IR A REMONSTRANCE CONCERNING THE PRESENT TROUBLES FROM THE MEETING OF THE ESTAEES OF the Kingdome of SCOTLAND Aprill 16. unto the Parliament of ENGLAND Printed in the Year of God 1640. A REMONSTRANCE CONCERNING THE PRESENT TROUBLES FROM THE MEETING OF THE ESTAEES OF the Kingdome of SCOTLAND Aprill 16. unto the Parliament of ENGLAND WHEN we look unto the Records of the ages past to find out the greatest blessings that God hath bestowed on this I LE wherin we live we cannot but acknowledge that next to the Christian Faith the Union of the two Kingdomes under one Head doth by many degrees exceed all other that fall in the reckoning Many practises and policies were set afoot by our Princes of old to hasten this work but all in vain did the plots of men strive to crosse or prevent the councell of God who had reserved for us and our fathers that singular happines to see that Union begun neither by a breach of faith nor by bloud but as the gift of God to fall in our hands by the ordinary gate which the Princes right sets open unto all and the generall and common interest of both Nations did heartily receive and imbrace With what successe this Union hath begun and continued to this day the peace and plenty we have enjoyed all this time can witnesse in part whiles all the rest of Europe almost round about us hath been a Field of blood and desolation What apprehension the enemies of our Religion had at our peaceable conjunction and with what eye of jealousie the neighbour States did look upon us and envie our happines the History of these times can beare record but for the present in regard of what hath passed these many yeares by-gone and what we presently feel and fear we may truly confesse to our own guilt and great dishonour that neither Scotland nor England unto this day hath righty understood or made use of this raâ—â—blessing of heaven for increasing their respect abroad or securing tâ—eir own safety at home neither have the reformed Churches found thaâ—comfort and relief which they did expect from us in the day of tâ—eir distresse but on the contrary we have been made even against ouâ—wills a brâ—kâ—n reed a rocke of offence and a shipwrack unto all that have fought unto us for shelter from the storme and to our selves the one Nation against the other a rod of correction and jealousie in the hands of a few wicked and ungodly men men of sepâ—ration who divide the King from his people and the people â—â—om their King and who raise up brethren agâ—inâ—t brethrenâ— that they in the end might prey and make havock of all Amongst many that have been authors of these evils under which the two Kingdoms have for a long time groaned and belike must either now or never be disburthened none deserve so justly to be challenged in the first place as some amongst you who call themselves Church-men but have left their station to become ignorant and unhappy Statesmen who have made the Church and the Tenets therof an instrument of bondage to the Subject of liberty to themselves and of unjust usurpation to the Prince whom we had reason to feare long agoe by your example and whom we find named as the chief instrument and object of your just feares of the change of Religion and government of Estate in the Kingdome of England in that grave and solemn Remonstrance that was made not many yeares agoe by the house of Commons to the Kings Majesty if that had stopped them any way your pulpits and pamphlets can beare witnesse for them and the rest of their crue since that time yea how constant they are to theâ—e wretched ends their attempts upoâ— us and that deep plot of obâ—ruding the seeds of all Popish superstition and tyranny upon our Kirk in the Bookes of Common Prayer and Canons will be a strong evidence for them how much they have deserved of Rome to make that Kirk which had departed farthest from her to be fiâ—st in the return and exemplar unto others and how much more they may yet deserve of them and all the enemies of those twâ— Kingdomes if they â—ffer for a sacrifice in a bloâ—die Warre the Relâ—gâ—on and Liberties of both the Nations to appease the fury oâ— ther presâ—nâ— disappâ—intment and prevent the shame of their deâ—eâ—ved â—all Certaiâ—ly the posterity will hardly beleeve as we who have â—eeâ— it cannot but wonder how it hath come to passe that the Subjects of Scotland whose Union with Englâ—â—d this day is known to be of gâ—eaâ—â—r foâ—ce â—or her assurance at home and strength abroad then all the alliances praâ—tises policies conquesâ—s your Pâ—inces have made from the begiâ—niâ—g â—hould have so long peâ—itioned their native Prince râ—sidiâ—g amongst you to do them Jâ—stice wherâ—f he is debtor to his peâ—ple and to heare their just complaints against the usâ—rpaâ—ion of a â—ew men who were undermining the pâ—oâ—essâ—â—â—â—ligion and government of the State and to suffer them to live according to their Laws and yet could never be heaâ—d nor answered in the poinâ— of their just desires farre lesse will they guesse what hath been the ground of that merit and trust of one domineering Prâ—lat in the affection of the Prince that it should be more forcible to disswade then all the supplications and intâ—rcâ—ssions of so ancient and faithfull a Nâ—tion who among all the Kingdomes of Europâ— have longest continued and mainâ—aiâ—ed in one Line the honour of the Royall Crown togeâ—her with the preservation of their own Liberties should have power to move Truly for our selves when we call to mind what courage and coâ—stancie God hath given unto â—s since the beginning of these troubles â—o stand for the maintenance of our