world are set: and in whose hands is the Cause of God, and the great action of this age for his Church: and in this purpose and posture I shall humbly take leave, and with all due service and honour to your selfe, and worthy Mr M.C. the only one, that I have had acquaintance with, in that Ho­nourable House, which hath now some yeares been more your house, then your own home where that worthy and vertuous consort, and sweet hopefull children were wont to accompany you, to whom with most affectionate respect I desire to be remembred, I commit you to the God of the spirits of all flesh, who hath honoured you with his highest work, and will crowne you with an immortall reward through Christ Jesus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.