Religion and Liberties that we have not suffered our selves to be drawn headlong unto the servitâ—de of soulâ—s and bodies from which there had been no hope of Liberty for us or our poâ—â—erity and which in regard of ouâ— conjunction with you under one King had been a violent prejudice and of dangerous conseâ—uence for your Liberties when they come to be questioned in their own time and place and on the other part when we remember what strange and violent wayes were taken by our adversaries to keep from the Englisâ— Nation the knowledge of our affaires and what unjust and false aspersions were laid upon all our acâ—ions and intentiâ—nsâ— to provoke you to be actors of that reâ—â—nge that was determined against us by the insolent advice of suchâ— who now govern his Majesties Councels and â—ettle their own ill acquired gâ—eatnes by the oppression of his obedient Subjects in their Religion and liberties in both Kingdomes we cannot but blâ—sse God who armed uâ— with an invinsible paâ—ience and resolution to esâ—hew for our part◠〈◊〉 the uttermost of our power any Nationall breach For ye may remember when coâ—trary to our expectation his Majesty by all the evil councell of those men
fire of this civil warre which hath been so long smoaking may be once kindled and that they be ready under-hand to adde fewell to the flame wherin they will not be wanting especially where every thing is so near that can furnish matter and all is farre off that can help to extinguish the same when it is once begun yea which is worse for us all when it is apparent that it cannot be setled without great hazard even of them that may seem to overcome in the end And although that we may justly suspect that this calling of you together at this time by their suggestion who have raised this fire of civil discord in this famous Isle without your consent or advice be rather to perswade you to bring oyle then water to quench the flame so that in the heat of these broyles you may be induced to contribute to the overthrow of your best friends while they avenge themselves of their enemies Notwithstanding of this we hope that it will not be displeasant unto all good men in these honourable Assemblies of both houses that we with great joy of heart and freedome of spirit professe and declare as we do this day that all our obligations and mutuall assurances of love and brothterly kindnesse are so nearly twisted and joyned together with you in all duties toward God and Man Prince and People that we cannot but have the same friends and foes either in the defence of our common safety against forraigne foes or in the maintenance of our severall rights against inward and homebred underminers who are more dangerous except we would depart from the onely firme rule of our own safety and preservation And therfore since in regard of the situation of this whole Isle and the Union under one Head we are all as it were one house if it fall we shall be all buried in the ruines we are all imbarqued in one ship if it perish or split upon the rocks of division hardly can we escape Suffer us to reâ—oyce with you in the midst of this storm for this first sunne-shine of comfort and good hope that we see you who are the true Pilots brought to the helm And give us leave to conjure you for the interest we have in the common adventure of these rich goods our peace our liberties our Religion which are all in one hold that ye abandon not the ship of the Common-wealth in this tempest although it did belong to you to have been called when the season was more calme and yet let it be the true ground of your comforâ— and encouragement that when the skie was clear you have forewarned our great Master of the clouds that were gathering and although the winds were invisible then to most yet to many of your house of Commons and others also of all ranks they that did blow then to gather these clouds together were well known and from what coast they came and many humble desires and earnest suites have been made by you to his gracious Majesty that he would not abandon his own and the Kingdomes safety unto the pleasure of men in a voyage full of dangerous and fearefull straits in the conduct of which they had nothing but their own ambition and privat gain for compasse and said And who have thrust both Prince and people out of the safe harbour of the quiet calme unto this present storme wherin they are to make profit of both our shipwrack if in this strait it were not allowed to the meanest passenger to give warning of the imminent danger we notwithstanding of our place and interest in your welfare might hold our peace but since we have been in the first watch and have indured the first and greatest torment of this storme while you have been at rest for your assurance that we cannot abandon you or leave you alone one your turne when you are so near to give tryall of your courage and skill you may perceive by what hath passed that no Assembly nor Parliament no rotten Cable and slipping Anchor of Articles and agreement whereunto we had fastened our hopes can be any road and harbour of safety unto us so long as both our enemies sit at the Helme and govern all courses that are to be followed amongst you Therfore before we come to advise what are in our judgement the most â—itting means â—or removing of the evils of us both give us leave to touch in passing what we apprehend have been the concurrent causes to bring you by degrees from that height of â—appinâ—sse wherin somtime ye were glorious in the sight of Europe to this gulf of misery and abasement wherein ye have fallen and drawn us by example and imitaâ—iâ—n that in this sad represâ—nâ—ment as in a darke shade the glorious light of your appearing day may be more comfortable and refreshing unto us both which is the hearty with and assured hope of your dear Brethren in Scotland because of the sensible feeling of that great mercy of God upon themselves who have been farther in the transgression and at a lower ebbe in mind and spirit then ye can well imagine before their troubles began therfore because our evils are not of yesterday and could not have overflowd the face of this Isle on a sudden let us search up unto the well head and period of time wheâ—e and when they bâ—gan fiâ—st to spring and arise when we left to fear others by reason of our Union then began we to have need to look for evill from our selves the subâ—ile enemies of this Isle knowing that what was not to be attempted by open force was to be uâ—dertaken and pursued by cunning and secret practises took the advantage of the humours of men following commonly the nature and the conditions of the times did make the surfets and ease of peace more dangerous to the life of the Estate then the straits and hazards of warre had been before disposing the Subjects to ease and slavery an inuring the Prince to follow their appetite and the rules of uncontrouled power then began the publicke wayes of honour and repâ—tation to be unâ—requented then the use of Parliaments which is the stay and strength of your Kingdom to be suspected and so these eyes and eares of the Prince and People the great Councel of the Land did make way peece and peece to the darke passages of the corner of a Cabinet where flatterie malice envy and partialitie amongst few hands disguises with â—alse appearances without controule all that comes in their handling and makes the people miserable and the Prince infortunat since they have gotten â—ooting Parliâ—ments have been called not to ease the grievances of the Subject but to supply the necessities of the Prince and so whereas they should have helped to curâ— they have increased the diseases of the ESTATE and because there can be no evill humour in the Body that can master your skill if you please to apply fitting remedies and what havâ— been
civill warre and homebred divisionâ— as inward diseases are more hard to cure then these that are without we are tyed in all respects to seek to prevent them before thy come And wheras by all that hath passed we may perceive that these who are chief actors in these troubles â—eek by all means to have us engaged the more should our care be to preserve our selves by their disappointment and by a seasonable remedy provide for the safety of our selves and posterity The readiest meane for the present that can come in our consideration in this that as when the treatie of the Union was intended but did not take effect the two Parliaments did sit and did appoint their Commissioners to treat thereanent with expresse reservation of their own Lawes and Liberties and to report their proceedings back againe to them that sent them so now when the two Nations are ready to be plunged in a bloudy warre to the overthrow of the Liberties of both Our soules desires that his Majesty would be pleased to appoint the like or any other meane whereby the Parliaments may sit freely and without feare of force and by their Commissioners appoint time and place where by their scanning the equity or inquity of our demands may be fully weighed that we may no longer suffer by false and artificiall relations but they be noturly known as they are and their fraud and hypocrisie discovered if there be any for we shunne no tryall which is not inconsistent with a free and independent Kingdome and which the Kingdome of England would choose in the like case of the quarreling of their Laws and liberties the King being resident amongst us for which end if his Majesties forces may be discharged and his further Levies suspended we will most gladly disband and leave off any that we are preparing for our own necessary and just defence which otherwise we cannot doe without our own apparent ruine neither can the Parliament sit with any security in either Kingdome if they see a Sword drawn oveâ— theiâ— heads and this we know the Parliament of England in their wisdome will think very reasonable and the least that can be granted and will joyne with us in this peâ—ition for their own clearing before God and the world that they have not taken in hand to subdue us by armes before they have convinced us and made known to all true Christians and honest men for what cause and upon how great reason If this be denyed us as what may we not expect in this kind but that the conduct of this affaiâ—e will be answerable to the first undertaking And as this plot hath been set on foot for the benefit of strangers so it will be continued to the weakning of both the Kingdomes the overthrow of our Religion and civill liberties to the uttermost of their power So we that the close of this discourse may bring in a short view all that hath been touched before cannot but begin with this that it is jâ—st with God to make us feel the sad eâ—fects of civill discord who have not maâ—e the right use of our long enjoyed peace and that we suffer in the danger and hazard of the cure who have so long by our tollerance and permission strengthned that ill humour which is now ready to master the life both of Kirk and State You are called together who are the great Physitians of that State it is not unfitting for the present occasion to put you in minde of an old tâ—le that belongeth unto your Art Philotimus a Physician in Greece made this answer to one who offered his finger to dresse by whose face look and breath he knew he had an Impostume in his Lungs my friend saith he it is not fit time tâ— busie your selfe about your nailes The time was not long since when the greaâ—est question was whether the Bill of Tunnage and Poundage or the Bill of the Subjects right should be first moved in your House the times are farre changed the case much altered before you judge of any matters now or condemn othersâ— you cannot but look whether your selves be free and what right you have For if the maintenance of our Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdome be a ground of a quarrell betwixt too Nations that are so nearly joyned and if it be judged so in that Honourable Court we cannot see how you can condemn us and acquit your selves For it was your glory to be the faithfull guardians of the Subjects right it cannot but blemish your reputation to be sound now the overthrowers of your Brethrens liberâ—ies If all this motion of a warre with Scotland were truly perceived to be a conception of Spain or Rome we do not doubt but for your own interest you would be carefull to straâ—gle this monster in the very first birth but if you take it for a ready meane to â—ase your own distressed estate and that by wronging us you can better your condition And although we know the condâ—ct of your Councels had ever more honourable and honest grounds yet let us take it as it may be propounded to you can the benefit that is offered to you countervail your losse We need not bring it nearer the example is but of yesteâ—dy and cannot be out of your sight All the Provinces and Prince of France envyed the good estate of the Protestants the priviledgeâ— of their Chambers and the benâ—fit of the Edicts they enjoyed every one did outrunne aâ—other to contribute to their â—uine and to endeer themselves by so doing to these that had the managing of all these affaires with what successe they know this day and all that looks upon them seeth what defence they have left themselves against the regiments of the guards We writ not this as doubting your wisdome and circumspection in a businesse of this nature that so neare concerns your selves but since the malice of our adversaries hath prevailed so farre upon our gracious King that he forgets the affliction of his people whiles he gives way unto their endlesse malice who seeks by all meanes to cut asunder that knot of our obedience wherby we are tyed in Conscience of our duty to his Majesty to the observance of the Laws and which is the sure Foundation of his Majesties greatnesse and the Union of the Kingdomes and which hath holden fast-against all the violence of time in so many ages past and against the force of all adversaries whatsoever to the Royall Crown the which the more we labour to preserve and fence the more they seek to undoe and to put in the place therof a chaine of violence and force We beseech you therefore right honourable and dear Brethren now convâ—ened in both houses of Parliament that according to your place and sâ—ation you will heare from our selves the true representation of our pressing grievances and becausâ— a linke of that chain cannot but approach you also if it take hold on us we intreat you to
preparing should not be for matters of Religion which were all setled in the Assembly as they did alledge but for other civill differences in the Common-wealth and truly in all appearance the matters of the Kirk were setled in that Assembly with the consent of the Commissioner but that wise men began to doubt of the sincerity of the work when they found him by his after declarations and explanations digging â—â— posterne to escape and make way for his after denâ—all of what had been concluded And in these tearms the Parliament did begin and hath continued not to settle the affairs of the Kirk as was promised and was certainly expected by us but to bring in a precedent of servitude which neither we noâ— our Fathers were acquainted with and so it hath been broken off and adjourned by his Majesties own authority without consent of the â—states which is diâ—â—ctly against the â—aws and pracâ—isâ—s of this Kingdome and contrary to the Articles of agrâ—ement And although our predecessours took another course yet we came onely with supplications and prayers and to shew our invincible obedience unto his Majesty sent up our Commissioâ—ers to London who were rejected and never seen nor heard and yet hoping with this unexampled patience to overcome the malice of our adversaries we send up again our Commissioners with propâ—sitions that were so just as that they contained nothing but what was before granted unto us under his Majesties hand and seal nor could receive any denyall from a picus and just Prince as being all comprehended in this And which had been the summe and subject of all our supplications protestations informations declarations from the beginning namely that the Fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome which had been violated and the Religion which was manifestly infringed might in a free Assembly and Parliament be again confirmed and the unworthy authors legally questioned and which had been more expresly set down in the Articles of pacification that as there according to the tenor of the Articles of agreement all matters civill were to be judged by Parliaments and all Ecclesiasticall matters by the assemblies of the Kirk And that as the Assembly promised by his Majesty had been granted and had concluded the differences of the Kirk so his Majesty would not delay or deny the conclusion of the Parliament for ratifying the acts of this Assembly and settling other differences of the Common-wealth aâ— was fully agreed in that Treatie at the Kings Camp yet these propositions and desires being so necessarie and vitall unto this Kingdome could find no accesse unto the eares of the gracious King by reason of the powerfull diversion of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Deputie of Ireland who strengthened with the high and mighty Faction of Papists neare his Majesty onely side in all matters ofâ—spirituall and temporall affairs and makes the necessity of their service to his Majesty appear in being the only fit instruments under the pretext of vindicating his Majesties honour to oppresse both the just liberties of his free Subjects and the true reformed Religion in all his Kingdomes In which devilish designe we have great cause to say they are far advanced if the granting of a free Assembly and Parliament to us at this time which hath been the ground of all our just desires from the beginning and the conclusion of the Treatiâ— this last yeare as the onely mean to cure all the evills of Kirk and State and settle the peace and welfare of both Kingdomes Prove in the end as it appeareth this day like the Councel of Trent to the Christian Kirk which was appointed for reforming the abuse therof yet through the ambition and covetousnesse of Kirk-men and the miserable jealousies of the Princes of the time who minded more their private end and interest then the cause of Christ and his Kirk was found in effect the active engine and instrument to establish and settle the tyranny of the Pope and his Clergie wherfore the greater and more lively are our apprehensions of danger at this time that all these câ—ooked and crosse plots interchecking one another in denying a Parliament to us where it was promised upon the honour of a King and for the safety of two such Nations in granting it unto you where it was not expected for the reasons that all wise men cannot but remember and in forcing one upon Ireland where none is desired Giving out Commissions to destroy us before we can apprehend any other or new guiltinesse but that we have been constant suters for the conclusion of the Parliament and the fulfilling of the Articles of the treaty raising our Parliament contrary to the Laws and the expresse Articles of the agreement inforcing Garisons upon us that they might force us to a necessary denyall of such unreasonable demands and to a necessity to provide for our selves that all these we know are done and devised to pick a quarrel and to be the ground of a false and wyre drawn Remonstrance against us and now by the particular instigation of these men we named before a mighty army is preparing and an utter ruine threatned to our Religion and Countrey Lest in regard of these premisses our silence in so necessary a time should argue a neglect of our duty to God and our King the safety and honour of our Conntrey the peace and â—elfare of both the Nations what so nearly trenches to the prejudice and hazard of all these cannot be longer forborne Therfore we professe before the Christian world and to our dear brethren of England especially the representative Body of the Kingdome now happily conveyned in both the Houses of Parliament whom it most concerns that we cannot otherwise judge and esteem but that all these Councels that have been given of late by these intemperat Counsellors who direct the course of all affaires do not onely proceed from such persons as to serve their own ends under colour of advancing his Majesties Prerogative doe weaken Royall power and bring the Kingdomes unto confusion but that they truly are first hammered in Spain and in the Conclave and put into the hand of their cunning Artisans among you who have ever been a viperous brood which with tooth and naile have assayed to rent the bowels of their own mother yea who never sooner learned to obey the Roman Church as their mother but assoon they acknowledged the Catholick King for their Father and their own King for an usurper if they think him to be an Heretickâ— So that we are perswaded that neither the invincible Armado of the eighty eight nor the Gun-powder plot nor any other Royall Navie from thence like unto that which came the other yeare upon your coast the which ye had the more reason to suspect that it came so unlooked for and at so unseasonable a time needs to be attempted any more for the ruine of this I le but onely â—hat they be carefull as we doubt not they are that the
formerly in practise therfore you are made to disagree amongst your selves about the method of the cure and when you begin to incline to an agreement your consultations are broken off and so by these meanes the Common wealth languisheth without hope of relief the Princes mistakes and the Peoples grief and burthens doe equally increase and every breach of a Parliament begets a new grievance and maladie to the people so much the more dangerous and dâ—adly that the Authors of these abuses when you use not your courage and constancie to maintain that power and place which your Predecessors have put in your hands and wherof the posterity will call you to accompt as a right of entaile and their proper inheritance which cannot be weakened in your hands without your eternall infamie and their endlesse losse begin to despise you and take courage to undermine and blow up the foundation of your once well setled Eâ—tate bringing you in contempt with the people for the guard of whose liberties you have so long continued and in hatred with the Prince for whose honour and safety it hath alwayes been that none about him should be more powerfull nor the Laws and nearer him in place and affection then you whose Councells could not be corrupted by ends these are they who bringing you once to mind your owne things and to be carelesse of the Publick have teached the Princes that all the rights and liberties of the Subject and the maintenance of them are doales of grace and gifts of meere favour procâ—eding from the Prince and not the true birth right of the Subjectâ— which they may truly challenge which are to be continued or changed as ther Princes shall think fit who have teached Princes to use that maxime in a free Kingdome to wrong ends Parliaments are in their power to begin continue and break them off as they find the fruit of them good or bad so are they to have their being or not to be at all thus they have done what is in them to make the Royall authority which should be like a Sun beame shining for the comfort and light of others turn to a Comet and blazing star a matter of wonder and admiration for the time and a prognostick of worse things to follow Truly the prerogative of the Prince which hath been keeped in veneration and as a secret untouched amongst the wisest Princes and the best times which is that which the Laws have given him above all private men for the common safety of us all and cannot be used to another end but for our good had not suffered so much in it self and lost of its proper lustre by the oft and common handling therof to the maniâ—eâ—â— prejudice of the Subjects right and the reall weakening of the true Royall power had it not falne in some of your Clergies hand who to the staine of the Kirk and the bane of the Common-wealth have subjected all men and all Laws to the appetite of the Prince of whom they have the absolute rule that so under that goodly visour of his Royall power they may accomplish at last that great designe of the change of the Religion and government of the Estate which they have so long aâ—med at whereof they cannot faile in this happy conjuncture where all things promises them good successe A Prince enraged against his own native people by their procurement who will not be perswaded that they are good Subjests to him because they are avowed enemies to them who have bâ—en the destroyers of their Religion and the tâ—oubles of the peace of the Kirk to whom it is necessary that he forget that he is their naturall Prince while he remembers that he is advanced to be the Monarch of the whole Ile and with whom of necessity he is obliged to continue in this quarrel that under the pretext of their rebellion he may have leisure to arme and make the one Kingdome a scourge to the other while in the end they both become slâ—ves which if they refuse he cannot eschew of force to bring in strangâ—rs and use such other power as God hath put in his hands by the doctrine of these good divines to the establishing of the boundlesse government wherat they ayme so by the joynt helpe of the Papist who are a strong Faction amongst you of late and of others whom they call good Subjects and are the greatest number who while they are going on in any course to helpe themselves cannot think they are accomptable to God or Man for any wrong they are doing to others these also concuring who are of great number and of no small force in any state who are content to wear fetters themselves so they may be of gold and they have the making of them or helpe therunto for others all these meeting together they cannot misse to effectuat their designes and these are they who look at this time to undoe us and hope assuredly to work you to their ends And for this effect as it appeares are ye called together after so many breaches and breaking up of Parliaments in England whereby his Majesty had been deprived of the faithfull councels and free aides of his people heretofore and the pressures and grievances of the Subjects daily more and more increased without hope of reliefe that all men who looked upon the train of affaires and marked whaâ— undue courses had been taken of late that there should be no need of their meeting and how the number and height of offenders is increased for whose safety it is not that Parliaments come in place and request again may justly marvell to see this day and in all likely-hood conjecture that either this Parliament will prove the happiest that ever was in this Isle for the good and peace of the Kingdomes or else which God forbid will become the fatall engine and axletree in our enemies hand for the overthrow of Kirk and State turning our doubts unto despaires and our feares into a certainty of confuâ—ion Wherfore the more need have all good men who love the truth of Religion the honnour of the King the safety of the Kingdomes in so necessary and perillous a time to be instant with God by Fasting and Prayerâ— that as the beginning of your meeting together is the subject of all mens feares and hopes good or bad â—o the close may be in fruit and memoryâ— the joy of the present age and the blessing of posterity whereof there is no small ground of hope at this time For if that spirit of wisdome courage and true zeale for the good of Religion and safety of King and Kingdomes do but begin as in former time to appeare in your Councels who knoweth what recompence God is preparing for your often disappointments in that kind the which we are moved the rather to beleeve and expect that the powerfull hâ—nd of God hath forcibly led them who have been the authors of your evils and actours in the mischief